Do I need to use new spokes when replacing the hub (destroyed races) on a front wheel ?

It is advisable, yes.

As long as you're replacing it with an identical hub, or a hub with the holes in the flange at an identical height, then there's really no problem reusing spokes, assuming that they aren't visually damaged.

https://yarchive.net/bike/spoke_reuse.html

I stand corrected

I believe Brandt is talking about a wheel that simply has the rim replaced; spokes stay on the hub in the same position as already stressed. Basically you loosen the spokes, tape the new rim next to the old and transfer spokes to the new rim in the same positions.

I guarantee if you respoke a wheel with completely removed spokes going into new positions with new stresses you'll suffer many breaking...

I've only redone a handful of wheels,
but i've noticed when using new spokes,
that the thread revolutions are usually even and equal.
It really makes cinching it up easier since you can count tightening revolutions and depend on them to be truer. (moreso anyway)

The few i've done with used spokes have enough stretched or twisted that it adds alot of unnecessary time making it true.
I guess its good practice though!

Also i've never re-used stainless steel spokes which probably don't stick like the old galvanized type when removed,
you know there's always one.

TP

You aren't putting any more or less stress on a spoke if you reuse it. As long as the spoke was used in a properly built wheel, you can reuse them. What you are saying is that for some reason, the spoke has fatigued, but that this fatigue will only show when placed on a new hub. This is not so. In a properly built wheel, the spoke will not fatigue, it will be just as strong as the day you laced it originally, unless some damage has occurred.

I'm glad you can guarantee my wheels will have many broken spokes. Can you tell me when I can expect this to happen? So far, not one broken spoke on the wheels I am using now. I have occasionally taken my wheels apart and put back together. I find it much easier to really clean the hubs and spokes this way. I don't do this often. Just when cleaning the wheels and I just can't get them very clean. I don't number the spokes so that they will go back on the hub in the same place. Hell, I don't even separate them into trailing or leading spokes, drive side or non-drive side. Well, except for the shorter drive side on rear wheels.

Nope: glad its working for you, that has not been my experience.

Guys thanks for the responses - the plan is to use a new but same type of hub with existing everything elses. I am planning on paying a bit of attention to leading and trailing spokes and taking note of which came from where.

A bit of history on the the wheel. Its pretty much perfectally true with the need for minor adjustment yearly at most. It is used for comuting - about 30,000 km old - the brake surfaces are fine and it has never suffered a soke failure so far.

Its my wifes bike so I don't want to take too many chances - if the spokes start to go pop I'll hear about it....

I have built several sets of wheels with reused spokes with absolutely no problems at all.

Same here. I'd hesitate to re-use galvanized spokes though.

Firstly guys - thanks for all the advice. Your experience and knowledge is fantastic.

Wheel has probably 500km on it now, is running true and is as quiet as it had been for the last 30,000 odd kilometers. I was very happy not to throw out the spokes that had been fine for so long. I seemed like a complete waste.

Thanks again.


Regards

Paul

Why the hesitation with galvanized?

Galvanized spokes don't shine like stainless steel ones do!

I've reused SS, galvanized, even rust covered ones.. all seem fine so far.

My reservation is totally a matter of aesthetics. If my intent were to create a beater, or to put an old MTB on the road - well no worries. If I want something that looks nice, galvanized loses.

If old spokes leave the hub for any reason i replace them.
The stresses on the J hook could be opposite and it would snap.

Can't believe how many people here are trying to spook the dude...

Damn...

Conditions to be met:

1. If spokes were properly tensioned (nice and tight) previously...
2. If spokes were generally evenly tensioned previously...
3. If previous wheel had a relatively unexciting life - no damage to any part of the wheel...

Go ahead try to reuse the spokes...on one condition:

THAT YOU PROPERLY TENSION THE SPOKES AGAIN! (Nice and tight and evenly tensioned in the general sense.)


That fact that this is a front wheel makes likelihood of success even better. With the exception of disc-brake wheels - front wheels rarely suffer spoke breakage.


Have reused spokes (generic and DT alike) easily a hundred plus times - used to take a selection of used wheels and do a salvage job for a shop.


With rear wheels - take into consideration how generic the generic spokes are. It's a judgement call with rear wheels. If the spokes are DT Swiss spokes - chances are that 99% of the time rebuilding the wheel will work out just fine.


=8-)

I've never had any problems with used spokes. Some of mine have been re-built onto wheels a few times and have over 30,000 miles on them now. Jobst Brandt happens to use his same old spokes whenever he replaces a worn out rim and simply leaves his in place on the old hub while re-lacing. I really don't worry about even using mine in the same position on a hub... and, still I've never had any problems with breaking any spokes at the J-hook end.

As mrrabbit emphasized, evenly tensioned wheels are strong wheels - which distribute any stresses evenly among the spokes. Just take your time and do it right and you won't have to worry about a wheel later. If you notice that any of the spoke nipples are damaged (rounded) you would definitely want to replace them right away when re-building a wheel... otherwise you may never be able to tighten them properly.

Thanks Stronglight...

Also want to poiint out to folks...I bet Stronglight agrees with this...

...Don't throw away used DT Swiss spokes that have held up fine in a previous wheel...they are great re-use spokes. Regardless of size, guage, butting - toss 'em in a drawer...you'll find a use for 'em eventually.

The wheels on my Tommasini were built with used 15g DT spokes...

=8-)