Help removing spokes

OK, I got the new wheels and spokes so I sat down this afternoon, after making sure I had my offsets measured and written down where I'd find them (funny I put things away where I'm sure I'll find them and they seem to disappear!) and tried to remove my old spokes and no go! Do I just cut them with a bolt cutter and be done with it?

powerdoc said:

Do I just cut them with a bolt cutter and be done with it?

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Yes, use a bolt cutter, grinder, hacksaw, whatever you've got.

The only benefit I can see from saving a few original spokes is that you can compare them in length to the new ones to make sure you have the right ones. It doesn't take much extra length on the new ones to cause some considerable trouble. Go ahead and ask how I know this.

I would salvage at least one from each position. Squirt some good pentrant on there and see if you can get any of them to break lose. Then cut the rest!

Russ

From experience, I'd agree with Russ, especially if you are building your own wheels.
My supplier had sent me the wrong length spokes for my front wheel, if I didn't have the old ones to compare I would have never noticed.
Also, plenty of photos and noted can be useful when it comes to rebuilding them.

All the best

Webby

Gee guys, too late! As soon as LAB said to cut 'em they were scrap. March madness: Bolt cutter 2, Spokes 0.

Btw: does anyone want my WM2 Dunlap wheels? They do have rust. The wheels and the nipples are free for the shipping. Just let me know.

Go for it Powdoc,

And how about some photo's of the results when you are done. Yes take as many photo's and even sketch's of the original lacing, too late now, also in case you have not already. Can I suggest you do some googling, there is a god artical on the inoc site. make sure you have the inner spokes correctly orientated for torque effect on the wheel.
I.E. the inners should line up so they are in tension for braking on the front on the disc side, and the opposite for drive tension on the chain side on the rear.
Then every other spoke will fall into line correctly.

Cheers Richard

I did take a bunch of pics. Right now just dirty hubs and rusty rims.


Any interest in the old rims for free?

I have already had to deal with the overwhelming guilt of sending rusted Dunop rims to the crusher, I don't want to have any more of them on my list on judgement day than necessary, but thanks!