broken spoke - what to replace?
 

Here is my situation:
-Broke a spoke three weeks ago. Rear wheel, right side. Replace, trued, back riding.

- Broke a spoke yesterday. Rear wheel, left side.

After going through the hassle of replacing one spoke only to have another break, I'm going to replace all of the spokes on the rear wheel.

My question - a mechanic suggested it might be a hub issue as well. Anyone think this could be true? Or, was he just being precautionary?

The spokes broke on different sides and different places (one at the hub flange, one 4" from the flange, where the spoke tapered)

Specifics: wheel is 5 years old, Formula track hub, DT spokes, Mavic cxp-22 rim. I replaced the cartridge bearings last year, but no other issues. Have around 9000 miles on this wheel.

As I said, I'm going to replace all the spokes and I am also going to move up to a nicer Mavic rim. I was going to reuse the hubs, but now am wondering if I should get a new hub. This is not a race wheelset, and Formula hubs are certainly of good quality. I'd rather not spend too much on this project. I wouldn't want to just sidestep and get another set of Formulas/equal quality...but jumping up to something nicer (Dura Ace, etc) would really push up the costs.

I really doubt it's the hub, breaking spoke on the left side is unusual as well. Sounds like the wheel is not tensioned/stress relieved properly. All you need to do is get the hub rebuilt up on another rim unless the spoke holes/flanges are extremely damaged.

If you're riding this wheelset on the road, there's no reason to get something like dura ace hubs which were never designed to be ridden outdoors.

tension is the key here, makes sure the spokes are up to tension, even if you do replaces the spokes do this at the build of the wheel and after the first hundred miles or so. sound like your spokes are just wearing out from time & mileages . your hub seem ok.

Thanks for the two replies. Yeah, I didn't think it was the hubs either. They don't have any damage too them.

The wheel was factory/stock, but I have kept an eye on the tension and truing.

I do in fact think that maybe the spokes have just called it a day. A good amount of miles on them, ridden in snow and rain (with road salt in the NE U.S.)

I am going to try to re-use the hubs, get a new set of spokes, and upgrade to a new rim, since I'm going to be rebuilding anyway.

Thanks for the opinions and advice!

+1 to what was said. Most likely spoke fatigue and if all spokes are not replaced you'll be repeating the process over and over. Put in good quality DB spokes and tension on the high side of rim mfg spec. You should get another 9k out of wheel.

Okay, I just wanted to check out some more opinions before proceeding. I've unlaced the wheel and am ready to lace it up again. However...

the hub does have a few holes/eyelets where there is wear from the spokes. It is kind of a notch in the eyelet following the direction of the spoke. Nothing bad, like about to wear the eyelet through to the edge of the flange, but I wondered how much of an issue this is?

I wonder if by rotating the hub and switching the direction of the wear (switch the inner/outer spoke position) I could prolong the hub life?

I'd prefer to reuse the hubs, but don't want to have to go through this all over again. (and of the two spokes I broke, one was at the hub flange, one at the first spoke taper, around 4" from the hub)

The conventional wisdom is to relace the hub with the spokes going in the same directions as previously.

Might be true with a track hub. With 8/9/10 speed rear wheels I've found non-drive side spoke breakage to be much more frequent than drive side.

Thanks, Retro for answering the rotation question.

Conventional wisdom on reusing a hub that has some minor wear on the eyelets?

outdoors + dura ace = no bueno? Do I just not have a sense of humor or am I missing something?

I think he was saying there is no reason to get such a high-end hub for street riding.

Current question: my hubs have some minor wear on the eyelets. Am I just setting myself up for more problems by reusing them? Money is not a huge issue, but I'd like to reuse the hubs so long as they aren't going to chew through the spoke heads since there is some wear on them.

ok-- there is no description of where you ride-- what you do with your ride- if you
lay your bike against something--- or lock through the spoke area.......?..
are these double butted swiss spokes?-- or straight guage?-- I cant see how your breaking
spokes on a track wheel?---- I do not like formula hubs ( I have a set)-- campy or DA are the
sht to me... What specific scientific reason can anyone give you for not re-using your hub?--
I just dont like the "mass produced" aspect of formulas..... are you near saltwater?

Spokes are no longer the issue here. For whatever reason, two broke within a week. I'm replacing all the spokes.

The issue is the hub, and I'm still trying to gather some opinions.

I'm asking if it is okay to reuse my hub---there is wear on the eyelets of the rear hub.

There are small grooves worn on the rim of the eyelet holes where the spoke begins to trail away from the eyelet and run towards the hub. Holes themselves are not out of circle, but mainly right at the lip/edge of the eyelet.

Pretty much any used hub will show wear at the spoke eyelets. That's why most people relace them with the spokes oriented the same way. FWIW I've probably rebuilt well over 100 used hubs and never had a problem.

do you skid stop-- are you a....well... fixed gear, person?