Loose spoke - why?

JamesB
JamesB Posts: 1,184
edited September 2007 in Workshop
Had a lovely new set of Open Pro wheels built :) ; very soon after just one rear spoke (non drive side) became very loose :( , virtually unthreaded (several mm thread showing).
LBS rebuilt wheel replacing all nipples, as thought was that could have been bad nipple.
Now excatly same has happened again, after c few hundred miles use. Without any warning I heard a sharp crack from rear wheel and saw that wheel out of true and a single spoke completely slack, thread showing several mm again. Don`t know if it`s same spoke but again on non drive rear.
I`ve had this happen just once before on a front wheel when a single spoke loosened off .

Spokes are DT Swiss , is it possibly just one bad thread on a spoke? or any other reasons spring to mind? :?
I`m sure LBS will agree to complete rebuild with new spokes and rim

Comments

  • Smokin Joe
    Smokin Joe Posts: 2,706
    My instincts would be to go somewhere else and have the wheel re-tensioned. Many shops build wheels, not that many are any good at it.
  • fast as fupp
    fast as fupp Posts: 2,277
    get them to loctite your nipples (ooer missus!)

    they dont come loose and you can still adjust them :D
    'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'
  • JamesB
    JamesB Posts: 1,184
    But why should they become loose? The spoke is under tension and therefore the nipple should`nt become so unscrewed??? :? :?
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    JamesBwmb wrote:
    But why should they become loose? The spoke is under tension and therefore the nipple should`nt become so unscrewed??? :? :?

    normally do to a poor build.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • JamesB
    JamesB Posts: 1,184
    a poor build being? when new spokes all felt same tension, wheel was spot on true??
    Did ping and twang quite a bit when first ridden but was still true after, then suddenley problems

    ta
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    edited September 2007
    JamesBwmb wrote:
    a poor build being? when new spokes all felt same tension, wheel was spot on true??
    Did ping and twang quite a bit when first ridden but was still true after, then suddenley problems

    ta
    the spokes were not destresed in the build.

    if you have poor threads you feel it when building you know it is bad and change it out.

    A well build wheel should not make anynoise when ridden on. all the "ping" should have been taken out by the builder.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Just to confirm what Nick says - if the spokes weren't stress relieved, the spoke would be 'wound-up' and subsequent riding of the wheel would cause it to unscrew from the nipple - this would be due to failure to oil the eyelet/nipple interface, inadequate spoke tension and failure to destress your wheel properly.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • JamesB
    JamesB Posts: 1,184
    Thanks for this, I will discuss with LBS the feedback I`ve had

    Mine is Campagnolo, centaur and good too! :)

    James

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