Broken Spokes - replacing

[gkilner]

I've just been checking my bike over for loose spokes - and found two snapped spokes on the rear wheel.

I have never replaced a spoke before, am I right in assuming that the tyre will need to be removed?

Will any local bike shop stock spare spokes?

Thanks for your help,

Gavin.

 

[flecc]

They may do, or if not can get them Gavin. The wheel is likely to be out of true though, so might need some attention to make it true again. That's a simple job for the bike shop as it's the non-motor wheel.
.

 

[aaannndddyyy]

If the spokes are broken off from the hub and the nipples and broken spoke are still in the rim it is quit easy to fix without removing the tier as long as you are carful not to lose the nipple inside the rim when you undo the broken spoke, if the nipples have gone inside the rim then the tier will have to be removed.
Spokes are unlikely to be the right size in bike shops as they tend to come in standard sizes which are normally to long for hub motors, some shops have thread rolling machines that can make spokes up to fit the wheel, in my experience the shops I have gone to don’t mind making a couple of spokes up, but don’t like cutting a fall set of 36 as it is quit time consuming and can get expensive.

 

[Ian]

Gavin,

spokes can be replaced with the wheel still in the bike, the safest way is to deflate and push the tyre and tube off the rim in the area of the spokes to be replaced. Some bike shops stock spokes in common sizes which being a non-motorised wheel, may fit. Take both parts to a shop so they can determine the correct length. Spokes also vary in diameter, most bikes use 14 gauge spokes which are readily available but some electrics use slightly thicker 13 gauge spokes which are harder to find. St Johns Street Cycles stock the best range of spokes that I know of, The 14G DT champion and 14G British Made are the standard spokes in their range.

 

[gkilner]

Thanks for the replies.

The spokes have snapped at the hub end - at the end where the nipple is, so the tyre should be able to stay on.

Looking at the wheel, I think it will need trueing as Flecc said.

My only local bike shop, which is still open when I get home from work, is Halfords - I'll take the wheel there and see what they can do.

I've just sent Powabyke an email in the hope they will send me a few spare spokes - they are usually very good and send out cheap spares the next day - free of charge.

 

[gkilner]

I went to Halfords this morning but they couldn't fix the wheel until Friday, their maintenance guy was on a training course.
They were good enough to diect me to another local bike shop who could fix it today though, so managed to get the two spokes replaced and wheel trued for £12.(Cheaper than Halfords were going to charge me) Very reasonable I thought.

 

[Ian]

Nice one Gavin, that sounds a perfectly reasonable labour charge.