Spokes wont stay tight!

[ls1cameric]

I tightend my rear spokes last weekend before I went riding and they're lose again. I noticed that when tightening some, they felt stripped and would never tighten. Would this be the rim or the spoke that is stripped?
If i replace them, do i have to take the whole wheel off or can i just do one at a time while on the wheel?

 

[kartstar]

Make sure the spokes aren't just spinning when you try to tighten them, esp. the ones that "felt stripped." If they are, then you haven't really tightened them at all. I have a '96 CR250 that many the rear spokes are seized in the nipples and won't tighten. I have a few more things to try (HEAT!!) before I give up and buy new spokes at $70 a wheel.

 

[ls1cameric]

Make sure the spokes aren't just spinning when you try to tighten them, esp. the ones that "felt stripped." If they are, then you haven't really tightened them at all. I have a '96 CR250 that many the rear spokes are seized in the nipples and won't tighten. I have a few more things to try (HEAT!!) before I give up and buy new spokes at $70 a wheel.

Actually I think they are "just spinning" in the nipple. Can I try to break them lose with a locking wrech on the spoke or will that dammage it?

 

[kartstar]

You didn't hear this from me, but lightly clamping the spoke with a pair of Vise Grips might allow you to tighten the nipple...I'm sure it's not a great thing to do to the spoke, but hey - there's 36 of 'em! :laugh:

 

[ls1cameric]

You didn't hear this from me, but lightly clamping the spoke with a pair of Vise Grips might allow you to tighten the nipple...I'm sure it's not a great thing to do to the spoke, but hey - there's 36 of 'em! :laugh:

Gotcha! ;)