Is it ok to use old spokes?
 

Hi Folks,
I'm wondering is it ok to mix new and old wheel parts such as:
old spokes with new everything else?
old rims the same?
and old hubs too etc.!?

Aside from spoke lengths and matching your parts in the usual manner, and lets say that the parts are in good condition (spokes fairly straight), and the parts are of the required quality -are there any restrictions to using old wheel parts?

also would it matter if a hub has marks where the spokes have bedded in?...

If you are rebuilding a wheel with the same rim or the same ERD rim you can tape them together and transfer the spokes from on to another. As long as the spokes are not kinked or notched in any way they are reusable.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/reusing-spokes.html

For re-using hubs, which is completely safe and done all the time, It's important to use the same spoke pattern (2x, 3x etc.) and lace the spokes in the same positions as they were in on the original build. This will additionally have the benefit of 'hiding' the indicators that it was a previously used rim.

For re-using spokes, which is also done but not quite as widely accepted as a good idea, it's best to also use the spokes in the same orientation. Spoke laced to the inside of the flange should be re laced on the inside, outside on the outside. This is because during a good build (and the following use) the outside spokes are bent inward to take a straighter line from the flange to the rim, with this bend already in place, you'll want to use the spokes in the same way to avoid having to bend back those spokes and re-bend the "new" outer spokes.

For re-using Rims, which is also not as widely done because this is by far the part of the wheel that wears out, the most important things to look at are the braking surface condition, and the roundness/trueness of the unlaced wheel. An older rim is more likely to have damage (bends) in it that will require severe spoke tension imbalance in order to fix. This type of rim shouldn't ever be built back up, unless the bend is able to be removed prior to building (also debateably safe/worth it). In the same way, if a rim has warn down braking surface, there's no use building it back up because under future use the rim will quickly reach the "worn out/unsafe" condition and need to be replaced again.

-Jeremy

Maybe.

The issue with spokes is that, if you are replacing the hub and rim, the spokes will probably be the wrong length. That said, I'll reuse spokes for rebuilding a personal wheel but not a customer wheel. I have to charge the customer for cleaning up the old spokes so the cost factor is diminished and I have to guarantee the customer wheel so I don't want to use "iffy" parts.

Pre-riden hubs and rims are a judgement matter. How worn is worn? Building a wheel is a fair amount of work so starting with a rim that's not round and true to begin with or one that has the a worn brake track is, to me, a poor economy. The conventional wisdom is that used hubs should be laced as they were previously. I've violated that rule with good results, but I cleaned up the spoke divots with a Dremel forst.

Using 'Old'?
As with anything used you may not actually 'know' the condition even if you have been the sole user. For instance with spokes since the major failure mode is metal fatigue, how can you actually evaluate it. It is largely invisible until actual failure occurs. That being said, I've reused spokes that I 'think' are in OK shape but realize that there is a risk involved. So I have to weigh the risk vs reward kind of thing. As Retro said there is a difference in what I'll do for myself and for a customer. It's easier to justify a dumb decision to myself by calling it experimentation - to a paying customer what ever I may call it, it likely would be considered incompetence.

I'll ditto what others have said- if you're fairly confident of the spokes' condition and if they fit your new build and if it's for your own use- go ahead. I've done this a few times with hubs and spokes I've salvaged from wheels I've built, ridden, and then dissassembled. I've never had a problem, but then I've been building wheels for 30 years.

When re-using hubs that were machine-laced into a wheel, I always use the hand-laced pattern, reversing the spokes on one flange.

I can't see a tiny bit of deformation in the spoke holes being enough reason to stick with asymmetrical lacing... I'd rather live with some barely-visible evidence the hub has been re-used, and forge some new deformations... pretty much the only upshot as far as I can tell is that side of the wheel might take a little more bedding-in and dish will need to be checked after a bit.

My personal view on this is: NO. I do not reuse spokes - even for my own wheels. Within reason though. If it's not seen much riding and I built it - then I will. But I much prefer to go with new spokes.

Hubs? YES. In fact I have a nice set of Campagnolo Record hubs from 1982. Seen many years of use. I cleaned 'em up - and polished 'em with Simichrome. Beautiful! The races were like new, and I did overhaul them frequently.

