How to true an oval wheel?

Question

my old bike is sitting in the basement upside down with the rear wheel stripped off and all the spokes loosened.

I can get it fairly straight but i cant seem to get the oval shape out of it..

any suggestions? or think its time to find a new wheel?

Answer 1

If you have any availability to a truing stand this would be very easy.  If not then you are going to have to make a crude one.  What you want is a place to put the hub in a cradle like device so that it is lying there level.  Once you have that then an arm is going to have to be made to place under a portion of the wheel.  You want to place a nail or some other level object on this arm and start to bring it in towards the wheel.  Rotate the wheel and continue to bring this arm in closer.  At some point one side of the wheel is going to touch the nail and the opposite side is not going to touch.  Mark the point that touches.  Since all of the spokes were loose tighten the side that was marked a few spokes from that point at a time.  Rotate the wheel.  If it spins without touching then bring the arm a little closer to the rim and rotate again.  If the wheel touches at any point mark that and tighten those spokes around that point.  Continue to do this until the nail is close to the rim in all points without any rubbing.  Also check for dishing if you have the tool.