Bicycle Wheel Repair info?

[OZCAL]

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Ozcal: yep, it's flat spotted. Full sus and disk brakes are amazingly forgiving of rim problems. The shop was amazed when they saw the wheels I wanted to rebuild a few weeks ago. The nipples were corroded badly (road salt), the rims were bent in several directions, rear axle was bent, and I was still riding it every day. I've been riding on snow and ice for a while, so I'm used to a little wobbling. Great idea to transfer spokes, I'll try it. Can't re-use almost new nipples? I'm a big fan of threadlocker, might that do the trick? Thanks for the refresher, that'll get me started.

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Yes, OK to reuse nipples with Loc-tite, especially considering the intended use. For that matter, maybe just abandon repair, drill an extra valve stem hole, and run two tubes at about 30-40% of regular pressure each - it'll be like riding on sea sponges but you won't feel the effect of the flat spot on your back side...

 

[TwoThirtyDirty]

Rat farts! Apparently bike shops don't stock rims anymore, there are too many different rims and they aren't compatible with each other. The deep rims require shorter spokes, depending on how deep. They'll have to check with the manufacturer and order rims with the appropriate depth, or I'll have to respoke, which means pulling the cluster and disk off. Either way, they'll have to order a rim. I should've just picked up a second wheel set, looks like I need one.

Dude, that's fked. Find a new bike shop...preferable an old school one. I ran my own shop for the better part of 12 years and built countless wheelsets. Pick up a decent quality double walled rim and a set of NEW 14guage stainless spokes w/brass nipples. Don't screw around with corroded spokes or nipples. If you have a 32 spoke hub make sure you get a 32 hole rim and 32 spokes. Get the shop to use a spoke calc or chart to get the spoke lengths right. They will need your rim, hub, and your choice of radial or cross 2,3 or 4 patterns. The Drive side will be about 2mm shorter than disc side. Take your hub to the shop. Pulling the cassette will take about 8 seconds with a vise and chain whip. Lightly lube the outside surface of the heads of the nipples to allow them to rotate in the rim nicely. I never used Loctite as the spokes tend to stretch at first more than loosen and it makes the re-tension job tougher. Lace up a cross 3 pattern...take your time...if you have to do it 3 times to get it right then do it. You'll feel good knowing you did it yourself. Slowly tension the spokes evenly as you go around. When the spokes get tighter start to work the rim to centre. A truing stand is great but this can be done with the bike upside down in the rear dropouts using a piece of old spoke taped to one of the chainstays as a reference. If I was closer I'd offer to do it but sadly that's not the case. Good luck...the first time is the hardest.

 

[OZCAL]

... If you have a 32 spoke hub make sure you get a 32 hole rim and 32 spokes.
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I think Scott is a little higher up the org chart than that, but sound advice all the same...

 

[Spud]

Get to know your ERD.