How much should it cost to have a wheel retensioned?
09-01-08, 12:09 PM
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How much should it cost to have a wheel retensioned?
I bought a wheelset on Craigslist recently. I know for certain the wheels are nearly new. However, I'm coming to believe that the wheels were machine-built and not hand-built. After about 200 miles of riding, I've already had to true a couple of wobbles out of the rear wheel. When I went to true the latest wobble, I found a spoke that had almost no tension at all.
I want to prevent further problems, so I assume I should bring the wheel to my LBS and have it retensioned? How much should this cost?
I want to prevent further problems, so I assume I should bring the wheel to my LBS and have it retensioned? How much should this cost?
09-01-08, 12:22 PM
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If you brought that wheel to me, I'd check every single spoke with a tensiometer and bring them all up to equal and adequate tension. Then I'd retrue the wheel by tightening and loosening opposing pairs of spokes by an equal amount. Assuming that all of the components are in good shape, I'd want about $25.00.
09-01-08, 12:53 PM
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Thank you for the replies - I was worrying I was going to have to put another $50 into the wheel.
09-01-08, 03:31 PM
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I know one doesn't want to pay the repair cost, but the alternative is premature wheel replacement, the (now learned) cost of tensioning that one, on top of what you've already spent.
OTOH, with a good guide as to how to tension your wheel and a $10 (max) spoke wrench, you can get your wheel into much better condition than it is in now.
