Working with bladed spokes...

Jim Higson said:

I'm going to be trueing a wheel built with bladed spokes that I got with a
bike. The wheels are Campagnolo Neutrons. I could get the LBS to do it, but
I like to fix these things myself and have trued more traditional wheels
quite a few times before.

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from turning.
Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a bit of
wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

Anything tat will stop the spoke from twusting will work. best is
"twist Resist'..a;so the most expensive option.

http://online.qbp.com/cgi-bin/qbp.com/sid.htm?sid=236017178030355307176715070&prg=start

Quoted message said:

While I'm on the subject, Campagnolo sell spare spoke kits for these wheels,
but they are £24 for 6 spokes, which seems a bit expensive. In case I break
one, are straight-pull spokes avaliable from the usual makes brands (DT
swiss, Sapim etc) and would they work with these wheels?

These are unique in that they have flattened spots at the base plus
come with nipps/washers..etcv. I have subbed a more normal straight
pull oval spoke but the original are the best.

Quoted message said:

Thanks for any help,
Jim

Jim Higson said:

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from turning.
Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a bit of
wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

That's how I did it, until someone gave me Mavic's gadget :-)

Jim Higson said:

I'm going to be trueing a wheel built with bladed spokes that I got with a
bike. The wheels are Campagnolo Neutrons. I could get the LBS to do it, but
I like to fix these things myself and have trued more traditional wheels
quite a few times before.

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from turning.
Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a bit of
wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

While I'm on the subject, Campagnolo sell spare spoke kits for these wheels,
but they are £24 for 6 spokes, which seems a bit expensive. In case I break
one, are straight-pull spokes avaliable from the usual makes brands (DT
swiss, Sapim etc) and would they work with these wheels?

Thanks for any help,
Jim

I watched a guy at the LBS true up my riding buddy's HED Bastogne wheels
last Saturday. He had a circular piece of plastic with grooves molded
into it (perhaps three or four thicknesses of grooves), which he used to
hold the spoke's bladed portion while he loosened / tightened the spoke.

I don't know what it is called, or where to get one, but I'll try to
remember to ask.

Michael Warner said:

Jim Higson said:

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from
turning. Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a
bit of wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

That's how I did it, until someone gave me Mavic's gadget :-)

Did it work reasonably well?

Jim Higson said:

I'm going to be trueing a wheel built with bladed spokes that I got with a
bike. The wheels are Campagnolo Neutrons. I could get the LBS to do it, but
I like to fix these things myself and have trued more traditional wheels
quite a few times before.

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from turning.
Can anyone tell me what this looks like?

A lot like a Craftsman crescent wrench.

Colin Campbell said:

Jim Higson said:

I'm going to be trueing a wheel built with bladed spokes that I got with a
bike. The wheels are Campagnolo Neutrons. I could get the LBS to do it, but
I like to fix these things myself and have trued more traditional wheels
quite a few times before.

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from turning.
Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a bit of
wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

While I'm on the subject, Campagnolo sell spare spoke kits for these wheels,
but they are £24 for 6 spokes, which seems a bit expensive. In case I break
one, are straight-pull spokes avaliable from the usual makes brands (DT
swiss, Sapim etc) and would they work with these wheels?

Thanks for any help,
Jim

I watched a guy at the LBS true up my riding buddy's HED Bastogne wheels
last Saturday. He had a circular piece of plastic with grooves molded
into it (perhaps three or four thicknesses of grooves), which he used to
hold the spoke's bladed portion while he loosened / tightened the spoke.

I don't know what it is called, or where to get one, but I'll try to
remember to ask.

Dear Colin,

This may be the tool:

http://biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=24393435553&d=single&c=Tools&sc=Wheel%20and%20Rim&tc=Spoke%20Holders&item_id=SA-BSK

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Quoted message said:

Colin Campbell said:

Jim Higson said:

I'm going to be trueing a wheel built with bladed spokes that I got with
a bike. The wheels are Campagnolo Neutrons. I could get the LBS to do
it, but I like to fix these things myself and have trued more
traditional wheels quite a few times before.

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from
turning. Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in
a bit of wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

While I'm on the subject, Campagnolo sell spare spoke kits for these
wheels, but they are £24 for 6 spokes, which seems a bit expensive. In
case I break one, are straight-pull spokes avaliable from the usual
makes brands (DT swiss, Sapim etc) and would they work with these
wheels?

Thanks for any help,
Jim

I watched a guy at the LBS true up my riding buddy's HED Bastogne wheels
last Saturday. He had a circular piece of plastic with grooves molded
into it (perhaps three or four thicknesses of grooves), which he used to
hold the spoke's bladed portion while he loosened / tightened the spoke.

