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Advice Concerning Broken Rim

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01 / Original postAdvice Concerning Broken Rimjsm · 2 Oct 2004 02 / This pagePosts 1–6Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #6jsm · 3 Oct 2004

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rec.sport.unicycling
Published
2 October 2004
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3 October 2004
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jsm
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  1. Original post
    jsm
    Archived post
    #1

    I was trying out seat drag today and had gone a couple cycles of the
    wheel and was in the process of bailing out when I heard a "ping" sound.
    Upon examining my unicycle, I found that one of the spokes had popped
    out of the rim, leaving the metal which should hold it in sticking up. I
    had noticed before that the parts of my rim which hold the spokes in
    were slightly cracked or bulging in some places, but paid no attention
    to it. Hopefully you can understand the problem. Anyway, here are my
    questions:
    1. Is it possible to fix this, or is the rim ruined?
    2. If it can be fixed, should I do it myself or bring it to the LBS?
    3. If it is possible to fix it at home, how?
    4. Would it wreck the unicycle to ride it in this condition if I stick
    to non-strenuous stuff like regular riding, backwards, and wheel walk? I
    can sort of stick the spoke back into the hole and it stays put for the
    most part when I do.
    Note: my unicycle is a 2003 24" chrome Torker. I bent the rim several
    months ago by falling on it and had to get it straightened at the LBS.
    The rest of the unicycle isn't in very good shape either. I am
    considering buying a 20" freestyle sometime fairly soon, but I would
    still like to have a 24" around for distance riding and light MUni.

    --
    jsm - Freestyle Unicyclist

    Jonathan Miersma - Unicyclist, Violinist, and Juggler
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  2. john_childs
    Archived post
    #2

    Did the spoke break right at the nipple, or did the nipple actually pull
    all the way out of the rim?

    If you just broke a spoke, a bike shop will be able to fix it easily.
    You can even do it yourself if you want. Just tighten the new spoke to
    the same tension as the other spokes in the wheel.

    If the nipple pulled all the way out of the rim you may be able to fix
    it by putting a washer inside the rim to hold the nipple. A bike shop
    may have the appropriate size washer. Or you can get creative and try
    to make your own washer by drilling a hole in a little piece of metal.

    --
    john_childs - Guinness Mojo

    john_childs (at) hotmail (dot) com
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  3. gerblefranklin
    Archived post
    #3

    Or the nipple head could've sheared off. That happened to me recently. I
    decided to completely re-tension the wheel after it sheared off, but I
    did 2 days of semi-strenous riding before I did so. The wheel survived
    repeated 30"+ hops, and some 30" drops to flat, plus some nasty gaps,
    without much trouble, so you ought to be fikne, although I was riding a
    19" wheel that was probably built with better quality than your torker.

    --
    gerblefranklin - Trials Unicyclist

    Don't you think it's a cruel irony that acting like a G.I. Joe in the
    army can get you a Medal, while playing with one can get you thrown
    out?

    http://gallery.unicyclist.com/Trials-Muni

    "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful. They will stop at nothing
    to hurt us and our people, and nethier will we"-Dubya
    Vote Kerry. Yeah, they both suck, but Kerry sucks less.
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  4. jsm
    Archived post
    #4

    The entire spoke pulled out of the rim. The spoke itself is intact.
    How would I install a washer? I can see how it would work if I got it on
    there, but I don't know how to remove the spoke from the hub.

    --
    jsm - Freestyle Fanatic

    Jonathan Miersma - Unicyclist, Violinist, and Juggler
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  5. john_childs
    Archived post
    #5
    jsm said:

    *The entire spoke pulled out of the rim. The spoke itself is intact.

    How would I install a washer? I can see how it would work if I got it
    on there, but I don't know how to remove the spoke from the hub. *

    You don't need to remove the spoke from the hub. From what you say the
    spoke is still good. The nipple (the threaded piece at the end of the
    spoke) is also good.

    1. Take the wheel off the unicycle
    2. Remove the tire and tube from the wheel
    3. Remove the rim strip from the rim
    4. Unscrew the nipple off the spoke
    5. Put the washer in the rim
    6. Fit the spoke nipple in the washer in the rim
    7. Thread the spoke so it is just like the other spokes in the wheel
    8. Thread the nipple on the spoke
    9. Tension the spoke using a spoke wrench
    10. Replace the rim strip
    11. Put the tube and tire back on the rim
    12. Inflate the tire
    13. Put the wheel back on the unicycle
    14. Ride

    Keep in mind that the chrome Torkers have a very cheap steel rim. It's
    not worth it to spend a lot of money to fix it. If it turns out that
    you will need a new rim then it would be better to just spend the money
    on a new 24" black Torker. Getting a new wheel built at a bike shop
    could easily end up costing $70 or more. For that money you might as
    well buy a new black Torker. With the black Torkers you'll end up with
    a better unicycle.

    --
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  6. jsm
    Archived post
    #6

    Thank you. I guess I'm mechanically challenged, but I didn't realize the
    nipple could be taken off the spoke.

    --
    jsm - Freestyle Fanatic

    Jonathan Miersma - Unicyclist, Violinist, and Juggler
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