Twisted spoke (Bladed)

[Monsieur Remings]

Okay, I eventually took a wheel I needed trueing to my LBS. I didn't quite have the gall in the end to risk, what I thought would be, breaking a spoke by torquing too far the other way. The wheel has been trued about as good as you can get but was a bit disappointed when he showed me that one of the spokes that he'd worked on, was a bit twisted around.

Now, he said it wouldn't make any difference but what do you all think? It's one spoke at the end of the day and the wheel is trued but is this shoddy work or more hassle than it's worth trying to put right if, as I suspect the LBS chap thought, if it's tued then what difference will it make?

What do you all think, replace it? Or is this so common that it isn't worth fussing about.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

I am not familiar with the different Ksyrium Elite vintages over the years, so am not sure if their spokes are always stainless steel like today's, or what yours are.

Since normal ss spokes get twisted all the time with evidently little ill effect, if ss it would be of less concern to me. But some of my Mavic factory wheels have alloy (Zicral) bladed spokes - I wouldn't like them to be twisted.

It is hard to escape the conclusion that it was shoddy work given they are bladed spokes...

 

[accountantpete]

New spokes are only around £3 a pop - I'd get a new one and then get him to true the wheel for you.

Or you can put that one yourself easily enough.

 

[PpPete]

There are spoke holders that hold the blade in line whilst nipple is turned. Why would a competent mechanic not use one?

And you'll never break a spoke by overtorquing it. Put a big wrench over the key to get extra leverage and haul on it - you might just pull the nipple through the rim - but still not break the spoke.

 

[accountantpete]

One thing that has just occurred to me - the spoke that has twisted must have been really tight or it is a replacement spoke that is slightly too long and the nipple has reached the limit of the thread. I'd have a quick check.

 

[rb58]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but it's a related question......

I also have Ksyrium Elites and a couple of spokes are no longer aero - they're sitting at the wrong angle. Is it simply a matter of putting the supplied key on so that the nipple doesn't turn (and hence change the tension) and then using the blade tool to turn the spoke back in line? And presumably the blade tool should be used at the nipple end, not the hub end?

Cheers.

 

[accountantpete]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but it's a related question......

I also have Ksyrium Elites and a couple of spokes are no longer aero - they're sitting at the wrong angle. Is it simply a matter of putting the supplied key on so that the nipple doesn't turn (and hence change the tension) and then using the blade tool to turn the spoke back in line? And presumably the blade tool should be used at the nipple end, not the hub end?

Cheers.

If the wheel is true then you need to simply get the spoke holder and spoke key in position and turn them both simultaneously the same way until the spoke is angled correctly - this way the spoke is not tightened.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

I don't know how to check that Pete - can't imagine it was a replacement as I bought them new. It may not be a spoke he worked on but either way if it's about to break due the tension then I'll have to go elsewhere and get it fixed. Do you suggest releasing the tension and straightening the blade. I know this will undo the work but I'd prefer that to a potentially damaged spoke?

Here it is...

FFS. Just don't have time or ability to get to the LBS I trust that easily. Thanks for all the feedback anyway but would really appreciate opinion on whther this is damaged beyond repair or whether I should straighten it and get it trued where they'll do it properly?????

 

[fossyant]

I would get a new spoke ordered. They can twist if not held whilst truing, but it will twist over the entire length. I suspect it's been a bodge true - I've fettled aksium and ksyriums, held the blade in an adjustable spanner and lightly trued, a bit at a time. Looks like the nipple may have seized whilst a spoke 'holder' was used to keep the spoke straight. Looks like no mechanical sympathy there - if you feel it twisting to much, i'd back it off and check it was turning properly.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

Okay, so no point in trying to undo and straighten?

Maybe I need to go and have words with the LBS.

 

[PpPete]

Okay, so no point in trying to undo and straighten?

I'd still have a go at it.
180 degree + twist ? "no mechanical sympathy" is being kind to a ridiculous degree

 

[accountantpete]

If it's as I said earlier (they have used a replacement spoke) the start of the blade will be a little bit further away/closer to the rim than all the others.

It is seated correctly at the hub isn't it?

If you can see that it is the same spoke as all the rest then as Fossyant says, the nipple may have seized so you could try loosening the nipple, popping some oil on the thread and have another go.

 

[fossyant]

I'd still have a go at it.
180 degree + twist ? "no mechanical sympathy" is being kind to a ridiculous degree

OK ham fisted job at truing a wheel ! I'd be pi$$ed if someone did that. TBH My wheel builder wouldn't, he won't do radial on conventional hubs for risk of cracking the hub flange in use.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

Yep, have had a go and the more I look at it, the more it looks as if others have been twisted at the nipple end. I know this can't be avoided up to a point but don't know what to do now, having released the tension on twsited blade(s), it's now out of true again so I can't fix it either way.

What a nightmare. Looks like really poor workmanship.

 

[fossyant]

The blades are beyond fixing where the twist is - it's new ones I am afraid. I'd be having words with the LBS.