Are new spokes necessary?

[DoTheTodd]

I'm about to start disassembling my wheels for painting and I'm curious about the spokes. Assuming I'm able to get the spokes out without having to cut any, can I actually reuse my spokes when I reassemble the wheel? Is there a problem with the spokes being stretched, or is it just a "Replace it while it's apart" kind of thing? Even if the spokes come out fine and I can reuse them, I'll probably replace the nipples anyways just to be safe.

I've looked at Buchanan spokes and if the answer here is no, then that is what I'm going with.

 

[Scruffy]

As long as they aren't obviously flawed (bent, rusting away, divots worn in them from being against each other) I reuse them. Nipples too if the threads are good and the flats aren't damaged.

If only a couple per wheel are bad, just replace the bad ones. 25% or more bad, replace the entire set.

 

[DoTheTodd]

Perfect. That's what I figured, but I didn't know if they were like some headbolts I've used in the past where they stretched as you torqued them down. Thanks.

 

[Tim]

You want to lubricate the nipples when you reassemble. Not sure what specifically you need to use, but when you get spokes from Buchanans it comes with a little tube of the stuff.

 

[Scruffy]

Anti-sieze, especially if you have stainless spokes or nipples. I even use it on mild (carbon) steel spokes. You can use the gray kind or the copper based. A small dab at the start of the threads is more than sufficient.

 

[Bert Jan]

hmm... i never re-use spokes because they are not expensive and it looks so much better with new ones.

No, the real reason is that spokes are 40+ years under tension and when you disassemble them, they have no tension anymore all of a sudden. Then when you re-tighten them... It has metal fatique written all over it.
For 40 bucks a wheel, be smart. Spokes are not something to go cheap on.

 

[Rich Ard]

Re: Re: Are new spokes necessary?

hmm... i never re-use spokes because they are not expensive and it looks so much better with new ones.

No, the real reason is that spokes are 40+ years under tension and when you disassemble them, they have no tension anymore all of a sudden. Then when you re-tighten them... It has metal fatique written all over it.
For 40 bucks a wheel, be smart. Spokes are not something to go cheap on.

This is how I've always treated bicycle wheels, though I don't know anyone who's had a problem after reusing a set.

 

[DoTheTodd]

hmm... i never re-use spokes because they are not expensive and it looks so much better with new ones.

No, the real reason is that spokes are 40+ years under tension and when you disassemble them, they have no tension anymore all of a sudden. Then when you re-tighten them... It has metal fatique written all over it.
For 40 bucks a wheel, be smart. Spokes are not something to go cheap on.

That's what I was wondering about, the metal fatigue. I'm thinking that I'll get new sets, just to be safe. Looks like I get to open yet another package once it arrives in the mail. It feels like a constant christmas when I keep ordering little parts here and there. Now if only someone else would pay for all of them .......

 

[Bert Jan]

Nobody said it's a cheap way of life.