Cutting Spokes
 

Will doing so put unnecessary stress on my hub? I don't have a spoke wrench handily available, and the 40 year old rims in this wheelset I have are pretty well spent.

Pretty short thread, but just curious.

Nah...cut...toss spokes and rim...recycle.

Have done many times...careful though...do not put face in line with spokes being cut...goggles a good idea.

=8-)

de-tension first, then cut...

But, 'tis the problem; I don't have a spoke wrench.

spoke wrench
 

good time to buy one.

Sounds fun. Keep the rim tape on and wear eye protection. The hub will be fine.

A good pair of "Kleins" (lineman's pliers) works great for cutting spokes.

they cost like 5 bikes for a universal one. most shops have loaner tools as well.

Detension the spokes a couple of turns each using pliers, Vise-Grips or whatever is available as a spoke wrench. It will be easier on the hub and safer for you.

You're going to relace the hubs to new rims? Seems like you're going to need a spoke wrench sooner or later....

They come in handy for trueing up the odd wobble on other wheels as well. Time to buy one or two of the common sizes regardless.

Why not remove the rim tape and unscrew the nipples with a screw driver to detension? seems easier than going at it with pliers

I don't understand why folks think cutting spokes without first detensioning them is going to hurt the hub. I could see it if he wanted to reuse the rim, but the hub? What do you think is going to happen? Cut away . . . just make sure you take your cassette/freewheel off first.

*Sniff, Sniff* I've never built a wheel... :crash:

Yes, why not?

Are you sure? I've heard stories about hubs being suddenly detention-ed and breaking. I just want to be sure since these are my latest hub-like purchase and they're a PX10 Professional hubset with Atom freewheel and all...

Cut the spokes. You are not going to hurt the hub.

Alright, sounds good!

Well, in the interest of full disclosure, you should know that my knowledge base is about 30 years old. I used to rebuild wheels at a bike shop. That was my after school job. Every day I came in and started tearing down and rebuilding wheels. I began each rebuild by removing the tire/tube and then the cog or freewheel -- very important (don't ask me how I know) -- and then cutting out the spokes. I NEVER loosened a spoke first.

Now granted, this was 30 years ago and wheels were built different then. I look at the wheels people ride today and wonder how they stay together. Maybe tensions are high enough today to fold a high quality alloy hub. Somehow I kind of doubt it. If that were the case, then one broken spoke on the road would probably send you into a ditch.

If this is a PX10 wheel, I'd say my experience is probably relevant, though.My vote: Quit worrying and cut the spokes. But don't blame me if you hub turns to dust when you do it.

Is the freewheel off? Cut the spokes. I recently had to do this because every aluminum nipple on my wheel turned out to be seized. I've cut the spokes many times, I suspect a hub light enough to have problems with this procedure would not survive in a wheel for long.

Is this practical? Normally the nipples are very tight and a screwdriver either can't generate the torque needed to turn them or it will strip out the slot trying.

Folks have been cutting spokes prior to rebuilding for eons, and so far there's been no documented hub stress problems. Some folks say de-tension first, but I'm not convinced it matters to the hub, though it might to the rim. As long as you're scrapping the rim anyway cut away. If you're concerned, you might cut all the spokes off one flange first, which effectively de-tensions the other - on the rear cut the left (less tight) flange first.

BTW- Stainless steel has good scrap value and recycles well, but not with the nipples attached, so unless you plan on later unthreading all the nipples, make your cut close the the nipples to yield the greatest amount of recyclable SS. As to where to recycle, many shops separate and recycle SS and aluminum, otherwise see who does it in your area. Where I am, it's the Boy Scouts.

Leave the rim strip on to prevent the spokes from shooting across the room.

But that's half the fun. Place a wastebasket at the other end of the room and make a game of it.

Interesting about recycling. I figured it was a waste but didn't know what to do about it. I just put it in the metal pile.

I cut as close to the elbow as possible, so it's easier to get the elbow out.

Put the wheel on top of the garbage can and cut the pair of parallel spokes that are over the can.

Use diagonals (wire cutters). Don't use cable cutters or scissors or whatnot. Diags will cut spokes for a long time.

You'll find it's easier to cut tensioned spokes. They pop when cut, shoot out. If you place the rim on the garbage can, even a bathroom size one, the spokes end up where you need them. Helps if there's crumpled up paper, spokes will bounce off a hard bottom.

Use gloves - the shock of cutting spokes gets to your hands after a while.

It's really nice to polish up a nice hub after it's been "de-spoked". Very rewarding.

cdr