I don't know what it is called, or where to get one, but I'll try to
remember to ask.

Dear Colin,

This may be the tool:

http://biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=24393435553&d=single&c=Tools&sc=Wheel%20and%20Rim&tc=Spoke%20Holders&item_id=SA-BSK

Looks handly.

Normal story of not being able to find a similar tool here in the UK for
less than double the price you'd pay in the US.

There is this:

http://www.ultimatepursuits.co.uk/products/details.aspx?ref=14251&pRef=81012&vertical=1&v=

but £16 is a bit rich for my blood when the "bit of wood/pastic cut with a
hacksaw" way will probably do the same job. Oh well.

Thanks for the link,
Jim

In article <[email hidden]>, Jim Higson

Quoted message said:

I'm going to be trueing a wheel built with bladed spokes that I got with a
bike. The wheels are Campagnolo Neutrons. I could get the LBS to do it, but
I like to fix these things myself and have trued more traditional wheels
quite a few times before.

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from turning.
Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a bit of
wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

For the occasional truing an adjustable wrench, albeit unwieldy, works
fine.

Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com said:

Jim Higson said:

I'm going to be trueing a wheel built with bladed spokes that I got with
a bike. The wheels are Campagnolo Neutrons. I could get the LBS to do it,
but I like to fix these things myself and have trued more traditional
wheels quite a few times before.

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from
turning. Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a
bit of wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

Anything tat will stop the spoke from twusting will work. best is
"twist Resist'..a;so the most expensive option.

http://online.qbp.com/cgi-bin/qbp.com/sid.htm?sid=236017178030355307176715070&prg=start

That link doesn't work here - I think the sid variable is to do with your
session. In any case, I'll probably not get expensive tools that I only
need to use a few times a year at most.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

While I'm on the subject, Campagnolo sell spare spoke kits for these
wheels, but they are £24 for 6 spokes, which seems a bit expensive. In
case I break one, are straight-pull spokes avaliable from the usual makes
brands (DT swiss, Sapim etc) and would they work with these wheels?

These are unique in that they have flattened spots at the base plus
come with nipps/washers..etcv. I have subbed a more normal straight
pull oval spoke but the original are the best.

Useful to know. Probably I'll get round to buying a mini set of spares once
I've finished the job of truing them up.

By the way, am I right in thinking a normal 5mm nutdriver like this:

http://www.teng.co.uk/product-details.asp?prod_id=2910

Is all you need to turn the nipples? I have one here, but I can't test
without taking the tyre off and they're Veloflexes so they're so tight I
don't take them off unless I really have to 🙂

Jim Higson said:

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from turning.
Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a bit of
wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

Should be fine. The Sapim tool for this is just a piece of plastic with
a small slot for the bladed spoke.

Quoted message said:

While I'm on the subject, Campagnolo sell spare spoke kits for these wheels,
but they are £24 for 6 spokes, which seems a bit expensive. In case I break
one, are straight-pull spokes avaliable from the usual makes brands (DT
swiss, Sapim etc) and would they work with these wheels?

I don't think so. My 2005 model Eurus wheels have the same kind of
spokes, and they look exactly like black Sapim CX-Ray spokes, except that
they don't have the Sapim logo or the bend. The only source is Campagnolo.

Antti

Jim Higson said:

Did it work reasonably well?

Yes, well enough for a bit of trueing, even though it was only pine. I
imagine a harder wood or thick piece of PVC would be better, though.

Quoted message said:

Colin Campbell said:

Jim Higson said:

I'm going to be trueing a wheel built with bladed spokes that I got with a
bike. The wheels are Campagnolo Neutrons. I could get the LBS to do it, but
I like to fix these things myself and have trued more traditional wheels
quite a few times before.

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from turning.
Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a bit of
wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

While I'm on the subject, Campagnolo sell spare spoke kits for these wheels,
but they are £24 for 6 spokes, which seems a bit expensive. In case I break
one, are straight-pull spokes avaliable from the usual makes brands (DT
swiss, Sapim etc) and would they work with these wheels?

Thanks for any help,
Jim

I watched a guy at the LBS true up my riding buddy's HED Bastogne wheels
last Saturday. He had a circular piece of plastic with grooves molded
into it (perhaps three or four thicknesses of grooves), which he used to
hold the spoke's bladed portion while he loosened / tightened the spoke.

I don't know what it is called, or where to get one, but I'll try to
remember to ask.

Dear Colin,

This may be the tool:

http://biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=24393435553&d=single&c=Tools&sc=Wheel%20and%20Rim&tc=Spoke%20Holders&item_id=SA-BSK

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Looks similar, Carl, though the one I saw was black plastic.

