Cycle Repairing and Adjusting
With a Chapter on building a Bicycle from a Set of Parts

IO CYCLE REPAIRING Tools.—The tools required for wheel repairing and building are few. Where only one or two wheels are to be built, all that are absolutely necessary are as follows : Spoke die to suit the gauge of spokes used (usually 15 gauge), a spoke grip, a strong pair of cutting pliers or wire cutters, a nipple key, and a filé (see Figs. 6 to 9). The forks of the machine will do as a truing stand if a proper one is not available. Should it be desired to build any number of wheels, say for one starting in the repairing line, then it would be advisable to obtain a few extra tools, by the aid of which the work would be done better and more quickly, such as a hand spoke-screwing machine, a spoke cutter, stock for holding screwing dies, various sizes of nipple keys, a truing stand, etc. These implements are all inexpensive, and can be purchased at a price to suit the individual’s pocket. Truing an Old Wheel.—The most common repair is a wheel out of truth. This may be caused by a broken spoke, one or more spokes getting loose, or may be the result of an accident. The wheel may be out of truth sidewise, in the round, or a combination of both.