Loose spokes
12-05-06, 10:20 PM
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Loose spokes
Some of the spokes are loose on my wheel, and one is very loose. But the wheel is still almost perfectly true.
What is the best way to fix this without messing up the truing? It is probably 20 years old.
What is the best way to fix this without messing up the truing? It is probably 20 years old.
12-05-06, 11:19 PM
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If this is a rear wheel and one side is loose, you might need to tighten all the spokes 1/8 to 1/4 turn (remember that goes backwards with the spoke wrench), but then you'll need to fine tune the trueness from there. If it's random spokes that are loose, your rim is pretty much shot and the spokes have to be off to stay in true. Hard to tell from here, though.
12-06-06, 12:06 AM
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You need to add tension to the spokes. They should all be somewhat tight, and also the spokes should have relatively equal tension (with the understanding that rear drive-side spokes are tighter than rear non-drive-side spokes). Don't ride it while the spokes are loose, as this will stress the elbows of the looser spokes through repetitive stressing (bending) and they will eventually snap.
12-06-06, 06:02 AM
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Originally Posted by urbanknight
...(remember that goes backwards with the spoke wrench)....
If the nipple is at the 6:00 position you turn the nipple counter-clockwise ("backwards") to tighten. But, with the nipple at the 12:00 position you would turn the nipple clockwise to tighten.
That's if the nipples are at the rim.
If the nipples are located at the hub (e.g. Cane Creek wheels are designed that way), then the opposite process applies.
Clear as mud?
Bob
12-06-06, 08:20 AM
#5
Death fork? Naaaah!!
And before you get started put a drop of penetrating oil on each spoke/nipple interface.
Nothing is worse than twisting off a frozen nipple.
Top
(and it's always the last one
)
Nothing is worse than twisting off a frozen nipple.
Top
(and it's always the last one
)
12-06-06, 09:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Bobby Lex
Kinda sorta but not always....
If the nipple is at the 6:00 position you turn the nipple counter-clockwise ("backwards") to tighten. But, with the nipple at the 12:00 position you would turn the nipple clockwise to tighten.
That's if the nipples are at the rim.
If the nipples are located at the hub (e.g. Cane Creek wheels are designed that way), then the opposite process applies.
Clear as mud?
Bob
If the nipple is at the 6:00 position you turn the nipple counter-clockwise ("backwards") to tighten. But, with the nipple at the 12:00 position you would turn the nipple clockwise to tighten.
That's if the nipples are at the rim.
If the nipples are located at the hub (e.g. Cane Creek wheels are designed that way), then the opposite process applies.
Clear as mud?
Bob
but yeah I get what you're saying.
12-06-06, 09:42 AM
#7
Making a kilometer blurry
Originally Posted by Bobby Lex
Kinda sorta but not always....
If the nipple is at the 6:00 position you turn the nipple counter-clockwise ("backwards") to tighten. But, with the nipple at the 12:00 position you would turn the nipple clockwise to tighten.
That's if the nipples are at the rim.
If the nipples are located at the hub (e.g. Cane Creek wheels are designed that way), then the opposite process applies.
Clear as mud?
Bob
If the nipple is at the 6:00 position you turn the nipple counter-clockwise ("backwards") to tighten. But, with the nipple at the 12:00 position you would turn the nipple clockwise to tighten.
That's if the nipples are at the rim.
If the nipples are located at the hub (e.g. Cane Creek wheels are designed that way), then the opposite process applies.
Clear as mud?
Bob
I think it's best to say that spokes are not reverse threaded. The spoke is a bolt, and the nipple is a nut. Figure it out.
12-06-06, 11:05 AM
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Check the rim for small cracks near the spoke holes. These could account for the loose spokes. If there are cracks start looking for a replacement rim.
Al
Al
