How to remove seized spokes?
- Thread starter electr0n
- Start date
Thud
1 MW
cut the spokes with a dremel or small bolt cutters. right inthe center. they will fall out of both ends that way.
bigmoose
1 MW
What about a little heat on the nipples with a propane torch if you want to save the spokes.
Ypedal
100 TW
if they are that rusty.. i'd cut them and use new one's.
trying to true a wheel with rusty nipples.. no fun..
trying to true a wheel with rusty nipples.. no fun..
john7700
100 W
Ypedal said:
Pretty much a rule of thumb no matter what your doing 8)
You can try using a penetrating oil, like some of the lubricants meant to help unsieze car engine bolts; there's usually enough airspace inside the threading for it to run down in, if corrosion hasn't blocked that (and if it has, you probably don't want to reuse them anyway).
In my experience with taking apart many scrap wheels to save various parts of them, if the nipples are siezed onto the spokes themselves, then there is no point in saving the spokes as you will probalby damage the threads or the spoke head at the other end in the process of trying to get them loose, either on or off the rim.
I've dremelled out the nipple heads, so that I coudl get the spoke off the rim, then clamped the spoke in a vise and used spoke-wrenches or vise-grips on the remainder of the nipple, and usually the spoke gets twisted and damaged in the process, or the threads get crunched.
If I can't even turn the remainder of the nipple, I have tried to dremel or file it off, and again, the threads get damaged. Once they looked just fine, but when I re-used the spokes later, the final tensioning stage of truing just started shearing the threads off.
I can imagine what would have happened if I had a front hub wheel built out of them, and they'd just barely survived the tensioning.... 
So be careful if you do have to use extreme measures to get them off; you might wanna keep an eye on those spokes before and after every ride.
In my experience with taking apart many scrap wheels to save various parts of them, if the nipples are siezed onto the spokes themselves, then there is no point in saving the spokes as you will probalby damage the threads or the spoke head at the other end in the process of trying to get them loose, either on or off the rim.
I've dremelled out the nipple heads, so that I coudl get the spoke off the rim, then clamped the spoke in a vise and used spoke-wrenches or vise-grips on the remainder of the nipple, and usually the spoke gets twisted and damaged in the process, or the threads get crunched.
If I can't even turn the remainder of the nipple, I have tried to dremel or file it off, and again, the threads get damaged. Once they looked just fine, but when I re-used the spokes later, the final tensioning stage of truing just started shearing the threads off.
I can imagine what would have happened if I had a front hub wheel built out of them, and they'd just barely survived the tensioning.... So be careful if you do have to use extreme measures to get them off; you might wanna keep an eye on those spokes before and after every ride.
I tried lubricating on a prior attempt and only managed to get a couple spokes loose enough to adjust. So today I went out and picked up a cheap angle grinder. Would it be ok to put some silicone spray lubricant in the nipples before I screw the spokes into them to avoid them getting seized together again?
MadRhino
100 GW
Use linseed oil, much better than silicone for spoke nipples
johnrobholmes
10 MW
MadRhino said:
I have never heard of this. Is there a specific reason? I use a petrol based lube for my wheel building and would like a more natural substitute.
I take old wheels apart with a 7 amp angle grinder. Cut the spokes apart and toss em. Forget nipples that have been seized, the threads will be gummed up badly.
MadRhino
100 GW
johnrobholmes said:
Linseed oil is commonly used here by wheelbuilders. It dries sticky, protects from corrosion, and keeps nipples adjustable even after a long rest. Try it, you'll love it.
Philistine
100 kW
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- Aug 15, 2010
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The older the berry the sweeter the fruit....
dogman dan
1 PW
I'd vote for removing any spokes that can't be budged with a drop of oil. Just clip em with wire cutters. New spokes cost a buck a piece, but dumpster wheels could be a source for cheap ones.
That was quite a job. Took me over 3 hours cutting a spoke at a time. The wheel is much much better now and it feels like the front shock is actually working better than before as well. I'm sure I could do it much faster next time. Is linseed oil something that would be sold in grocery stores?
Thud
1 MW
Linseed oil will be found in the Paint department of any home improvment store.
