Spoke coming loose all the time

[SurferChild]

Any advise on how to fasten a spoke/s in order for the damn thing not too come loose again? Two weekends in a row I noticed my front wheel starting to buckle on a ride. The first time around was close to home at least and I took it to my LBS to true the wheel again.

 

Today the same thing happened and I'm pretty sure it's the same spoke. This time I stopped alongside the road and felt the spoke was loose again and I tightened it to get the rim straightened out again and continued my ride.

 

This is so annoying and I would hate to think the amount of "French" words I would speak if this has to happen in a race.

[Johan Bornman]

You need lots of spoke tension in those wheels. Spokes come loose from lack of tension and residual spoke twist. Find a good wheelbuilder.

[SurferChild]

So I don't suppose a bit of lock tight would do the trick on the blade spokes

[David Marshall]

Don't use lock tite on the spoke. I use a lot of "French" words - and a blowtorch - to true wheels which have been treated thus. As JB said, find a wheel builder to retension the wheel.

[SurferChild]

I don't suppose you know of anybody? Otherwise I'll start asking around if anybody know of somebody (wheelbuilder) in my area of work or home.

[Wyatt Earp]

Don't use lock tite on the spoke. I use a lot of "French" words - and a blowtorch - to true wheels which have been treated thus. As JB said, find a wheel builder to retension the wheel.

 

Why would you want to use a blowtorch on a nipple that had some locktite applied.

Sounds more like someone super glued the thing.

 

Anyways, to the OP.

 

What wheels are they ?

[RexFuzzle]

My LBS put a little locktite on the offending spoke and only that one and never looked back since, even though I was not impressed when they did.

[SurferChild]

Why would you want to use a blowtorch on a nipple that had some locktite applied.

Sounds more like someone super glued the thing.

 

Anyways, to the OP.

 

What wheels are they ?

They are Aksium Race wheels with blade spokes. It's the original rims that the Cannondale came with

[Wyatt Earp]

They are Aksium Race wheels with blade spokes. It's the original rims that the Cannondale came with

 

I would get them re-built by a person who really understands wheels.

It might sound a little nuts, but get them to clean all the nipple sand threads properly.

If the nipples are badly damaged, get them to acquire a new set of nipples.

They need to clean the threads on the spokes as well.

 

Get them to soak the nipples in linseed oil (the crazy part I was referring to)

Then make sure they have the proper tools, not the plastic spoke tool from Mavic but the metal one or the Park Tool equivalent.

Also the tool that hold the blade and prevents it from twisting.

 

Get them to work according to the recommended spoke tension from Mavic.

We often get wheels that works loose.

Even from reputable wheel builders who claim that their wheels never work loose.

[SurferChild]

Damn, so it's not just a case of tightening a loose spoke. There is actually some major craftsmanship involved here.

Well, i suppose a man's got to do, what a man's got to do... Get it to somebody that knows their **** and get it sorted properly

[Johan Bornman]

Linseed oil is just another form of threadlock - organic threadlock if you want. The linseed oil has to be boiled so that it becomes varnish.

 

Nevertheless, threadlock is not the solution. Tension is. On an Aksium wheel it is pretty easy to ensure there is no residual twist in the spokes since they are bladed and twist can be seen.

 

Aksiums are pretty reliable, so once it is done properly, you won't have anymore problems.

 

On any wheel with less than 32 spokes and a heavy rider, there is a risk of spokes coming loose and sufficient tension is required, often beyond what the manufacturer specs.

[Wyatt Earp]

Damn, so it's not just a case of tightening a loose spoke. There is actually some major craftsmanship involved here.

Well, i suppose a man's got to do, what a man's got to do... Get it to somebody that knows their **** and get it sorted properly

 

Yip, wheels take a little bit of care, I have been building wheels for the past 20 years, and every day you can learn something new.

[Mojoman]

A little off topic but I have been told that I need to have my wheel rebuilt as one spoke has broken (in the nipple). Apparently over time I will keep on breaking spokes? Is it really necessary to have to do the whole wheel for one spoke?

[Bobbo_SA]

Why would you want to use a blowtorch on a nipple that had some locktite applied.

Sounds more like someone super glued the thing.

 

Anyways, to the OP.

 

What wheels are they ?

 

Locktite releases with heat.

[MeridaHFS]

Sorry for the hi-jack but I have a similar problem on my rear wheel(XT rim and hub). Spoke keeps loosing tension and causing a funny "eeck eeck" sound when riding. LBS has worked on it last week but over the weekend I noticed the tension gone again. Any Advice or contacts I can try in Cape town? Maybe Johan B can advise?

[Wyatt Earp]

Locktite releases with heat.

 

Ermmm yes and ?

 

So my question still, why a blow torch ?

Unless the guys soaked the nipple and thread in locktite there has to be something else at play.