What would cause my spoke nuts to unscrew?

prj45
prj45 Posts: 2,208
edited July 2009 in Commuting chat
So I've got this temporary bike I'm using while the frame of my main bike is being replaced.

However, I got home today, bit of a wobble on the back wheel, and one of the spoke nuts had unscrewed itself right up into the wheel, this happened last week too (and the shop kindly fixed it).

Now I'm pretty sure I didn't see somebody with a spoke key chasing me down and sneakily knocking in a couple of turns whilst I waited at the lights, so what would cause that?

Comments

  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Dodgy thread? Road vibration?
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • gb155
    gb155 Posts: 2,048
    cjcp wrote:
    Dodgy thread? Road vibration?

    No I think its a valid question TBH :D [/u][/i]
    On a Mission to lose 20 stone..Get My Life Back

    December 2007 - 39 Stone 05 Lbs

    July 2011 - 13 Stone 12 Lbs - Cycled 17851 Miles

    http://39stonecyclist.com
    Now the hard work starts.
  • RedGT
    RedGT Posts: 238
    I'm no expert and I don't know the make of your wheel, but it could be
    the thread on the spoke is knackered.
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    gb155 wrote:
    cjcp wrote:
    Dodgy thread? Road vibration?

    No I think its a valid question TBH :D [/u][/i]

    A-ha ha ha.

    :P
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • gb155
    gb155 Posts: 2,048
    cjcp wrote:
    gb155 wrote:
    cjcp wrote:
    Dodgy thread? Road vibration?

    No I think its a valid question TBH :D [/u][/i]

    A-ha ha ha.

    :P

    Off to take my Bow now :)
    On a Mission to lose 20 stone..Get My Life Back

    December 2007 - 39 Stone 05 Lbs

    July 2011 - 13 Stone 12 Lbs - Cycled 17851 Miles

    http://39stonecyclist.com
    Now the hard work starts.
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    Whole wheel will be sloppy - the slack created by the extension of the spokes the bike "hangs" from allows the tension in the spokes under the hub to release so that the spoke NIPPLES are (too) loose in the rim, and gadually unscrew.

    If the wheel was correctly tensioned, the spokes above the hub (from which the weight of the bike "hangs") are tensioned enough to hold tension in the spokes below and the nipples are held in place.

    Clear as mud.