Jim Higson said:

I'm going to be trueing a wheel built with bladed spokes that I got with a
bike. The wheels are Campagnolo Neutrons. I could get the LBS to do it, but
I like to fix these things myself and have trued more traditional wheels
quite a few times before.

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from turning.
Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a bit of
wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

While I'm on the subject, Campagnolo sell spare spoke kits for these wheels,
but they are £24 for 6 spokes, which seems a bit expensive. In case I break
one, are straight-pull spokes avaliable from the usual makes brands (DT
swiss, Sapim etc) and would they work with these wheels?

A 90mm adjustable wrench works well too or as you note anything handy
with a slit cut in it.
Yes, a substitute spoke can be functional but may not match aesthetically.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Jim Higson said:

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from turning.
Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a bit of
wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

That would seem to do the trick. Just be sure that the hacksaw cut is
thin enough.

Quoted message said:

While I'm on the subject, Campagnolo sell spare spoke kits for these wheels,
but they are £24 for 6 spokes, which seems a bit expensive.

Sure does. What do you get besides $4 worth of spokes?

--

David L. Johnson

As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not
certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.
-- Albert Einstein

"David L. Johnson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jim Higson said:

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from
turning.
Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a bit of
wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

That would seem to do the trick. Just be sure that the hacksaw cut is
thin enough.

Quoted message said:

While I'm on the subject, Campagnolo sell spare spoke kits for these
wheels,
but they are £24 for 6 spokes, which seems a bit expensive.

Sure does. What do you get besides $4 worth of spokes?

An extraordinary exchange rate?

David L. Johnson said:

Jim Higson said:

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from
turning. Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a
bit of wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

That would seem to do the trick. Just be sure that the hacksaw cut is
thin enough.

Quoted message said:

While I'm on the subject, Campagnolo sell spare spoke kits for these
wheels, but they are £24 for 6 spokes, which seems a bit expensive.

Sure does. What do you get besides $4 worth of spokes?

Well, to be fair, the spokes are probably equivalent to DT aerolite, which
are £2.15 at my LBS, and you do get nipples, so the same from DT would be
about £12 for me, which I think is about $24.

Still over-expensive though.

--
Jim

Antti Salonen said:

Jim Higson said:

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from
turning. Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a
bit of wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

Should be fine. The Sapim tool for this is just a piece of plastic with
a small slot for the bladed spoke.

Quoted message said:

While I'm on the subject, Campagnolo sell spare spoke kits for these
wheels, but they are £24 for 6 spokes, which seems a bit expensive. In
case I break one, are straight-pull spokes avaliable from the usual makes
brands (DT swiss, Sapim etc) and would they work with these wheels?

I don't think so. My 2005 model Eurus wheels have the same kind of
spokes, and they look exactly like black Sapim CX-Ray spokes, except that
they don't have the Sapim logo or the bend. The only source is Campagnolo.

I have very occasionally seen straight-pull CX-rays, but only on built-up
wheels. I'll ask at the LBS if they can get them, but I suspect they are
only sold to wheel factories.

Jim Higson said:

I'm going to be trueing a wheel built with bladed spokes that I got with a
bike. The wheels are Campagnolo Neutrons. I could get the LBS to do it, but
I like to fix these things myself and have trued more traditional wheels
quite a few times before.

I understand there is a special tool to stop the bladed spokes from turning.
Can anyone tell me what this looks like? I'd imaging a slot in a bit of
wood cut with a hacksaw blade might do the job. Comments?

While I'm on the subject, Campagnolo sell spare spoke kits for these wheels,
but they are £24 for 6 spokes, which seems a bit expensive. In case I break
one, are straight-pull spokes avaliable from the usual makes brands (DT
swiss, Sapim etc) and would they work with these wheels?

Thanks for any help,
Jim

I have a pair of pliers designed for stretching upholstery, would that
work maybe with some tape on the jaws for padding?

http://www.decoratorsupplyinc.com/pliers.htm

look at the second one down, I am sure you can probably find something
more economical though.

nate

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

This may be the tool:

http://biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=24393435553&d=single&c=Tools&sc=Wheel%20and%20Rim&tc=Spoke%20Holders&item_id=SA-BSK

Quoted message said:

Looks handly.

Normal story of not being able to find a similar tool here in the UK for
less than double the price you'd pay in the US.

Actually, forget my carping, that exact tool is available for £8 plus
delivery over here:
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/4949/groupID/9/categoryID/57/v/8038eec3-1f15-4a8f-826a-94bac8c6f976

Jim