Question about rim replacement
 

I'm looking to upgrade the rims on a wheelset I have to Open Pro's. The spokes are in great condition so I'm wondering if I can use them when relacing the new rims to my current hubs. Any info would help.

Thanks!

there are mixed views on this. but the most important thing is simply the size of the new V old rim. unless the new rim has the some measurement as the old one you simply can't reuse the spokes.

now some would say to never reuse spokes but I simply go on a case by case basis. if the wheel is a few years old and has alot of miles you should replace the spokes rather than subject them to the stress of rebuilding the wheel.

I have reused many spokes over the years without major incident.

As Bianchigirll said, it should be fine as long as the rim sizes match. Check what the 'ERD' (Effective Rim Diameter) is on both. If they're close then check the spokes on your current rim and see how far the threads go into the nipples and estimate how they'll look when using the new rim with its slightly different ERD.

When I replace a rim, I tape the new rim alongside the existing wheel and then move the spokes over individually. That way the spokes stay in the same orientation in the hub and shouldn't have any unnecessary stress. Decent quality spokes should outlast several rims unless they've been damaged.

describe the wheels, consult the board, name the old rims. if the old spokes aren't stainless steel, don't reuse them. look at the head of the spokes and see if they're stamped with something.

As Jobst Brant says, a shop doing the build will normally advise replacing the spokes because they know you will blame their workmanship if you start breaking spokes soon after. (And it is a little faster, but wasteful of perfectly good spokes, to just cut the old spokes out of the old rim and start fresh. Depends who's paying I guess. One man's expense is another man's revenue.) But if you haven't been breaking spokes, there is no reason not to reuse them exactly as Prathman says -- I've done this many times without problems.

Now, if you find the nipples are seized to the spokes or to the rim sockets, it is going to take some time (= $$ even if it's your own leisure time) to get them transferred into the new rim. You might end up rounding off some nipples or even breaking a spoke or two from torsion. When a rusted spoke breaks, it flings off rust particles right into your eyes -- wear safety glasses. The free end of the broken spoke doesn't usually shoot out of the rim like a bolt from a crossbow (because you're grabbing it with the spoke wrench), but you should still avoid looking "down the barrel" so to speak.

However, what I bet you find is that the ERD of new rims are just enough smaller than old standbys like MA-2s that you won't be able to re-use the old spokes. :notamused: (If you are upgrading modern el cheapo rims to Open Pros you might be in luck, but since this is a C&V forum I was guessing that you were replacing worn-out vintage rims.)

Even if you need to get new spokes to account for ERD difference, save the old spokes if they're in good enough condition, you never know when you might want to do another build where they will work.