Problems replacing a spoke

[loudlashadjuster]

I broke a spoke on one of my Fulcrum 5s. LBS is run by an arse so I won't give him a penny, Evans say it'll £20-odd and a week or more before they can do it, other places I've called are similar.

So I thought I'd have a bash at doing it myself. Even if I screw it up I'll only be in the same situation as I am now, and I might even learn something.

Thinking 'spokes are spokes' I thought I'd buy some from Wiggle (I had £100-odd worth of Dunwich Dynamo stuff in my basket anyway, just waiting for an excuse to order) but no, they don't sell any spokes.

Other retailers do but then I quickly got into the rabbit hole of length, nipples etc. and I really don't know what I'm doing here.

No problem, I thought, I'll just buy the official Fulcrum kit, at least that'll be compatible. Sure, it's £17-odd but it'll give me a few spares and at least I know it'll be compatible. Trouble is the Fulcrum kits no longer seem to be readily available. The order I placed for a place that showed stock was cancelled when they reported it wasn't actually available any more.

How difficult should this be?! What's my best way forward?

[JustinF]

You can use a spoke length calculator, for which you'll need to know the hub model or it's dimensions, or you can unlace another spoke from the same side, measure it and buy one to match.

[loudlashadjuster]

JustinF said:

You can use a spoke length calculator, for which you'll need to know the hub model or it's dimensions, or you can unlace another spoke from the same side, measure it and buy one to match.

Cheers. Spoke calculators seem to require much more information than I have to hand though. Fulcrum aren't listed as a manufacturer in any I've tried although Campagnolo are. I suspect some commonality but there's no way for me to be sure.

I may try the taking another out and measuring it though.

This seems the same sort of incompatible/lack of clear information nonsense as with bottom brackets. Why is cycling so poorly specified/standardised?!

[richardxjr]

Easy to take one out and measure like J says.

Different hubs and rims of various widths and diameters and for different purposes will always mean a big range of spoke lengths and types. A wheelset with 3 different spoke lengths is a bit of a pain though.

[Matt_N]

Front (282 mm)
Rear right (281 mm)
Rear left (284 mm)

You need straight pull spokes too.

[G321]

I have the kit (minus 1 spoke). you can have it for a tenner if you want?

[loudlashadjuster]

Matt_N said:

Front (282 mm)
Rear right (281 mm)
Rear left (284 mm)

You need straight pull spokes too.

Cheers. So I can just get something like this: https://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/dt-swiss-competiti...

Would these be similar enough to the existing spokes (width, nipple etc.)?

[loudlashadjuster]

G321 said:

I have the kit (minus 1 spoke). you can have it for a tenner if you want?

Thanks. I might take you up on that if I can't get clarity on buying them individually.

Which spoke is missing?

[G321]

loudlashadjuster said:

Thanks. I might take you up on that if I can't get clarity on buying them individually.

Which spoke is missing?

It was a drive side spoke I used. I've just checked and there's 3 bladed spokes left and one round one, all about 287mm long

[gazza285]

I've got a full wheel's worth after totalling the rim. The hub has already been donated to somebody on here...

[G321]

If it's just the one bladed spoke you're after I'll send you one rather than buying the pack

[loudlashadjuster]

Thanks to all. I've taken a punt on buying the right spokes (plus a few spares) and at the same time ordered bearings etc. as I found the current ones were very graunchy when I took the wheel apart.

[gazza285]

loudlashadjuster said:

Thanks to all. I've taken a punt on buying the right spokes (plus a few spares) and at the same time ordered bearings etc. as I found the current ones were very graunchy when I took the wheel apart.

I've just done the freehub bearings on a set of mine, easy enough if you know where the circlip is...