Loose spoke newbie problem

[DresdenDoom]

Some of my rear spokes are loose. Trouble is that the wheel is true. Will tightening them gently put the wheel out? I haven't dared try but I've got to bite the bullet soon I think.

 

[PpPete]

Tighten them - and then true it up as necessary. If you don't you risk spoke breakage.

 

[Flattrackhero]

I recently bought a Shimano tiara rear wheel for my winter bike and the spokes loosen after every ride - does anyone have advice on a) what is wrong and b) can I fix this. I'm a bit sick of trueing the wheel after every ride. I have Fulcrum 5's on my road bike and did not need to touch the spokes at all last year.


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[Ian H]

If the whole wheel is built to fairly low tensions then, modern rims being pretty strong, the wheel won't go much out of true. However slack spokes will break more quickly. Tighten them until they feel about even, then go around the wheel, starting somewhere obvious such as the valve hole, to true it. You don't even need to take the tyre off for this. If you have vertical drop-outs, it's easy enough to true the wheel in the frame - clip some sort of guide either side on the chainstays.

If spokes are loosening regularly, try upping all the tensions by a quarter to half a turn. You can try even more if still they feel a bit slack. Some truing will almost certainly be required afterwards.

 

[Flattrackhero]

Thanks Ian, I will try that when I get home tonight

 

[accountantpete]

I recently bought a Shimano tiara rear wheel for my winter bike and the spokes loosen after every ride - does anyone have advice on a) what is wrong and b) can I fix this. I'm a bit sick of trueing the wheel after every ride. I have Fulcrum 5's on my road bike and did not need to touch the spokes at all last year.

Make sure you are tightening the nipple rather than twisting the spoke. If you get a series of pings when you start riding after truing the wheel it would indicate that the spokes are twisted. A bit of lubrication will help prevent this.

Other than that the nipples should stay where they are through friction - which is why it is important to have them tightened properly in the first place. If you still get problems the final solution is to apply threadlock to the threaded part of the spoke.