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How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes

Introduction

When overused or not taken care of, many bikes will have loose and wobbly spokes to the point where it is dangerous to use the bike. I will show you how to tighten loose spokes.

What you need

  1. How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes, How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes: step 1, image 1 of 3 How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes, How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes: step 1, image 2 of 3 How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes, How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes: step 1, image 3 of 3

    • Place the bike in a position where you can comfortably access the wheel.

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  2. How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Inspect the wheel and look for loose spokes.

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  4. How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes: step 3, image 1 of 3 How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes: step 3, image 2 of 3 How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • Use a spoke wrench to tighten the spoke. Retighten the spoke clockwise a quarter turn at a time.

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  5. How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes: step 4, image 1 of 2 How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes: step 4, image 2 of 2

    • Since you just adjusted the tension of a spoke, we need to make sure the tension in all the spokes is equal throughout.

    • Use the spoke wrench to adjust the rest of the spokes as needed so that they all have equal tension. Turn the spoke wrench clockwise a quarter at a time.

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  6. How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes: step 5, image 1 of 1

    • Once the spokes are tightened, relieve the tension in the spokes by squeezing them.

    • This is to check that your spokes are now secure and won’t get loose.

    • Be sure to give the loose spokes an extra test to make sure they are now sturdy.

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  7. How to Tighten Loose Bike Spokes: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Spin the wheel to make sure the spokes are secure and to make sure that the wheel does not need additional truing.

    Edit
Finish Line

One other person completed this guide.

Author

with 1 other contributor

Pavle Janev

Member since: 01/12/22

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1 Guide authored

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Team

York University, Team S-11, Woodhouse Winter 2022 Member of York University, Team S-11, Woodhouse Winter 2022

YORK-WOODHOUSE-W22SSG11

1 Member

1 Guide authored

One Comment

You should notice the tension spoke when tightening your bike spoke because it will affect the wheel’s stability. Tighten clockwise and turning the wrench in small increments of about a quarter turn will allow you to avoid tightening too much.

Dalton - Reply

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