Cutting hubs out of wheelset!!!!

The Big Cheese

Right - have a set of 719s on Hope Pro IIs handbuilt by Merlin - but now (due to heavier rig/riding style) want EX823s laced onto said hubs. Rather than have a set of new wheels built Merlin said they would lace the 'new' rims onto my Pro IIs but I have to cut them out of the rims (gonna break my heart!!)

What do I cut the spokes with????? :oops:

THanks!

nicklouse

if you want to keep the rim you unbuild the wheel buy one by one turning each nipple half a turn.

then when the tension is out you can cut them if you wish but why waste the spokes?

The Big Cheese

DIdnt really think of that Nick - that's just what the guy said to me at Merlin, not sure if I want/need to keep the spokes (he said he'd use new ones) but I would want to keep the rim(s) as they are pretty much brand new and in excellent condition.

I bought them for cross mountain, but as you probably are aware I had ordered a Transition vagrant, but that fell through (distributor couldnt get any in Large) so am now waiting for a Mythic Morphine to be delivered and all of my new kit for frame is heavy and a lot burlier

Even though the 719s are pretty tough I don't think they would hold up for long.......

I guess I would need to by a tools to loosen them - could you point me in the right direction please?

Also, what snips do I use to cut the spokes?

Thanks!

nicklouse

a spoke key of the correct size. and a screwdriver. and dont bother cutting them keep them. you never know. Also is the rear hub the correct size for the new bike? 100% sure?

The Big Cheese

CHeers Nick - how do I know what size the spokes are?

With regards to frame:

Rear hub= Hope Pro II QR

Mythic Morphine= 135mm OLD, 10mm drop outs

Should be OK - yes?

nicklouse

not the spoke the nipple. as the wheel builder what size he used. or take the wheel to a bike shop and try some of the tools for size. there are 4 different sizes (commonly used)but only 2 sizes are common on hand built wheels.

ride_whenever

Just how large are you planning on going? I only ask because my 719 on pro II (from merlin) have lasted through a summer of jumping including some 12" drops they also cycled over a bmx and are still completely straight and true.

rob cole

I would never reuse spokes its a false economy and the old spokes have already received enough stress /stretch by being laced up and tensioned and ridden on...

we just use bolt croppers or high quality pliers (snap-on) to cut the spokes out

supersonic

It does depend on how damaged the spoke is. In many cases they have been fully stress relieved, making them ideal to reuse. Jobst Brant has a little article on it:

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

No use if your new rim is a different ERD!

The Big Cheese

Cheers lads, but literally just decided that I shall keep them as they are and order a set of EX823s on Pro II from Merlin.

I was going to use my 24 seven AM rig (in sig) for a 'doner rig' but couldnt be arsed in the end so will be building a FR-specific rig separately.... AM rig is a little big but I'll manage. (WIll post a topic re: new rig in buying advice (for other advice!)

All I have on order is the frame