How to lace a motorcycle wheel // Paul Brodie's Shop 

Thank you for not editing out your mishaps Paul. Keeping them in and eventually succeeding makes these projects more achievable to us viewers. Congratulations on your 2 year anniversary. I'm so pleased to be on this journey with you and Mitch.

Congratulations on the 2 year anniversary ! We all look forward to seeing a "1" next to that "2"! Thanks for the videos.

Wheel building can be humbling for even the most experienced builders. Love it!

Just hooked up with your videos Paul, now have to binged watch 2x years worth.

A long time subscriber from Ukraine here. Was always fascinated with the attention you have to the smallest details. Being forced away from home, watching your videos, I am dreaming of projects I will return to if everything goes well. The frame, forks, and most of the parts for the first mini-bike I've welded are still waiting to be assembled (if my workshop is still intact). Meanwhile, my relatives, and the whole neighborhood I have spent the life in, are under constant shelling. Thank you for supporting our country. This flag truly means a lot. It has been, in a way, a mark of decency for the last 46 days. For those coming from cities that were left without the Internet, seeing such support puts tears on their eyes, trust me. Hope to meet you some day. Oleg.

I beg to differ...you did not ‘Luck out’. Simply got it right! When taking on a project I aim for perfection...then when I inevitably fall short it still turns out very well. Your level is SO HIGH that when you fall short,it still exceeds most people’s ‘perfection’.

You gave me a good laugh when you paused to figure out what was wrong with the lacing pattern. I've been in that pondering moment myself. Thanks for the great vids.

I love lacing my own wheels, I learned how to do it at the ripe age of 12 (1982), when a bicycle shop wanted $30 each to lace up a set of wheels fort my BMX bike. $60 was 3 yards to mow, and I wasn't gong to have it. Took me 3 tries to get it right on the first wheel, the second wheel was fast, but the satisfaction of doing it myself was the greatest reward. It only cost me $10 to have the wheels trued, once they were done, and I could live with that. I cant count the number of wheels I have laced and trued for myself and others over the years, but each time there is a sense of accomplishment.

Thank you for an interesting video and it's very pleasant to see Ukrainian flag! Cheers from Ukraine!

Congratulations on the two years and the straight frame! You said you “lucked out “ on the frame alignment, it reminded me of an old saying that applies here. The more I practice the luckier I get!

When I was a teen, back in the seventies. Some jerk, knocked my new ten speed over, and jumped on the front 27” wheel! It looked like a pringles potato chip. I did rebuild it, with no prior experience. And it worked, however, I didn’t get the axle exactly centered. So it had a little bounce to it. It was minimal and I drove it for years like that. So, I feel it’s an art to lacing a rim!

Dig the well spoke 'n wheel interlacing stuff. Happy RU-vidrsary 2... too.

2 Years already? Time flies when you having fun

Watching a master at work is priceless, thank you!

We in England call it 'Engine Tuning' for that finish

was a great two years!!!!! cheers!

Congratulations 👏🏻 2Y 🎇🎂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

You've got green grass - we've got snow. Not fair! Congrats on two years and 40k subs!

Used to love lacing wheels in the (bicycle) shop during the winter. I was lucky to have customers who were ok with trying different patterns.

I can't wait to see the three! I used to keep a rough track of how many wheels I'd built by saving up those bottles and sending back sets of 50 to Bucannons as one bottle was enough for many wheels. I figure that I built roughly 500 in the five or so years that I did it. And it sometimes helps to have one of your modified screwdriver bits in and electric drill to speed things up.

Congrats Paul and Mitchell

Happy anniversary 👍👍😎👍👍. I have watched and absolutely enjoyed EVERY episode. Looking forward to many more.

love you paul

Greetings from 🇺🇦. I am very happy to see the Ukrainian flag on your table.

Paul my Father was a brilliant tradesman like yourself and one thing , l remember him saying to me when l was young a good tradesman can always fix his mistakes.

