noglider 

I was working on a wheel where all the spokes were very tight. I had to replace a broken spoke. The spokes were too tight to turn, and I was in danger of rounding off the nipples.

I loosened all the spokes a half turn. Then I trued the wheel. After that, I tightened all the spokes a half turn. After that, of course, I had to make some small adjustments, but they were very small, and it wasn't too hard.

Did I stumble upon a tried and true method? When I was done, the spokes appeared to have (close to) very uniform tension, which was a big improvement, compared with the state it was in when it came to me.

This was a BMX wheel with 36 spokes, if it matters.

cny-bikeman

Congratulations! Don't insult yourself by calling it stumbling. What you did was figure out a logical and creative solution to a problem that presented a roadblock to doing something the conventional way. That's what makes a mechanic.

noglider 

Heh. You're right. My experience and my intuition led to an excellent solution. Thank you.

cny-bikeman

You're welcome. For you and others reading this loosening also works if you have a high spot and the spokes are getting too tight. Just loosen all the spokes except at the high spot a small amount, 1/4 turn or so.

AEO

if your solution worked, then it's the correct answer

noglider 

OK, but has anyone here done this?

cny-bikeman

Well, I would not have known to add the info about dealing with a high spot and tight spokes otherwise. Yes, many have done what you did.

cny-bikeman

duplicate