A loose spoke on a bike rim does not seem like much of a problem. The truth is the duty of a spoke is to balance the wheel and the bike frame. They give the whole bike stability. Riding around town with a broken spoke makes balancing difficult, and affects the overall performance of the bike. Replacing one broken spoke or even all of them is not a complicated process. With the right tools, it is something just about anyone can do.
Step 1
Remove the wheel rim from the bike. The method will depend on the style of bike and location of the wheel. Most wheels come off by flipping a lever and lifting the wheel from the body of the bike. Some will require removal of a nut and cog sprocket.
Step 2
Take off the tire and tube. Deflate the tube by pressing on the value stem with a pen or screwdriver. Once the air is out, slide the screwdriver under the tire and pull back. This will force the tire and tube to dislodge from the rim. Be careful not to bend the rim.
Step 3
Carry the rim to a bicycle store to purchase the proper replacement spoke and nipple. With the rim in hand, you can get advice from the bike store mechanic on which size and spoke works best for your rim.
Step 4
Cut off the old spoke with wire cutters. Pull the spoke out.
Step 5
Poke out the spoke nipple with a screwdriver. The nipple sits inside the rim, and is the connection for the spoke. This piece holds the spoke to the rim. Insert the screwdriver underneath the inside of the rim. Push up into the spoke hole that holds the spoke. Grab the nipple as it pushes out the other side and remove it.
Step 6
Spray light oil onto the new spoke, and then insert the spoke into the hole on the small, center spool of the rim or the hub. This is the center area where all the spokes converge. Spokes have a flattened end that curve and a pointed end that connects to the nipple. Thread the pointed end through the hole with the curve on the flat side facing down. Pull the spoke upward once it passes to the other side of the spool. Slide the spoke up until it connects with the spoke hole on the inside track of the rim.
Step 7
Thread a new nipple into the rim, working from the outside, opposite the spoke. Place the nipple on the correct spoke hole, with the open end down. Push the nipple through until it connects with the spoke end.
Step 8
Tighten the spoke with a spoke wrench. A spoke wrench is a round devise designed to turn spokes so they thread farther up into the nipple. Place the wrench flat on the spoke just under the rim. Turn the wrench clockwise with your fingers until the spoke is tight.
Step 9
Slide your fingers over the new spoke and the one next to it. Push the two spokes toward each other. There should be little give in the spokes. If the spoke moves more than one-eighth of an inch, tighten it again with the spoke wrench.
Step 10
Reassemble the bike, putting the rim back in place and restoring the tire.
Things You'll Need
- Socket wrench
- Screwdriver
- Replacement spoke
- Replacement nipple
- Wire cutter
- Spray-on oil
- Spoke wrench
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