Bicycle Mechanics - Can you salvage anything from a tacoed wheel?

I have a pretty bent front wheel from a collision 6 weeks ago. I've now replaced the entire bike with an identical model. I've salvaged the tyre and tube - but should I just throw the rest out? The quick release is broken on the non-lever end and the skewer is slightly bent. Maybe one or two spokes are straight but it's hard to tell. Is the hub useful for anything? It's the stock Specialized cyclocross wheel ("Alex" something) from the Tricross Sport.

Picture is here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=49471&highlight=stevage&page=144).

Thanks!

Steve

I would unlace the hub and throw it in a box in the back of the garage. Maybe even the spokes. Even those that are bent are probably usable since under tension they will be straight again.

jim

There's a lot of wisdom in what to keep, what to try to sell and what to chuck in the dumpster. If you don't do it right, you wind up with such a big pile of junk that you can't find what you want when you need it anyway.

Certainly bent rims and spokes go into the dumpster. If you're not rebuilding the exact same rim and hub combination the chances are the "iffy" bent spokes won't be the right length anyway. What's the point in keeping stuff like that?

That leaves the hub. What exactly is it? If it's not a name brand - Campy, Shimano or one of the first rank boutique hubs like Chris King or White Industries you can try to sell it but it probably won't bring much. I like to build wheels but taking the time to relace a house brand hub is like putting a $40.00 saddle on a $10.00 horse.

If the collision was sufficiently severe to destroy the qr skewer I'd be concerned that the hub and/or axle was also damaged. As RG wrote, unless the hub is one of the higher line Shimano, Campy or a boutique make AND is unhurt, toss the entire thing.

You will most likely find that buying a complete new wheel is less expensive than having your current hub rebuilt.

you wind up with such a big pile of junk that you can't find what you want when you need it anyway.

True. But I would rather have the pile to sort through than not. But then, I am a pack rat, by nature.

I rebuild bikes, and so spare parts that can be cobbled together and used have special value for me. Spokes only cost a dollar or so, but it sure is nice to have a fighting chance of resusing an old spoke than having to wait until a trip to the bike store.

If beater bikes do not pass through your hands, then I conceed that this is probably penny-wise and pound-foolish.

But, at least pull the bearings and cones out of those old hubs?

jim

True. But I would rather have the pile to sort through than not. But then, I am a pack rat, by nature.....

But, at least pull the bearings and cones out of those old hubs?

jim

Me too and I have quite a number of salvaged parts in my collection. I would salvage the cones, spacers and locknuts from the hub and, if it's not bent, the axle too. Bearing balls are too cheap to be worth saving.

"There's a lot of wisdom in what to keep, what to try to sell and what to chuck in the dumpster."

There's no real disagreement here. Everybody just draws the line differently. I stand behind my original advice.

I'd keep the hub but I'd consider the axle as suspect. Or strip the hub for useful components like bearing cones unless it's a cartridge bearing jobby.

You can check the axle by stripping the hub and then rolling the axle on a piece of glass. Just roll it so it barely moves. If it keeps rolling smoothly it's OK. If it lumps along and then clunks to a halt ("clunk" being relative here... :D) then it's bent and you may as well just salvage the cones, spacers and axle nuts and toss the rest.

If it really is OK and passes all these tests then the hub is worth putting away if you ever plan on trying your own build. But as noted this is a personal call. If you have no intention of doing that then toss it.

Toss it.
The hub is likely an OEM from Taiwan manufacturer. The skewer is lost and would cost over $10 to replace anyway. For $9.95, you can buy a brand new old stock Shimano Deore LX hub w/ skewer.
If the front hub is like the one of my Specialized wheelset, it's nothing special.
And if you're not a tinkerer with a parts bin full of bits, it won't be worth your effort to extract the hub.
Instead of tossing it into the trash, offer it to someone who is a parts 'collector' and who can possibly use it. Let him/her put in the work to salvage the hub body.

Good advice, thanks. The reason I was considering the spokes is to have a few spares while touring on the good bike. Sounds like that might work ok.

I'm pretty novice on mechanical stuff, but it sounds like I would gain something from disassembling the hub, and having a look inside - I don't have much to lose, after all! And if I do get it back together, I could donate it to the local bike co-op.

For info, Specialized lists the wheels as "Alex ACE-19, double wall rim, machined sidewalls w/ eyelets" and the hub as "Specialized forged alloy, 32 hole, double sealed bearings, QR".

Steve

Sounds like the same set of wheels I have. The rear hub should be made by Shimano.

If you have the motivation to save some usable spokes, and the hub, by all means. I personally would too.
Not everyone has the patience or foresight to put in the effort. My first impression was that you were not a curious tinkerer.
;)
It only takes willngness to try to gain mechanical enlightenment!
I feel it's a big part of biking, that most bike owners are missing out on.