Repairing Guides

how to repair a broken spoke

by Myrtis Grady III Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • Get a replacement spoke that matches the ones on your wheel. Simply take the broken one into a bike shop and they'll provide you with a match.
  • Thread the spoke through the hub, matching the pattern exactly so that it fits the sequence of existing spokes.
  • Thread the spoke up through the other spokes, again matching the pattern (over some neighboring spokes, under others) on the way to the nipple. ...
  • Line up the threaded end of the spokes with the nipple, and using a spoke wrench, screw it into place. ...

Part of a video titled How to replace a broken spoke | Cycling Weekly - YouTube
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And you measure from the inside of the J bend to the end of the threads. You'll see that the spokesMoreAnd you measure from the inside of the J bend to the end of the threads. You'll see that the spokes alternate. The way that they're threaded into the hub.

How to fix a broken spoke just to get home?

How to Fix a Broken Spoke Just to Get Home First, you need to get the spoke out of the way so that it doesn’t interfere with your wheel turning. If you have a broken spoke on the front wheel, you should be able to just slide it out of the hub. If it’s on the rear wheel, bend the broken spoke around one of the spokes adjacent to it.

How much does it cost to replace a broken wheel spoke?

A Spoke Key and Wheel Truing Jig (only if the wheel is buckled) are the two tools needed to complete the job. The spoke itself is between $1-2 to buy. (which is why you should repair your wheel before it starts to buckle).

What happens if you drive with broken spokes?

And if your wheels are ​lights, they may fall off if many spokes break. A few broken spokes in the front wheel can be a bit dangerous as they could seize or get thrown over. As for the back wheels, they would mostly skid or stop. Broken spokes can also get caught in the outer wheel and cause a puncture.

How do you fix a loose spoke on a tire?

Then you can adjust the tension on the rest of the spokes in your wheel. To adjust the other spokes to accommodate for one missing spoke, you’ll need a spoke wrench, conveniently on many multi-tools, to tighten or loosen them by turning their nipples at the rim.

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Can you fix a broken spoke?

A faulty or damaged spoke should simply be replaced. In a properly built wheel, stainless steel spokes don't fail through fatigue, so a fatigue failure can be the first of many. Two or more fatigue failures means the best option is to rebuild the whole wheel with new spokes.

What do you do for a broken spoke?

2:415:13How To Replace A Broken Spoke | Fix Your Road Bike With GCN - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBecause you thread it in to the opposite end of the nipple to normal several times and then you haveMoreBecause you thread it in to the opposite end of the nipple to normal several times and then you have a handy poking device threading it back through the rim.

How much does it cost to fix a broken spoke?

between $25 and $35Broken spoke replacement typically costs between $25 and $35.

Can you still ride with a broken spoke?

Yes, you can ride with a broken spoke without harming yourself or the bike. The immediate step should be to remove the spoke from the nipple so that it does not damage the other parts of the bike. However, if you have multiple broken spokes, it's best not to ride the bike.

How much do spokes cost?

Spokes cost the equivalent of a few dollars each. With labor, it should be about $30-$40 at a good bike shop.

Why do spokes break?

Bike spokes break most commonly due to wear and tear. A high-frequent cause for spoke breaks is that the rider has hit a curb or pothole, doesn't maintain the bike well, or the passenger is too heavy for that model. Rougher terrain will also deteriorate the rims faster, which in turn deteriorates the spokes faster.

How long can I ride with a broken spoke?

You should be fine as long as you can secure that broken spoke to the nearest spoke either by twisting it around the good spoke, or securing it with a piece of duct tape or bandaid which all bikers should carry. As long as you're sure it won't get loose and get into the derailleur or brake.

Can I ride my MTB with a broken spoke?

You can technically ride with a broken/missing spoke, but it is not ideal. The missing spoke is going to put pressure on the others, and it will cause bigger problems if you don't replace it.

Is it safe to ride a bike with a wobbly wheel?

A lack of equal tension in the spokes could mean weakness in one (or more) of them - and broken spokes are not a good thing to ignore. You can survive one or maybe two for a short while, but eventually the rim could be in danger of collapsing.

How do you take a wheel spoke off?

0:171:16Removing spokes from a bicycle wheel Video created by Downtube ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipGoing across the nipple where you can fit the head of the screwdriver. And you just want to get inMoreGoing across the nipple where you can fit the head of the screwdriver. And you just want to get in there and unscrew them counterclockwise. Until they come out. Like so you.

