Wheel spokes

[jboomer]

Hey guys.. Just doing some PM on my bike (KX) and have found a couple of spokes that are pretty loose. I'v tried tightening them with my spoke wrench, but the whole spoke turns. I even tried to hold the spoke with vise grips and apply WD-40 but to no avail. Anybody got a special secret?

 

[RM250'er]

If you haven't tried yet, try turning them the the other way first.

If that doesn't work... Beat the crap out of it with a hammer... :) just kidding... add a "little" heat.

 

[Homer88]

I had some spokes/nipples seized so badly that I've no choice but to cut them out with my dremel when i wanted to change the rims. Tried vise-grip,soaking it with lube but not the heating method. Hope it works for you.

From then onwards, i always make it a point to spray some lube on the nipples regularly and check my spoke tension.

 

[Moto Madman]

I just had this problem a few hours ago. I was changing tires anyway so i took off the tire, tube, and rimtape. I sprayed the top of the nipples with brake cleaner to get the grit out and put some penetrating oil on them. It took a little twisting but they all broke loose.

 

[flykawasaki]

Ahh, someone feels my pain!!

I have had LOTS of problems with this. I have heard the key is to coat the spoke threads with ANTI-SIEZE lube before assembling your new spokes. Unfortunately this only works if done when replacing them or before they sieze. I haven't tried this but I am confident it will work. I am currently waiting til my tire is shot then I will replace all the spokes again using anti-sieze lube this time.

You may also want to look into getting aluminum spokes and nipples or steel spokes and nipples. A common problem on these bikes is that they use steel bolts in aluminum material. There is a chemical reaction which takes place between the two metals causing them to corrode themselves and freeze up. That is why you should use either anti-sieze lube or lock-tite on every single bolt.