My flat spoked Mavic Aksiums

prj45
prj45 Posts: 2,208
edited April 2010 in Workshop
So had them for a couple of two weeks, done 260 miles on them.

Noticed at the end of a ride on Sunday that several spokes are in the process of twisting round and a couple have gone a full 90 degrees (or 270 I guess), wheels are still bolt straight though.

Some questions for those in the know:

Is this normal for a new pair?

Will the spokes stop turning if I don't do anything about it?

Are they unscrewing or screwing up (or are both ends rotating without losing or gaining tension)?

If I get them tightened up will they do it again? (I presume the factory tightening is not as thorough as a good mechanic giving them the once over with a spoke key)

Comments

  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,217
    seems odd to happen so quick, maybe the wheel missed a step at the factory, at 2 weeks old imho back to shop and ask them to check/true them for free
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • topdude
    topdude Posts: 1,557
    Just checked my Aksiums and all spokes are straight. If your rims are running true then the spoke and nipple must be turning together in the rim.
    You could turn them back straight with a spoke key and a slotted piece of wood for the spoke and put a drop of loctite on the nipple / rim to stop them turning.
    He is not the messiah, he is a very naughty boy !!
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    prj45 wrote:
    So had them for a couple of two weeks, done 260 miles on them.

    Noticed at the end of a ride on Sunday that several spokes are in the process of twisting round and a couple have gone a full 90 degrees (or 270 I guess), wheels are still bolt straight though.

    Some questions for those in the know:

    Is this normal for a new pair?

    Will the spokes stop turning if I don't do anything about it?

    Are they unscrewing or screwing up (or are both ends rotating without losing or gaining tension)?

    If I get them tightened up will they do it again? (I presume the factory tightening is not as thorough as a good mechanic giving them the once over with a spoke key)

    My Aksiums are doing the same, had since the beginning of April. It's going to more of an issues with the 2010 wheels because they are straight pull over the J-bends of 2009.

    As the spokes have twisted but the wheel has remained true I have just rotated the spokes back in line.
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  • bexley5200
    bexley5200 Posts: 692
    my aksiums are ok no problems so far.
    going downhill slowly
  • Vino2007
    Vino2007 Posts: 340
    I got a pair with a new bike, put them on my training bike. Noticed after ~300miles a few spokes had twisted as you said. 100 miles later, a spoke broke at the nipple on the front. Back to the Mavic factory... :roll:
  • plowmar
    plowmar Posts: 1,032
    After your post I checked mine, and one or two are off straight, however after doing 1000 mls + will leave them till next service which is due shortly.

    But that said am I taking a risk?
  • DaSy
    DaSy Posts: 599
    Mine are about 8 months old, and I noticed a fair few of the spokes on the front wheel had done this too.

    I was planning on just turning them back round, as the wheel is still in true.
    Complicating matters since 1965