How many spokes should a bike wheel have?

Number of spokes Conventional metallic bicycle wheels for single rider bikes commonly have 24, 28, 32 or 36 spokes, while wheels on tandems have as many as 40 or 48 spokes to support the weight of an additional rider.

How do you fix a broken spoke on a mountain bike?

0:189:29How To Replace A Broken Spoke | Mountain Bike MaintenanceYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can budget a wheel jig using your frame. And having some cable ties on there obviously. SoMoreYou can budget a wheel jig using your frame. And having some cable ties on there obviously. So firstly you're gonna need to prepare your wheel before you start fixing it.

How long can I ride with a broken spoke?

You should be fine as long as you can secure that broken spoke to the nearest spoke either by twisting it around the good spoke, or securing it with a piece of duct tape or bandaid which all bikers should carry. As long as you're sure it won't get loose and get into the derailleur or brake.

What happens if a spoke breaks?

6:077:34What Happens When a Bike Spoke Breaks? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRight yeah so that's because you're probably running up at a factor of safety of about one. SoMoreRight yeah so that's because you're probably running up at a factor of safety of about one. So what's happening is you're getting fatigue failure. Because you kept riding on the remaining spokes and

Can I ride my MTB with a broken spoke?

You can technically ride with a broken/missing spoke, but it is not ideal. The missing spoke is going to put pressure on the others, and it will cause bigger problems if you don't replace it.

How to fix a broken spoke on a car?

First, you need to get the spoke out of the way so that it doesn’t interfere with your wheel turning. If you have a broken spoke on the front wheel, you should be able to just slide it out of the hub. If it’s on the rear wheel, bend the broken spoke around one of the spokes adjacent to it.

What happens if you break a spoke on a bike?

If you don’t know what to do and how to fix a broken spoke, this can end your ride right there. With just one broken spoke, your whole wheel can go out of true, making it impossible for the wheel to turn without hitting your brake pads and/or your fork or frame (depending on if you have a broken spoke in the front or rear wheel).

How to replace a spoke on a car?

To replace the damaged spoke, first remove your wheel and then the tire, tube and rim tape. Then remove both ends of the damaged spoke and nipple. Spokes usually break either at the nipple or at the hub flange. If it’s a rear wheel, you’ll have to remove the cassette or freewheel first.

What to do if you break a spoke on a bike?

If you break a spoke on your wheel, the best thing to do is stop riding until you can get it repaired. However, sometimes you simply have to keep riding, in which case you can keep the broken spoke out of the way by twisting it around an adjacent spoke.

How to install spokes on a rim?

Insert the new spoke and gently flex it into place, using the other spokes as a guide. When installed properly, the spoke pattern should be consistent all the way around the wheel.

How to remove spokes from a bike?

1. For a rear wheel spoke, first remove the cassette. If you’ve snapped a spoke on the front, skip to step 2. Otherwise, remove the cassette and with the wheel off the frame, hold it steady with a chain whip and use a cassette lockring tool, turning it anticlockwise. Remove the cassette and put it somewhere safe.

How to unscrew a six bolt rotor?

If it’s a six-bolt, use a T25 Torx key to unscrew the bolts, anticlockwise. If it’s a centre lock rotor, either a cassette lockring or external bottom bracket tool will remove the lockring. Then pull the rotor off the hub. 3. Unwind the spoke. Unwind the spoke with a spoke key.

How long has Seb been riding a mountain bike?

Seb's been riding and racing mountain bikes for half his life. Since getting hooked on mountain bikes aged thirteen riding a tiny 24Seven Crosser, he's raced downhill, enduro and cross country, and while no athlete, still enters the occasional race. Seb studied experimental physics at university, and he's now happily using (wasting) his degree experimenting with different bike setups, trying to work out what works best and why. You'll often find him riding the same track ten times in a day, changing just one thing to pin down the differences. Seb's much happier back-to-back testing suspension on a wet Welsh hillside than riding the latest five-figure bikes on some sunny press trip - although he quite likes that too!

Can you replace a spoke without removing the nipple?

Jonathan Ashelford / Immediate Media. If the spoke nipple is undamaged and there’s still a few cm of spoke left, you can replace it without removing the nipple , which is much quicker, though not the best long-term fix.

Do straight pull spokes overlap?

Some straight-pull spokes are designed not to overlap, so in that case thread it in the same way as the other spokes in the wheel.

How to minimize spoke breaking?