When my stepson was eight years old his mum took him off around the world for a year. He spent hour after hour on the Trans Siberian Railway learning how to lace a pair of shoes. He came back at the year's end a true believer in Velcro. Ten years later he buys a pair of shoes, laces them once and then treats them like slip-ons... Shame he didn't take a bicycle wheel to practice on, at least he'd have an excuse. If it can confuse the professor... Thankyou, Paul, that was a remarkably clear explanation of how it's done. Symmetrical hubs are a lot easier, folks, both sides being the same.

This channel is as good ,if not better, than any big budget TV show, great diverse content no constant reiteration and playing back the previous episode like American chopper etc. You both ought to be proud.

An amazing experience watching your channel. Most episodes cause me flashbacks. In the mid 60's I was a 'wrench/driver/gopher for a privateer pro expert AMA racer #22R based in Culver City, CA. In the days of 500cc OHV vs. 750 flatheads. No brakes. Home track was Ascot Park every Friday night during the season. A stable of Triumphs, a specific 1/2 mile Ascot bike, A 650 TT bike (rear brake allowed), a Tiger Cub for short track events, and a 500cc Road Race unit. Semi sponsored by Johnson Motors (cost parts from any Triumph dealer for on the road repairs, and some travel money). Raced all the National events on the west coast. Tiger Cub was bored out to a 'stack of washers' and fitted with Wiseco piston. We both worked in the service dept. at Hapco Triumph/Hodaka/BSA, so parts there were also at cost. Cylinder heads with welded squish bands and machined pistons. Top end refreshed after every event. New rings and lapped valves after every race night. I still have the jacket that was presented for fast qualifier at one of the AMA National events held at Ascot. Ah, the days of racing still reverberate. I'm 81 now and the jacket still fits :)

Ohh man. Now i finally got it. You're the first whos tells what the hell to do when you true the wheel... now i feel stupid cause now it feels like it's completely logical. Luckily I've got a set of spoked wheels that im restoring so now i feel confident to try it out myself. Thanks so much for this video

Yay, Paul & Mitch! 2 Years!!! The "Engine Turning" finish on the "2" looks great as well. in 1975 I worked for a high-end digital watch company, and we used the engine turning technique on the inside of the watch back cover. It was a pain, without a good method for the step-and-repeat pattern. Boy that was a flash-back!!! And what a nice job on the wheel lacing! So much of what's needed is P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E!

2 years of very entertaining & enlightening videos....many thanks Paul & Mitch

Congratulations on the two years. Wheely good, mate.

Good show, guys.

Thanks you for your time

Only the bravest lace wheels. Everything you work on has an element of beauty when you are finished with it. I enjoy your work and congratulate you on 2 years of educating the masses.

Two years, 40k subscribers, well done, it is a pleasure watching you.

Zen and the art of wheel lacing. The other motorcycle builder, Allen Millyard, uses a slightly different approach, but both Paul's and Allen's will get you there in the end.

See you next time my friend! Take care!

Paul, I think we have all been there,….head scratching then the penny drops and off we go again in the right direction. We all learn more that way. The trouble is I forget by the next time comes around! Best wishes on your anniversary. Kevin.

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with the world ,,iv learned lots from you, ,I have told so many people about you ,,happy 2 years

Thank you Paul and Mitch. I learned to build wheels at a bicycle shop in 1980 from one of the best mechanics I have ever encountered. Someone brought in a motorcycle wheel one day, he looked at it, unlaced it and rebuilt it with new spokes and rim first try. I am still amazed at that. Also: I have a little tool I made for installing the nipples that is a spoke bent into a crank with a nipple screwed onto the end with a couple of mm of thread showing. I screw a nipple onto it and spin it onto the spoke, unscrew the tool and move on to the next one. Very quick and no fumbling. I am sure there is a forum up in heaven where wheel builders can argue for the rest of time what is the best way to build a wheel!

I do a lot of moto work, and really old stuff was held in place before Locktite was invented. I have seen wax, paint, punch mark, or peening used. There was the possibility the seal retainer could have been peened with a chisel to prevent it from backing out. Congrats on 2 wonderful years!

nice work with this messy hub Paul… And Mich has done a very nice vid too ! This "2" is gorgeous, by the way… Congrats for both of you and please, don't stop !

