Park Tool TM-1 Spoke Tension Meter

by Park Tool

Product Features

• Measures the absolute tension of each of the spokes in a wheel
• The TM-1 works on nearly any bicycle spoke
• Used for building or truing wheels, diagnosing wheel problems, or assembling new bikes
• Measures relative tension between all the spokes in a wheel

Product Description

The key to wheels that are strong and reliable is having spokes that are properly and uniformly tensioned. The TM-1 Tension Meter accurately and reliably measures the absolute tension of each of the spokes in a wheel, as well as the relative tension between all the spokes in a wheel. Easy to use and priced affordably, the TM-1 works on nearly any bicycle spoke¿no matter what the diameter, material, or shape. Not just for the experienced mechanic, the TM-1 is for anyone building or truing wheels, diagnosing wheel problems, or assembling new bikes. It¿s a tool that belongs on every workbench.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 2 inches ; 10.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000OZDIGY
• Item model number: TM-1
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,209 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #18 in Sports & Outdoors > Bikes & Accessories > Bike Tools & Equipment > Hand Tools

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do you need a wheel tension meter?, March 30, 2011

By 

Mark S. R. Williams (Santa Fe, New Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Park Tool TM-1 Spoke Tension Meter (Sports)

I've spent most of my life racing and riding bicycles, worked in a number of shops as head mechanic (when I was in school), and built quite a few wheels. So my perspective on the TM-1 is based on this background.

It is of course true, as a few reviewers have suggested, that it's possible to build/maintain bicycle wheels without a spoke tension meter.

However, it is easier and requires less experience and knowledge to handle that task WITH a spoke tension meter. Also, with modern lower spoke count wheels that need to have higher spoke tension, precise tension is more critical to maintain if the wheel is to remain reliable. In this sense, a spoke tension meter is more a must-have tool now that it would have been in the past, much as a small torque wrench is now requisite for anyone who uses carbon fiber components/frames but even a few years ago, few mechanics were using them.

The Park TM-1 is arguably the best combination of high design/build quality and relatively low price compared to any of the various other spoke tension meters available. It is durable, consistent in its measurements over time, and can be re-calibrated.

As an example of the value in using this item, I recently changed the rims on a custom set of wheels that had been built by a prominent wheel builder in the Netherlands. The spoke tension on the original wheels, according to the Park TM-1, varied from about 17 to 22, with most spokes in the 19-21 range. When I re-built the wheels, I did all the usual things to maximize true, roundness, and dish, but also spent some time getting the spoke tension extremely even--with all spokes virtually at 21. Once the spokes were all so evenly tensioned--and of course also at the CORRECT tension--the two wheels basically fell into true and roundness without any additional truing, and the wheels have stayed like that. There is almost no detectable variance in the true or roundness--all in all, these wheels are built to a more precise standard than any of my other custom wheels, and it was relatively easy to achieve because I used a tension meter.

As a second example, Rich Sawiris, the owner of wheelbuilder.com, currently one of the most well-regarded wheelbuilders in the U.S., and also the guy who builds wheels for a number of pro cycling teams in Europe, credits the quality and reputation of his wheels to better evenness and management of spoke tension.

Here's a quote from Rich in Velonews dated April 5, 2011: "Anybody can lace a wheel and true it by tweaking individual spokes, chasing hops and wobbles around until the wheel is true," says Sawiris. "But that doesn't usually result in even spoke tension." Instead, Wheelbuilder.com builders bring all of the spokes up to a proscribed (based on the rim, spoke count and type) and even tension first, checking each and every spoke repeatedly with a tensiometer. Then, the builder goes around and adjusts the elbow bend and the crossing intersections on every spoke before going back and re-tensioning all of them again. Only then is the final truing done, which requires very little tweaking to get the wheel perfect."

So I would argue that a current best practice in wheel building would be to use a tension meter, whether for professional mechanics, or for cycling enthusiasts who wish to do most of their own bicyle maintenance. The Park TM-1 would be a one time only investment. There are more expensive tension meters (which are also more complicated), but I think none that actually perform better.

39 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Use with Caution, October 24, 2008

By 

New England Yankee (Northern New England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Park Tool TM-1 Spoke Tension Meter (Sports)

I have to say that when I was being trained in wheel work, tension gauges were frowned upon. Tension is important, but the problem is that it is only one variable among many, and concern was always that mechanics would try to apply it in simplistic fashion. The problem is this - if you know wheels, you don't really need a tension gauge. If you don't, using one isn't going to help out much, and can actually hurt you, especially in wheel repair. Gauges are most useful in building new wheels with pristine components, and when building to a production standard. That's not a very good description of home wheel work and not even for shop work.

The gauge itself is decent. Instead of buying it, however, my advice is to take a wheel building and repair workshop at a good local shop instead.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No More Guessing and Hopefully No More Broken Spokes, May 7, 2009

By 

D. J. Mccartney "Joe McCartney" (Lynnwood, Wa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Park Tool TM-1 Spoke Tension Meter (Sports)

The TM-1 Spoke Tension Meter works very well. I commute by bike every day to work, and among my three road bikes that I rotate through (set up differently for weather and load), was popping spokes to the tune of about 1 or 2 a month, mostly due to what I perceive to be overtorque on some of the spokes. Now I have torqued my spokes at the lower end of the recommended range and have yet to pop a spoke, and it is reassuring to know that they all are torqued to the same value. It does take a little bit of give and take to get the wheel trued, but with just a little bit of effort you can adjust the tension to the correct range, then make minor adjustments of individual spokes to get the wheel to spin true. You end up with a much more consistent torque range throughout the entire wheel, which eliminates overstress (hot spots) on overtorqued spokes.