crack in wheel rim - Safe or not?

RichTL
RichTL Posts: 133
edited August 2008 in Workshop
Hi

I have a small crack on the rear wheel of my winter bike. The crack is only small but crosses through a spoke hole. The rim is a a Campy Berlin 36 clincher, the wheels are quite old now but in good condition otherwise. I dont really want to replace them. Question is will it be safe and is there anything i can do to stop it getting worse?
Any advice welcome

Comments

  • robbarker
    robbarker Posts: 1,367
    Can you post a piccie?

    Sometimes this is a symptom of overtight spokes, sometimes just of old age and wear. Do you know how much braking surface is left on the rim?

    You might have to prepare yourself to gett the rim replaced. if everything else is OK, this needn't be too much expense - an LBS will typically build a wheel for £15, and you need to add the price of a new rim - around £30 or so.
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    The spoke hole with the crack will in time pull through. You could loosen that spoke 1/8 turn but then you'd lose the trueness of the wheel.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • OnTow
    OnTow Posts: 130
    I'd be rather wary of any crack in a wheel - at least it's the back one, so you've got some hope of staying upright if it splits and jams in the frame!
    Personally, the risk of something happening vs. the cost of a new wheel is a no brainer for me.
  • campagsarge
    campagsarge Posts: 434
    Personally, if it was me, I would be thinking about getting a new rim and getting the hub built into that.

    Reedvee, have you seen the banner adverts on your bike link? Mrs Campagsarge was non-to happy when those images flashed up!
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    campagsarge wrote:
    Reedvee, have you seen the banner adverts on your bike link? Mrs Campagsarge was non-to happy when those images flashed up!

    I don't see them as I run FF with Adblock etc, just looked with Safari and the first banner was just text ads, on a refreash they weren't so family friendly :oops:
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • campagsarge
    campagsarge Posts: 434
    Original Bike Porn.
  • satanas
    satanas Posts: 1,303
    IME, cracks that go only through the spoke holes rarely cause failure - I say rarely because I have never seen it happen but am sure somebody will post an example.

    However, any circumferential crack in or near the base of the braking surface could potentially cause rim sidewall failure -> blowout -> possible crash. Any cracking or bulging of the rim sidewall should be a death warrant for that rim IMHO.

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