Replacing spokes in a rear wheel

[Posh Pete]

The rear spokes of my GS are pretty scabby. I'm considering replacing them myself. It occurred to me that doing the job one or two spokes at a time and being careful to do it via opposing spokes, then it might be feasible without sending the wheel off to a wheel builder?

Has anyone else attempted this?

 

[dr nosh]

Depends how 'hands on' you are.

Measure the offset - Rim to face of brake hub.

Take some photos.

Get a wheel truing jig - You will use it each time you change tyres, not just this once - https://cjautosheywood.co.uk/product/motorcycle-wheel-balancer-mb51/

Make an adaptor to hold the hub on the conical centres of the balancing jig. (BMW rear hubs don't have bearings to centre on).

Strip the wheel completely, vapor blast the hub, clean/polish the rim, reassemble with stainless spokes.

The spokes are straight pull, so easy to lace.

You will need to do all of the truing and balancing even if you attempt 1 spoke at a time. (Well I would for peace of mind).

 

[Posh Pete]

Depends how 'hands on' you are.

Measure the offset - Rim to face of brake hub.

Take some photos.

Get a wheel truing jig - You will use it each time you change tyres, not just this once - https://cjautosheywood.co.uk/product/motorcycle-wheel-balancer-mb51/

Make an adaptor to hold the hub on the conical centres of the balancing jig. (BMW rear hubs don't have bearings to centre on).

Strip the wheel completely, vapor blast the hub, clean/polish the rim, reassemble with stainless spokes.

The spokes are straight pull, so easy to lace.

You will need to do all of the truing and balancing even if you attempt 1 spoke at a time. (Well I would for peace of mind).

Safety first of course and I appreciate your thoughts.

However, I'm sure I read a post by someone on here who successfully did exactly what I'm considering without all that "palaver".

 

[AustinW]

I bust a couple of spokes on my V85. I took it to a chap in Warrington for a look see. He wanted to replace the lot with made to order spokes + being an artisan wheel builder and all that. Estimate was £200-£250. Umm, I only want to replace the two broken ones I said, he thought that’d be ok but recommended bringing it back to him for a final true up and check for £40-£50.

So if you replaced or removed & cleaned the lot a couple at time a time (as per your plan) and the wheel remained true-ish all the time and each spoke still sounded the same-ish after each occasion of replacing them, £50 would for a pro check would be Money very well spent. IF you can find a wheel builder who will do the same.

 

[Greg Masters]

The rear spokes of my GS are pretty scabby. I'm considering replacing them myself. It occurred to me that doing the job one or two spokes at a time and being careful to do it via opposing spokes, then it might be feasible without sending the wheel off to a wheel builder?

Has anyone else attempted this?

Do it on a wheel balancer with a couple of pointers to keep a close eye on run out, and you should be good.

‘Ping’ each new spoke as you fit it to ensure the tension is matched with the others.

If it all goes wrong, bundle it all off to a pro wheel builder.

 

[GrinningGSer]

Many many years ago , I posted my report on removing one broken spoke on my GSA: it was a complete barsteward . The spoke end was literally , almost welded into the rim , perhaps by corrosion , which was not evident. I good grip , was if no benefit . I ended up drilling the spoke out .
Be aware of the micro grub screw , buried at the tightening centre ; it’s not obvious and often buried below dirt .

 

[Posh Pete]

Many many years ago , I posted my report on removing one broken spoke on my GSA: it was a complete barsteward . The spoke end was literally , almost welded into the rim , perhaps by corrosion , which was not evident. I good grip , was if no benefit . I ended up drilling the spoke out .
Be aware of the micro grub screw , buried at the tightening centre ; it’s not obvious and often buried below dirt .

I had the front wheel done by a pro but I dismantled the wheel first via an angle grinder, plus gas and a pair of mole grips!

When I got the wheel back, one of the spokes has lost its ferrule after a short ride and it had to be returned to be done properly! That's one reason that made me consider doing the rear wheel myself!