First, don’t ride up curbs. In places with lots of pavement, it can be tempting to take shortcuts that take your bike over curbs. Don’t do it (like I do)!

What happens if you break a spoke on a bike?

On the other hand, if three or four spokes come loose or break you'll need to stop cycling. If you don't the wheel will buckle significantly and lead to more expensive repairs.

Why do spokes come loose?

The danger of a spoke coming loose increases over time. They need tightening or loosening to readjust and maintain the tension. Sometimes a wheel may buckle through hitting a curb or another bump at the wrong angle. Hitting stuff can cause one or more spokes to come loose.

How long can you ride a bike with one spoke missing?

It’s possible to ride a bike with just one spoke missing for several months, but the longer it goes un-repaired, the more damage will be done. Other spokes will come loose. The wheel may begin to buckle and eventually it will have to be taken into a shop.

What causes a spoke to break?

The wheels of bikes have rims. Each rim has a series of spokes connected to it . Half of the spokes pull to the left and the other half pull to the right. These keep tension on the rim and cause the wheel to run ‘ true .’.

Why is it important to clean your bike?

A clean bike also has the added benefit of allowing you to spot minor glitches before they become a major problem. Spokes are one of the often overlooked but necessary components of your bike. They keep the wheel true, the ride smooth and can even be accessorised if that’s your style. Look after them.

How to clean a bike after commuting?

Washing a bike only takes a few minutes. Use a hose/bucket of soapy water, a sponge, and a brush.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Broken Spoke?

Spokes are relatively inexpensive. From a bike shop, you can expect to pay between $1-2 per spoke. If you’re shopping online, you can find spokes much cheaper. For example, a pack of 36 spokes might go for $18, including nipples. Keep in mind, for high quality or specialty spokes, expect to pay a little more.

How do you know if you have a broken spoke?

Finding out that you have a broken spoke isn’t always obvious. In some cases, you might be able to hear it break especially if you’re just been over something wobbly. Another way you’ll know something is wrong is by wobbly wheels. It’s good practice to inspect your wheels occasionally for damage.

What Are Spokes For?

The spokes on your bike’s wheels are unassuming and quiet but they are also quite important.

What happens if a spoke breaks?

A broken spoke can be frustrating. The rim could start rubbing on the brakes or the frame and the whole wheel will be left unusable. There is no single answer to what causes a broken spoke, but these are the common factors: 1 If your spokes break often, the blame could lie on the rim. When the rim is damaged, the tension of the wheel is affected because some spokes need to be tighter to maintain a balance. This balance in tensions is important, otherwise, there will be more revolutions of the wheel than usual which will stress the spokes beyond their capacity 2 Fatigue could be another reason. If you’re a heavy rider, are carrying a lot of gear, or riding rough, this could cause a dent in the rim or loosen the spoke. 3 If your bike is new and you’ve experienced a broken spoke or wheel, then defective manufacturing could be the cause. If your bike has inexpensive wheels the spokes could face excess pressure. 4 If you’ve been riding your bike for years, it is natural for some things to break and experience wear and tear. A single spoke on its own is quite thin and flexible. But when interconnected, they can handle a rider’s weight well. The spokes do tend to flex against each other and this friction over a long time can cause the spoke to break.

Why are there fewer spokes on a bike?

One advantage of having fewer spokes is to reduce drag. The downside is, it leaves larger sections of the rim unsupported requiring stronger, deeper-section rims. This makes the wheel more aerodynamic although this reduces the amount of weight the bike can take. The key to a strong wheel is a balance between equal and appropriate spoke tension.

Why does my bike have a dent in the rim?

If your bike is new and you’ve experienced a broken spoke or wheel, then defective manufacturing could be the cause.

What is fiberfix spoke?

The FIBERFIX Emergency Spoke Replacement Kit is one such solution. The Fiberfix is a kevlar cord designed to replace a broken spoke of any length.

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Spoke Removal

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To replace the damaged spoke, first remove your wheel and then the tire, tube and rim tape. Then remove both ends of the damaged spoke and nipple. Spokes usually break either at the nipple or at the hub flange. If it’s a rear wheel, you’ll have to remove the cassetteor freewheel first.
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Spoke Installation

  • Insert the new spoke and gently flex it into place, using the other spokes as a guide. When installed properly, the spoke pattern should be consistent all the way around the wheel. I personally recommend using linseed oil to lubricate the nipple threads before threading the nipple on to the spoke using a screwdriveror nipple driver. Gently pre-bend the new spoke by pushing …
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