Rims? Not likely. Unless they don't have any mileage to speak of. Mostly my oldies get hung on walls with stories affixed regarding their age and what action they've had in their lives. That's me in my Museum-Mode. I keep things around as teaching-aids.

No. If the wheel is all apart, just use new spokes.

If you can spare the $. Otherwise, it's not the end of the world.

Wow....

A newbies who soon after joining just ignores the frickin obvious...SEARCH...

This has been covered easily 4 times in just the last 3 months...a recent one being:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...t=reuse+spokes


Geesh!

=8-)

A question for the ages, this one

Hey mrrabbit, has operator been giving you private-lessons? You're getting pretty good at beating around the newbie 101. :eek:

:lol: :roflmao2: :lol:

Oh yeah...it went something like:


Operator: First you post a sign inside of an empty locker about neck high...

MrRabbit: How big of a sign?

Operator: Oh about 8.5 x 10 with size 96 font...

MrRabbit: Exclamation point, caps, bold, underline and Italics okay?

Operator: Yep!

MrRabbit: One question, what is the sign supposed to say?

Operator: One word!

MrRabbit: Which is?

Operator: "SEARCH"

MrRabbit: Okay...got it! And then what?

Operator: Insert the punk newbies head into the locker and slam it shut!

MrRabbit: Ewww....do we pull the sucker back out or just leave him there?

Operator: Oh just leave him there...Botto will be along to tag the t-shirt.


:D


Just kidding...but hey...you asked...

=8-)

Pretty sure the FAQ asks not to bump old threads...

...Just sayin' ; )

Here we are! Some yummy candy! Just take 3.....


http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/p.../thorazine.jpg

No need to bump...and no need to start anew...my point was that this topic has been covered recently enough that it can be found in search - no archive browsing needed - everything said already said - no comment needed. Question answered.

I know I'll get some flame for this but I'll say it anyway...

I think alot of folks do this because they are lazy and want instant gratification...and in many cases...have an ego and just want to see their name as an author at the top of the first topic listing page.

Me? Could care less...hence my low post count.

As a matter of fact....forgot who...but there is at least one member here who is pretty good refreshing an incomplete thread every week or so to finish it up - kinda appreciate that.

=8-)

Sorry folks, i didn't mean to waste time and energy... I had sieved through several pages and not found a post like that.. going to familiarise myself better with the search now! the forum is a great resource and wealth of knowledge and i don't mean to abuse it...

Wow....

You know, there's a flip side to that coin.

Just what did you find misleading from the OP's thread title? If it's a topic that doesn't interest you, you don't have to open it.

Geesh!

Every question here gets done over and over. It's not a big deal. Bicycles aren't as complex as a space-shuttle. So questions are finite and destined to be repeated.

As for the SEARCH function - last I heard, it was crashed after the change to this 'new & improved' version of v-bulletin software.

My link was provided as a result of a search Panther...i.e., search works. Got hits for both titles and posts with titles.

Search Term = reuse spokes

=8-)

On your other argument - you ducked the "lazy" factor and the fact that a lot of repeats are often only 3-4 days old - in other words - sometimes just advancing one page in the listings shows it's there. I can understand repeating something from 6 months or a year ago...but 1-4 weeks back? Sorry...just don't buy it...

There's also the sticky rule - i.e., check there first...for common stuff including Sheldon Brown "cyclopedia" stuff.

=8-)

Still considering adding an ERD sticky myself...if MODS will make it one...

=8-)

Yeah, but you conveniently left out the biggie.

"Is it OK to use old spokes?"

If that's the kind of thing that upsets you, don't open the thead. How hard is that?

mrrabbit: I find that during the summer peak of cycling, we get a query on "My Front Derailleur is Bwoken!" on a daily basis. As stands we are running 3 to 4 a week. Must be the mild weather many locations are seeing.

With the SEARCH working sporadically at best, I simply wrote up a one-size-fits-all FD 'how-to' piece. Copy & Paste job. Usually works like a charm. If there is a crash in SEARCH, and it's a common query and a subject that comes up all the time - and you know how to fix it - by all means write one up and put it in your files. Use as needed, while inviting others to copy it from you and passing same on. I find this better than the endless rounds of "Jump On The Newbie" being played.

Works for me.

Woof!