Broken Spokes

syncro
syncro Posts: 120
edited September 2009 in Workshop
I've had 2 broken spokes over the last couple of months. Is this just a coincidence or is there possibly a problem somewhere.

Comments

  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    Possibly. Have the spokes slackened off. If so then the wheel needs retensioning as slack spokes are more prone to breakage.
    My Fleet.
  • syncro
    syncro Posts: 120
    I've checked all of the spokes, they all seem tight and the wheel runs true. Any other ideas?
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/stre ... eving.html

    The first possibility is that you were unlucky with a batch of dodgy spokes. If that's the case, then nothing can be done but replace them.

    However: the spokes are most likely failing because they weren't stress-relieved. This is a wheel building process, vital to wheel durability but commonly not done, because most wheelbuilders don't understand why they should do it. The process, and reasons for doing it, are well explained at the above link.

    There is nothing to stop you stress relieving the remaining spokes yourself, though the wheel may be left a smidgeon out of true, which you'll have to either correct yourself, or leave if it doesn't bother you. However, once spokes have started breaking they are often followed by others, which have invisible fatigue fractures already. If it continues, you should probably have the wheel respoked, or replaced, depending on the condition of the other components. It is proably a waste of time asking your wheelbuilder to stress relieve a new wheel: if they already know what it is they'll do it anyway; if not they'll probably dismiss it.

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