I've soaked used rusty rims in a phosphoric acid solution to remove rust. Homemade plywood box with 2 by 6 sides, lined with a few layers of 6 mil plastic. It cleans them the best that they can be cleaned. You do wonderful work. I enjoy learning from your videos.

14:39 hahahhahahahaha love it!

Thank you very much for two years of entertainment already!

For sure one of the more frustrating parts of wrenching on your own gear, that is for sure. Out of all the wheels Ive laced, my first set of Honda wheels from the late 70s almost drove me to a bell tower with my Remington 700. Four different sized spokes, the bolt together hubs, my good god lol.

Thanks for supporting Ukraine! You are great master, Mr Brodie. True art and love in your "fabrication" this beautiful two-wheel machines. Thank you.

one hole could be essential... in a workshop you never stop learning...thank you for showing that! Greatings form the black forest, Rainer.

Fascinating, thank you 😊 Blessings 🙏

Cool Video as always:) very relaxing to watch. To remove old spokes I use a bold cutter. No noise and dirt also very fast. ✌🏻

Congrats to you two!!!

I have rebuilt, maybe, eight, Honda motorcycles. Engine rebuilding. Not a problem. Fraim straightening is not a problem. Re-spoking and straightening wheels. I find it the hardest thing that I have ever done. I never could get it right. Had to farm it out. 😒

Congratulations, well deserved gentlemen, set free the mind. It is always meaningful to learn from you.

Congratulations on your 2 years

Best wishes for the next two years!!!!

Love the Engine Turned #2 - congrats to you both on 2 year anniversary.

That "grease" that came with the spokes, is anti-seize to keep the stainless steel from galling when putting it together.

Just restored and built my first spoked wheel recently - took me ages but was a great project and quite satisfying.

Congrats! Another way I do the 'Jeweled' Finish is with a wood dowel and some fine lapping compound. I find its gets a more crisp edge to the swirl.

Ha Ha. Only two tries to get it right. I took my first one apart about 3 times before I got it! Good job.

Congratulations on the 2 year anniversary Paul and Mitch. I must have been really lucky when I did my wheels, first time lacing wheels, watch a couple of videos about it, and then had a go, got it right first time, never even noticed the hole issue that you had, I'd have never sussed that one out, I'll know for next time (if there is one). Thanks Mitch and Paul.

Nice engine turning! Use to see that on some metal dashboards, Bugatti engines and very rarely, a special firewall. Good wheel building tutorial.

Scotch Brite on a die grinder and you can achieve machine turning....😎 Twist lock I meant to say.... never thought too cut spokes duh. I call it licking your calf over,, don't know where I got that....But it takes a big Man too show his fault.. thanks 😎 Scotty

Great skill to have. I built a set of bicycle wheels once. They came out good. And I'll never do it again!

I’m goin* to use your idea of using a pallet knife to pack bearings. I have it in my tools bag and never thought to go beyond fingers.

Congratulations on your two year anniversary Paul and Mitch!! Love the channel!👍

Nicely done as always. Thank you both.

It finally hit me, those are KEF 101 speakers. I love my LFT-IIIs from '87. They call our speakers "vintage" now.

I hate lacing 😅 I got sent the wrong rim. A Honda 36 for my Suzuki 34 hub. I was out thier till midnight working 😎

I am from Philippines, i subscribed to your channel Mr Brodie, thankyou for the information and the talent you share. Continue what youre doing.

