Loose Spokes for Ksyrium SL Wheels. Help!
 

Greetings again,

While I'm on this board with my derailleur question, I also have a question about tightening loose spokes on the Ksyrium SL Wheels. I have had these wheels to two bike shops and I have had a few friends who are pretty proficient at truing wheels try to fix this wheel, but all they seem to be able to do is tighten the spokes slightly. I have been told that there is corrosian in the nipple and it won't turn enough to tighten the spokes. One mechanic said that he used some kind of libricant and was able to tighten them a little more, but it would take some time.

Do any of you have any suggestions about ways to tighten the spokes or know of any ways to clean out the nipples? Can the nipples be replaced on these wheels to resolve the problem?

Thanks in advance!

Mike Barnes
Bradenton, Florida

How did they get loose? I've got 15k+ kms on mine and they've never even needed truing!

That's a good question. I hit a pot hole about a year ago and had to replace that spoke. Ever since then, I have had trouble with the rear wheel. That being said, I've been told that it isn't out of true.

Mike

Several issues in play here ...

First, SL nipples should never be lubricated. Never. They contain plastic threadlockers and once you lubricate them it will defeat the plastic thread lockers and the spoke/s will continually detension. Don't do that. Next, these wheels tend to leave the factory at, or near, maximum tension. Minor truing is all that should ever be attempted. If shop mechanics are tightening them, you are risking too much tension and increase the risk of ending up with cracked eyelets.

If you have a problem spoke then it should be removed and replaced with a new one. Those spokes are not designed to be reused. Before replacing it, clean out the eyelet to get out any corrosion. Any new spokes should be gauged - with a tensiometer - for proper tension. The shop should be able to get the correct tension spec for your wheel from Mavic.