Rear wheel keeps breaking spokes

[Steve_V5]

Whilst cycling to work this morning I broke another spoke in my rear wheel, this is happening every couple of months or so. Hopefully it will be fixed today.

A while back I talked to the bike shop and they said it would not be advisable to rebuild the wheel with all new spoke, they said I needed a whole new wheel.

Any thoughts ?

The bike is a specialized allez sport.

 

[ajo]

If the wheel construction is OK, rebuilding with new spokes should do it.

Frequently spoke breaks usually have one of following reasons:
- Old spokes -"worn out". (Rebuild with new spokes is the solution)
- Too heavy rider or too though use for that wheel.
- Improper built wheel (uneven stress to the spokes).
- Damaged/uneven rim, which is pressed into true by the spokes - gives uneven stress to the spokes. This problem is usually related to "stiff" aero rims - seldom any problem for "soft" box rims. (new rim is the solution)
- Problem with the anchoring of the spokes in the hub (wrong angles / diametre / wrong spoke type used etc. in the flange)

It's also a cost issue if you should rebuild or change rim - compare it with the cost of a new one (where you get all parts completely new.)

 

[Steve_V5]

The wheel was fine on the ride back yesterday, but yesterday evening at home i heard a pop, I looked at the wheel and one of the nipples had broken. So I have had to drive to work today not that I don't like driving, in fact I love driving, just not to work in the rush hour !

I am taking the wheel to the shop at lunchtime and see what they say.

I am going to try and get them to rebuilt the wheel with new spokes/nipples, i don't really want to have to buy a new rim/hub due to the cost.

 

[chuy]

This happened to me twice. The first time I broke the nipple and somehow the spoke managed to remain in position, however my back rim was swaying from side to side like a mother*****. The second time happend 20min after I punchured my front tire on a nasty pothole. Solution, I memorized all the wicked potholes along the ride and avoid them at all costs.

 

[big_h]

Hi

I experience the same problem on my Trek 7200 Hybrid. Firstly the spokes started comning loose and the LBS decided to rebuild the wheel. After the rebuild it started snapping spokes at the flange end. I remebered reading about this somewhere and checked. I you look at the holes on the flange (not all flanges only some) you will find that every alternative hole is chamfered to allow for the bend in the spoke head. The in between hole ends with a sharp edge and is not chamfered) If the spokes are fitted in the wrong hole it places undue stress on the spoke and the head will eventually snap or break under stress. The LBS corrected this and re-spoked the wheel (in the correct way) with double butted DT Swiss spokes. Have not had a problem in more than two years.

Keep those wheels spinning!!!

Big H

 

[STEVEWSW]

Originally posted by Steve_V5
Whilst cycling to work this morning I broke another spoke in my rear wheel, this is happening every couple of months or so. Hopefully it will be fixed today.

A while back I talked to the bike shop and they said it would not be advisable to rebuild the wheel with all new spoke, they said I needed a whole new wheel.

Any thoughts ?

The bike is a specialized allez sport.

I have also got a Specialised and had the same problem, it is easy to fix, take the tyres etc off the back wheel(as it is only a back wheel problem) and look very carefully at the spoke heads, you may find that the spokes are sticking out, if they are then this is your problem, also they must be all of the same length on each side of the wheel. an ideal spoke and nipple view should have the spoke just a couple of threads shy of the head of the nipple. If they are above the slot or proud then you will more than likely have problems with the wheels going out of true or spokes breaking.
FYI I am 6'3" and 100kg (32 hole wheels), and road race and since I had the correct length spokes fitted I have had no problems.

Kind Regards

Steve Newman

 

[Steve_V5]

Cheers for the info guys, I am going to try a wheel rebuild before a new wheel !

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[halien]

I broke 3 spokes all at once on my mountain bike sprint out of a corner last week (on a road). Any wheel I get seems to last about 200K and then the spokes break at regular intervals! Most annoying.

 

[chuy]

Damn!!!! It happened again today!!!

 

[king_matt87]

I race road and moutain bike most spokes last between 2 o 8 years depending on spokes and how far bike is ridden. also rebuilding the wheel may not slove the problem because the same gose for a rim it wears out. brase nipples will last for ever so a wheel with bease nipples and stainless steel spokes 14" will give a good long ride. also people think the thicker a spoke in the stronger it is but infact a spoke with fat nippes and thin centre is 3 times as strong as normal spokes.

 

[Steve_V5]

I have the wheel back now, complete with new stronger spoke and new nipples. I was going to ride to work this morning but due to be away in Amsterdam over the weekend I didn't feel up to it. Hopefully tomorrow I will get a chance to try it.