Spoke sheared off

Bunneh

I bought my Scott Speedster around 4 months ago from my LBS. I've had no real problems bar the usual teething issues with a new bike (stretching cables etc). Tonight I started out and got a good 15 miles from home when I hear a 'TWANG!'. Looking down at the back wheel one of the spokes had fired out and was hanging limpy. Looking closer the actual thread had sheared in half and the back wheel was quite badly buckled.

Question I have is actually based around what should I expect from the shop. The bike's parts are under warranty for one year so as far as I'm concerned I reckon I should have the wheel replaced, even if it is just a buggered spoke - what concerns me is why did it sheer in the first place and is that back wheel safe in the future?

Some advice before I chew the LBS ear off would be awesome Of course I will go into the shop as nice and fluffy as I always am, unless they pee me about.

Ta!

Harveytile

Spokes break. I had a batch go on a rear wheel a few months ago. The spokes will not be covered nor would the wheels as a whole. A decent LBS might offer a discount on replacing the spoke and retruing the wheel if it is possible. If not then hopefully a discount on a replacement rear wheel.

Don't go in playing the big I AM. It'll just piss the shop off and you too when you get no help.

I would request they replace the spoke and true the rim. Best would be for them to detension the whole wheel, replace the broken spoke and then retension and true.

alp777

Harveytile wrote:

Spokes break. I had a batch go on a rear wheel a few months ago. The spokes will not be covered nor would the wheels as a whole. A decent LBS might offer a discount on replacing the spoke and retruing the wheel if it is possible. If not then hopefully a discount on a replacement rear wheel.

Don't go in playing the big I AM. It'll just wee-wee the shop off and you too when you get no help.

I would request they replace the spoke and true the rim. Best would be for them to detension the whole wheel, replace the broken spoke and then retension and true.

I disagree, i had a spoke shear off my Eastom EA50's a few months ago and my bike was less than a year old and i had ridden only around 1500 miles. I took it back to the shop i bought it from and they replaced the spoke free of charge.

desweller

Spokes break if they are low on tension, i.e. if the wheel has been incorrectly built.

When a spoke breaks, the load is distributed amongst the adjacent spokes. On wheels with low spoke counts, this can cause them to exceed their yield limit, and you will often sustain further breakages after the original spoke has been replaced (which sounds like what happened to Harveytile).

If I were you, I would have the wheel rebuilt with all new spokes. And yes, since I know that there's no reason for a spoke to break within four months of purchase, I would go in there and demand that it be done under warranty as it obviously wasn't checked.

rake

dont run the brakes too close to the rim incase it happens at speed.these things happen weather bad luck or poor quality.spkes will loosen from new so its maintenance to keep a check.

Bunneh

The BS wants £10 off me to replace the spoke and re-true the wheel. Sure a tenner's nout but I don't trust the wheel at all now. I'm going to take it over and have a chinwag, if they refuse to replace the spoke/re-true for nout I will contact Scott directly.

I have no intentions of being an ass about it, it's not my nature, but I will be firm about it. I will question about a full rebuild under warranty.

Thanks for the replies, will let you know how I get on.

rake

dont think warrenty will cover it. they dont nkow how it been ridden.

Bunneh

Yeah they said that; so I've accepted the 10 quid payment and they'll sort it for early next week. I'll send the bill to the local council and blame a pot-hole :P