How to Put Spokes on a Bike
The spoke is an example of how the littlest things on a bicycle can sometimes matter most. A broken spoke needs to be replaced before a bicycle can be safely ridden. But replacing a broken spoke is no easy process. Spokes on wheels are of no standard size, and can require an extensive process of trial and error to find the right length. The job requires a number of special tools to complete. However, replacing a spoke at home can be a great way to save money and a trip to the bike shop.
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Things You'll Need
- Truing stand
- Bicycle pump
- Tire levers
- Spoke wrench
- Spoke
- Nipple driver
- Millimeter stick
Instructions
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Installing the Spoke
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1
Remove all the air in the tire by depressing the inner tube's valve, then remove the tire from the rim using the tire levers. Once the tire and tube have been removed from the wheel, remove the rubber or cloth strip that wraps the inside of the rim (called a rim strip) from the wheel.
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2
Remove the broken spoke from the wheel. Using a spoke wrench, unthread the broken spoke end from the nipple. Remove the end attached to the hub by pulling it out of the hub's flange. If the spoke is behind the cassette or freewheel, you will need to remove that mechanism to remove the broken spoke.
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3
Line up the pieces of the broken spoke to determine the length. Measure the length in millimeters using a millimeter stick. The length of the spoke must be exact for it to work properly with the wheel. You may need to try several different spokes before you find the right one.
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4
Put the spoke through the hole in the hub's flange. Make sure the spoke follows the same route towards the nipple as the other spokes on the wheel.
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5
Thread the spoke into the nipple using a spoke driver. Once the spoke driver has latched on to the threaded end of the nipple, you can use a spoke wrench to tighten it up. This is the point where the spoke's length will become important. If the spoke is too short, it will not tighten enough. If it is too loose, threads will stick out above the nipple.
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6
Reinstall the cassette or freewheel by threading them back onto the wheel.
Putting the Wheel Back Together
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7
Reinstall the tire and the rim strip. Make sure the rim strip is even and untwisted and covers all the nipples. Pump the inner tube up to its recommended pressure.
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8
Put the wheel in the truing stand and check the true. A truing stand is a type of device that resembles two symmetrical towers that a wheel can sit in. It also includes a pair of calipers that are used to measure the side to side movement in the rim. The elimination of this movement is called truing.
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9
Tighten down the new spoke until it is even with the other spokes around it, then even out the tension on the surrounding spokes using a spoke wrench. Use the calipers on the truing stand to check how much side-to-side movement the wheel has.
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10
Put the wheel on a hard surface and push on the side of the rim with your hands. Flip the wheel over and do it on the other side. Put it back in the truing stand to check for any changes in the wheel's straightness. If it's no longer straight, tighten or loosen the spokes where it bends in order to even out the straightness.
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11
Squeeze each pair of spokes with your hands to ensure tension. If any feel too loose or too tight, even them out by tightening or loosening them as needed.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Determining the length of the spoke is the hardest part of replacing a spoke. It may be necessary to take the broken spoke to a bike shop to have the length assessed by professional mechanics.
While installing the spoke, check for other spokes that may be near breaking. Spokes that are corroded or have metal chunks missing from them are in danger of breaking and should be replaced. Additionally, nipples with cracks in them may split open and need to be replaced.
A broken spoke can cause damage to a rim and possibly injury. If a spoke breaks during a ride, finish the ride as quickly as possible and replace the spoke.
References
- Photo Credit Bicycle wheel image by Radu Razvan from Fotolia.com
