Replacing spokes, easy or hard?

KevChallis

I have a set of Mavic Aksium wheels, but they have flat spokes, and a lot are twisted, also the snappy at the LBS said that they have been done too tight, causing a slight buckle, they are that tight he can't undo some to get the wheel 100% true (it's less than 1mm out on a wheel jig thing)

Question is, as a lot of the spikes are twisted anyway, would it be possible for me to change all these or is it a job best left to a shop?

Thanks

Kev

ugo.santalucia

Replacing single spokes is easy enough, rebuilding the front wheel is also relatively straightforward. Rebuilding the rear Aksium is less easy.

KevChallis

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Replacing single spokes is easy enough, rebuilding the front wheel is also relatively straightforward. Rebuilding the rear Aksium is less easy.

Yes it is the rear, what makes it more tricky?

Sorry, never rebuilt a wheel

ugo.santalucia

The way the spokes engage in the flange... it's not easy to fully rebuild it... I only did it once years ago and found it incredibly frustrating. The wheel is meant to be laced by a machine and as a human you don't have enough arms, so you have to find a way to keep the wheel steady while you add the spokes

KevChallis

I think superstar components build there's by machine, possibly worth a trip in to them as they are only 10 mins down the road?

ugo.santalucia

Robots only do one job... which is the reason these Mavic wheels have been in their catalogue virtually unchanged for over a decade

KevChallis

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Robots only do one job... which is the reason these Mavic wheels have been in their catalogue virtually unchanged for over a decade

I don't get it??

ugo.santalucia

You need a Mavic robot to lace a Mavic wheel.
You can lace the wheel... it's just to warn you it might not be dead easy

KevChallis

Ok, thanks, probably best to ride them currently as they are true (within 0.5mm) just the spokes are all twisted.

So will probably ride them until I can afford to replace the wheels, and use them as a winter set

topdude

Why not just straighten the spokes ?
Cut a slot in a small piece of wood,
slide onto each spoke near the nipple,
using a spoke key and the wood turn both until spoke is straight,
(you are not adjusting the tension just turning the spoke and nipple together)
When all straight add a drop of loctite to each nipple / rim hole to stop it turning in future,
Ride until they wear out

Matthewfalle

Nah - they're Aksiums and are junk. Stick them on ebay and but some Lightweights. Problem solved.