Spoke Replacement/Wheel Repair- advice

[Maz]

Hi,
On my 700C rear wheel (Giant PR2 I think), one of the spokes has snapped, see pic.

I think it was just fatigue, I'm convinced I didn't bump into anything...So strange that I only noticed it this morning before setting off for work - when I rode home last night I didn't notice any clanking noise or anything wrong with the back wheel. Really weird.

Also, the wheel is now off-true...when spun, it rubs against one of the brake blocks once per rev.

Can someone advise me on how to repair it, please? Do most bike shops sell spokes?

I do have a spoke tool + tools for removing the cassette.
Thanks in advance

 

[Yellow Saddle]

In order to replace that spoke you need to remove the cassette first. Then you need a spoke of the correct length.

A wheel will go out of true if you break one of the spokes. It can't be any other way, so don't be surprised.

A bump never causes a spoke to break. A bump, or jump or collision only serves to reduce spoke tension.

However, that spoke did not break in fatigue. There's another reason it broke but your photo is not good enough to reveal it.

 

[Maz]

However, that spoke did not break in fatigue. There's another reason it broke but your photo is not good enough to reveal it.

Does this picture help? What sort of impact would cause the spoke to break?

 

[mcshroom]

Usually spokes break at the elbow right next to the hub. Looking at where that broke, has the chain come over the top of the cassette in the past? It might be the spoke got damaged before and now is getting to the point of failure.

It would also be worth having a look at the other drive side spokes if that has happened, to see if any have any chips taken out of them

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Does this picture help? What sort of impact would cause the spoke to break?

Does your camera have a focus feature?

This is the sort of detail needed to diagnose a spoke break. This is also the most typical place for a spoke to break.

No impact can break a spoke. It occasionally breaks in tension, but that's when someone throws a javelin into your wheel whilst riding. Usually this is pretty catastrophic.

Your spoke broke for a reason unbeknownst, until we can see detail.

 

[Maz]

Thanks I'll check the other spokes in case there's sign of wear in similar places. Chain has never come off before.
Edit: no sign of wear on the other driveside spokes

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Thanks I'll check the other spokes in case there's sign of wear in similar places. Chain has never come off before.
Edit: no sign of wear on the other driveside spokes

Spokes don't wear. They fatigue and you cannot see it.
I suggest you clean your wheels and look for nicks on the spoke's right-facing side on the right side of the wheel. The most likely place to find such nicks will be at the exact radius of the previous break.

 

[Maz]

Thanks. None of the other spokes show signs of fatigue at the same radius. I've now bought a replacement spoke and I'm looking for online instructions on how to replace it.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Thanks. None of the other spokes show signs of fatigue at the same radius. I've now bought a replacement spoke and I'm looking for online instructions on how to replace it.

You cannot see fatigue. In your case, you cannot even see the spoke for all the dirt.

Remove wheel.
Remove cassette
Unscrew broken spoke from nipple.
Unhook bottom end of broken spoke from hub.
Rethread new spoke in same direction as the old one (there's two ways you can do it, just repeat the pattern).
Oil the spoke thread.
Screw the nipple onto the spoke.
Tighten nipple until wheel is true.
Go for ride
Drink a beer.

 

[Venod]

A bump, or jump or collision only serves to reduce spoke tension.

I don't know what caused the breakage of the spoke in the op, but a bump or jump will increase tension in some of the spokes.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I don't know what caused the breakage of the spoke in the op, but a bump or jump will increase tension in some of the spokes.

No it wont.

 

[Maz]

You cannot see fatigue. In your case, you cannot even see the spoke for all the dirt.

Remove wheel.
Remove cassette
Unscrew broken spoke from nipple.
Unhook bottom end of broken spoke from hub.
Rethread new spoke in same direction as the old one (there's two ways you can do it, just repeat the pattern).
Oil the spoke thread.
Screw the nipple onto the spoke.
Tighten nipple until wheel is true.
Go for ride
Drink a beer.

All sorted now, wheel repaired.

 

[overmind]

All sorted now, wheel repaired.

How did you sort it? Did you take it to a bike shop or fix it yourself?

 

[Maz]

How did you sort it? Did you take it to a bike shop or fix it yourself?

To replace the spoke I used this video:

View: https://youtu.be/AVkutWBkWd8

To true the wheel I used this video:

View: https://youtu.be/f1SHmFBihKM

There are lots of videos on wheel truing, but this chap speaks clearly and did the job without fuss and with the wheel on the bike, not in a jig (I don't have one). Many professional videos are too slick, don't use clear layman's language or use specialist tools which I don't have.