Do it on a wheel balancer with a couple of pointers to keep a close eye on run out, and you should be good.

‘Ping’ each new spoke as you fit it to ensure the tension is matched with the others.

If it all goes wrong, bundle it all off to a pro wheel builder.

Yup. That was my thinking. Cheers.

 

[sidkn33]

There are a lot of very experienced people on this forum who know and will advise how to do things just right, sometimes even better than factory, especially when it comes to safety.
But in this case, I'm struggling to see how if replaced one at a time, the wheel would become dangerously untrue (or more untrue than it would otherwise become under normal use)?
A lot of wheel builders won't do the tubeless (GS) wheels as they are known to be a pig to do properly - I had Central Wheels powder coat and stainless spoke a pair and although it turned out great, it took two months and cost mucho £££ (relatively)
And Central Wheels had only one person on staff with the right experience.

 

[GrinningGSer]

One spoke , maybe two , carefully done and tightened using the ‘ting ting’ piano tuner’s method ,makes no difference to these wheels . Take care though .
A big rebuild is a different matter and needs special trying jigs.
Very very easy to verify that the wheel is true afterwards
If not , then of course gets difficult .

 

[GB.]

You will struggle to find anyone who will touch cross spoke wheels. There used to be a guy in the south west but he is retired now as is the guy who did one of mine at central wheels in the midlands, if anyone knows of anyone who is doing cross spokes do let us know.

 

[Posh Pete]

But in this case, I'm struggling to see how if replaced one at a time, the wheel would become dangerously untrue (or more untrue than it would otherwise become under normal use

I agree. Thanks for the input.

You will struggle to find anyone who will touch cross spoke wheels.

Don't I know it! A local guy who I approached initially re the front wheel, changed his mind pdq when he realised it was a cross spoke wheel.

Thanks for the comments lads. That'll be my job over the winter.

Ting ting to you all!

 

[sidkn33]

I agree. Thanks for the input.

Don't I know it! A local guy who I approached initially re the front wheel, changed his mind pdq when he realised it was a cross spoke wheel.

Thanks for the comments lads. That'll be my job over the winter.

Ting ting to you all!

I have a spare set of GS wheels with sad spokes so I'd be interested to hear how you get on

 

[MickDB1]

I took mine once to a wheelbuilder 40m away.
Wheel came back rubbish and untrue. That was a front off a paralever. Did it myself and truer and good for 90mph with a high mudguard
Did a g/ s rear one at a time getting the ting same as others. Easy if yer patient.made a wheelbalacer too
No probs.
Went with Jonny Wilks to pick up his trued wheels from someone in lincs. First rideout 3 spoke ends came undone and off fucked all his newly painted rear swingin arm. Nearly all others were loose (I know they would be after loosin a few) Cost him hrs and money and not impressed after they had been repaiered so he took up the loose uns himself.

Have a go yerself Pete.
You must start with a true wheel with most of spoke all tesioned up to same ting.
HTHY with some confidence

 

[GrinningGSer]

For those that do not know ; don’t forget about the hidden grub screw.

 

[NeilDD]

Pete,
Send me your email via DM and I'll send you some drawings of the Taveners wheel jig which will help you get the offsets right.
You can easily make one up from a bit of ply and some wood.

I've used this method on all sorts of wheels, although not BM

 

[Gelandestrasse]

Try Wheel in Motion (Rich Chanter) in Outwell, Norfolk. Does mail order. [email protected] 07837003279 https://www.facebook.com/allwheelbuilding/

Did a really good job on a rear cross-spoked wheel for me.

 

[Posh Pete]

For those that do not know ; don’t forget about the hidden grub screw.

Yes. A handy reminder. I've a bag of them from when I double checked the front wheel on its second coming from the pro builder! It had a couple missing!

 

[Vulpine2]

Safety first of course and I appreciate your thoughts.

However, I'm sure I read a post by someone on here who successfully did exactly what I'm considering without all that "palaver".

In GS speak that would be a "paralaver"...?