Spoke replacement on entire wheel?

[Janners BJJ Clunker Rider]

### QUESTION ### One spoke at a time? I have set of wheels off a Marin, nothing flash, and they have rusty spokes. I quite like the idea of respoking (is that even a word?) the wheels. So can I just replace one spoke at a time and work my way around? I know I need to different sizes for each side of the rear wheel and the front wheel I gather all the spokes will be the same. I'll take one of each size spoke with me to a LBS and get the spokes from them, assuming this is possible. So can I do that?
Hmm just asked on FB and the replies are coming in quick...."Just buy a new wheel!" appears to be the response. Views and thoughts welcome.

 

[legrandefromage]

Radio 4, biscuits, tea and a gentle one spoke at a time.

Takes about an hour per wheel if you have a load of nipples to hand and some decent cutters to get the manky old ones out easilly.

 

[foz]

I'd do the whole lot in one go, would be easier to get even tension, unless you just do one spoke at a time and leave them all quite loose. But then that would be more faffing than just taking the whole lot apart and starting from scratch...

 

[Janners BJJ Clunker Rider]

I can me doing this twice, once one spoke at time, then on another wheel with them all out.

Janners

 

[Janners BJJ Clunker Rider]

I'd do the whole lot in one go, would be easier to get even tension, unless you just do one spoke at a time and leave them all quite loose. But then that would be more faffing than just taking the whole lot apart and starting from scratch...

Is this easy without a dishing tool.... I guess a rule and some means of holding it above a flat surface? Hmm...

 

[foz]

most basic way is just turn your bike upside down, use the brake blocks, or zipties fixed to the stays, for trueing. For dishing, just turn the wheel the other way round in the dropouts and see if it's still in the centre

 

[Tad]

Re:

For what it's worth I had to have the drive side spokes replaced after a rear mech & stick scenario. My wheelbuilder did them one spoke at a time, he's been doing it for years and knows a thing or two so if it were me, I'd be following his lead.

 

[hamster]

Honestly, it's a very basic rim, you will probably find it cheaper to buy a complete replacement wheel. But spoke by spoke will work...loosen it all off, re-spoke and then true up.

 

[Janners BJJ Clunker Rider]

Cheers folks,
Janners.

 

[fettler]

Re:

If you have never tried this or built a wheel before then I would suggest that if these hubs or particularly the rims are precious to you or hard to come by then try it out on a scrap/worthless wheel first & see how you go.