Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Any problem reusing spokes?

Search
Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Any problem reusing spokes?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-02-09 | 09:12 AM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 231
Any problem reusing spokes?

I've got a wheel with the eyelets separating from the rim and I don't want to risk riding on it. I'm going to buy the same rim and build up the wheel. Is there any problem reusing the spokes from the previous wheel on the new wheel?

Thanks!
Force is offline  
Reply
Old 09-02-09 | 09:17 AM
  #2  
Bianchigirll's Avatar
Bianchi Goddess
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 28,902
Likes: 4,140
From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In

Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.

Hello when I was in the business we used to do that often, especially for a medium milage wheel esp for nonracer types. if you have been having issues with spokes breaking too I would consider replacing them. the tricky part might be getting a similar size rim.
__________________
One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"

Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Bianchigirll is offline  
Reply
Old 09-02-09 | 09:29 AM
  #3  
miamijim's Avatar
Senior Member
Sheldon Brown Memorial - Donating
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,973
Likes: 145
From: Tampa, Florida
No problems at all. As long as they're in good shape you'll be OK.
miamijim is offline  
Reply
Old 09-02-09 | 10:33 PM
  #4  
sailorbenjamin's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,630
Likes: 18
From: Rhode Island (an obscure suburb of Connecticut)

Bikes: one of each

Some folks say to keep them in their origional orientation, ei-forward leading left side vs after leading left side etc.
On the other hand, I've put a few miles on a total mix and match wheel I built last winter just to see if it would work. No problems yet.
sailorbenjamin is offline  
Reply
Old 09-03-09 | 12:03 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 12
From: New Haven, CT area

Bikes: Trek 7.5 Hybrid, Trek 1.1 Road, Holdsworth touring,Raleigh International,Ritchey Commando,Italvega Speciallissimo,et.al.

I would say no problem re-using them, However, some folks say no, replace all spokes. I think that if you are of average weight and height that it will be fine.
jacksbike is offline  
Reply
Old 09-03-09 | 12:22 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,239
Likes: 8
From: Bay Area, Calif.
I've done this a few times when the rim has worn out due to long-term wear of the braking surface. Pretty easy to temporarily tape the new rim to the old one and then move the spokes over one at a time. That way all the orientations are automatically preserved and the spokes remain in any shallow grooves they may have created in the hub flanges.
prathmann is offline  
Reply
Old 09-03-09 | 04:09 AM
  #7  
randyjawa's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 12,565
Likes: 2,739
From: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!

Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma

Just do it...

If there is no spoke damage, just do it. Loosen all spokes on the old wheel and then, one at a time switch each spoke to the new rim. Do not remove any spokes from the hub.

Simply place the new rim along side of the old. Ensure that your valve hole is matched to the old one and then remove a single nipple. Move the spoke into the matching spoke hole on the new rim and thread the old nipple on a wee ways(a few turns). Repeat until all spokes are fitted into the new rim. Now all you have to do is true, dish and stress relieve the wheel.

I have done this many times and without negative incident. If you do discover that there is a spoke breaking issue later on, then that is when you spring for new spokes and do it all again.

Good luck with your project.
randyjawa is offline  
Reply
Old 09-03-09 | 05:13 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 888
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
My experience has been that some spokes are just more prone to breakage than others, maybe due to a difference in the type of stainless steel. I've got an original set of wheels where spokes go out on a regular basis, and another set with spokes that have been reused on different hubs/rims for 35 years with no problems whatsoever.
sprince is offline  
Reply
Old 09-03-09 | 07:34 AM
  #9  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 231
Excellent. Thanks for the advice. I think I will give it a shot. Now if I can just find a Campy Victory Strada 36h rim . . . .
Force is offline  
Reply
Old 09-03-09 | 08:34 AM
  #10  
afilado's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 15
From: Chattanooga

Bikes: '93 Bridgestone RB-1, '91 Specialized Allez Epic, '85 Raleigh Team Pro, '78 Andre Bertin, early '90s F. Moser Leader AX , '85 Centurion Equipe, '98 Litespeed Tuscany, '89 Klein Quantum, '80 Nishiki Superbe, '83 Peckham, '84 Fuji Opus III

I've got a set of bronze anodized Victory Strada rims......one new; second laced once but unridden. If you're interested.........

Originally Posted by Force
Excellent. Thanks for the advice. I think I will give it a shot. Now if I can just find a Campy Victory Strada 36h rim . . . .
afilado is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.