Congrats on two years and some amazing builds. Laid out the spokes rims and hubs yesterday for my Knucklehead wheel and VL front wheel after letting the paint cure. Ran across this video and told myself,self,you’re on more than just the government’s watch list. Checked everywhere it would be obvious but didn’t find a single camera or evidence of being bugged,lol. Anyway great video and glad to see the Tiger Cub frame slugged and doctored up. Expected to see you rosette weld it but as long as you don’t TT race it it’ll stay together just fine as a road bike. Never crossed my mind to use my mill for engine turning but that worked out exceedingly well. Thanks for that tip. 👍

I used to do bicycle wheels at a shop, when I was in last year of primary school. No-one else wanted to do them. I'll never forget, years later someone asked me to do a front wheel off a dirt bike and I said yes, thinking it wouldn't be much different. Well I couldn't get a lump out of it no matter how much tuning I did. In the end I woke up next morning, pulled it all apart and flipped the rim over and laced it up again - and it trued up straight away no trouble at all. I still think about it over 40 years later. I mean, it *shouldn't* have made any difference.................

great video may i have to watch it 6 times but its really helpful

Great job on the wheel.

I’m sure if I tried to lace up a wheel I wouldn’t get the same result. Good work Paul

Not really related but I laced my dualsport rims Rode 200 miles and retightened them and then powder coated the rim as a whole and I havnt had to adjust them for 20k miles so far.

So enjoying these videos! learning things from you makes the job look not so scary now.

Failure is always an option when building wheels. Finishing and discovering I've got the valve hole in the wrong place is my favorite mistake to make.

Congratulations!!! We hope for many more years to come with your great videos

great episode men ! i was taught wheel building many moons ago by my boss Mick Donovan (CYCLES) here in Yorkshire, built myself a pair of 36 spoke track wheels, he would lace up a pair and task me with` tickling `them up true and round ,its so relaxing ,good luck 😄👍 and don`t forget to de-ping ,,em

Awesome!

I would love to see you repair that old hub. I'm sure that with all of your skills, it could be done.

Fast removal of old spokes, then a logical relaxing re-installation -Until the "50-50 Chance" rears it's head.

The wheel has to be straight. Ty for the episode. When last month I built two new bicycle wheels I partially unlaced one thinking I had started the lacing wrong. I hadn't so back together it went.

Id love to see a video on how to calculate spoke length when mixing hubs and rims, say harley rim and honda hubs.

I did not see you check or set the rim offset or "dish" as you described it before truing the rim. Quite important!

To me, a lot of your success comes from your methodical approach to snags. Doing it right takes 20 minutes, doing it wrong takes all week.

15:00 this is a frustrating moment... I ve lived many moments like this...

Second job my father ever made me do, showed me once then told me to get on with it.

Impressive

I’ve done a few wheels over the years anda couple of things I’ve learnt Takephotos when it’s still together with Mark’s on the wheel and rim so you get the orientation right and begin the alignment process by getting it true in the diameter measurements , then do the lateral runout adjustments . Tap the strings with a small spanner and listen to the pitch of the strings . Equal spoke tension gives an equal tone in each spoke . My wife wondered what the hell I was doing ,Lol. Tapping spokes all day . I try to get the run out on my dirt bike rims to within 0.5 mm with the dial guage

Jaja great,tanks Master B

I laced a wheel up last year some time that had me scratch my head in a similar manner. My boss instantly spotted the problem and commented "It's out of phase". Same fix, go and shift a bunch of spokes around to get it right.

hey paul, congrats and thanks for those videos. this one reminded me of redoing the wheels of my 1967 velosolex. always interesting to see, how wheels can be build for different reasons.

As always, thank you for the video! Well done on the 2 year anniversary! I've *consistently* enjoyed your work. Love the engine turning. I successfully laced a motorcycle wheel when I was younger, and was very proud of myself, but I can't really claim to know how to do it properly. I've heard different approaches - do you get the diameter true first, then the runout, or vice-versa?

👍👍

The concern I see is that the sparks from the angle grinder were hitting the Chrome on the rim and will cause rust to form. would have been a good idea to protect. As always a good video showing the joy of building

Feliz aniversário de dois anos! Muito bom te acompanhar estes dois anos daqui do Brasil (MG). ** Happy 2 year anniversary! Very good to accompany you in these two years here forme Brazil (MG).

Lots of those rim's had a little kinks like that. The speciation if memory serves me was 1/8 inch run out or less, often 1/8 was the best possible results.