Here’s a photo of the rim from my new bicycle. Is it possible to save and true up the rim or is it bent beyond repair? If it’s trued, will it still be as strong as before or will I be faced with nagging problems? Any insight on reclaiming this wheel would be helpful.
Thanks,
Bruce
The truck or the bike wheel?
Why is this question in JC?
The rim can be made flat but not round or round but not flat. Either way you choose, the spoke tension will be grossly nonuniform around the wheel resulting in substantially less overall strength.
In JC because it’s a bicycle rim.
I’m off to buy a new rim. Sad to replace a one-day-old rim but I feel I really have to have a strong wheel especially when it need to hold this big boy up.
Bruce
Hoppin curbs on your new Schwinn …? 
that rim is toast. its a single walled rim so it wasnt very strong to begin with.
Jagur’s right. If you get a new one, get one with a double walled cross section. The strength gained doing that will payoff for the big boy. I’ve got a double walled rim on BlueShift that I have ridden with as many as four broken spokes and the thing still ran true. That one wheel had my full 190 lbs. on it.
When have I ever disagreed with Harper and Jugar, however….
Though the rim is cheap and has suffered much, you can still squeeze more miles out of it if you choose. I have had numerous experiences – numerous – doing just that! What I have done is simply de-lace the wheel, and gently bend it back into a reasonable shape. Use a flat area (like a sidewalk or trusted workbench) to see where it is out of true. To bend it back into shape use two fixed points made of wood, or another soft material (like two parallel 2X4s with a space for the rim between them), so you don’t scar the sidewall of the rim. Should the rim be out of round you can push it back out – though this is a tad tricky. The hard part for me was always determining where, exactly it was out of round without being laced to the hub. However, use a soft, rubber mallet and simply smack the bugger – from the hub side out.
I am sure – certain – that I could save this rim for another ride or to get myself home. However, that rim will never be the same – and, as a single wall rim, it didn’t start out so great, as you have discovered. If you pay the freight I’ll fix it – just to make the point.
Have fun on your new wheel.
Tommy
Why would someone else pay fright so YOU can make a point?
Because Tommy knows that Bruce Edwards is not afraid to pay fright.
I’m afraid I’ve created a bad pun.
and ive been called “Jugar”
Actually, I didn’t really expect Bruce to take me up on the offer. The offer was made to make of a more of a rhetorical point. Sorry.
Have fun with your wheel building project, Bruce.
Tommy
Hey, Jagur.
Fun with dyslexia!
Tommy
Tommy,
Thanks for the offer. But you’re right, I think I’ll pass on the offer and purchase a stronger rim. I’ve built several wheels now so I’m up for the game. I just have to get past the frustration of spending more money to rebuild a one-day-old wheel. But maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. I probably need the stronger rim anyway.
Now, anyone have a rim to sell?
Bruce
Edit: What kind of tool do I need to remove the sproket set? I’ve never done that before.
You’ll need a freewheel puller that is designed for that freewheel.
Once you get one, put the puller on, next put the quick release back on to hold the puller in place. Next put the puller in a vice. You can now use the rim as a steering wheel to get the freewheel loose. You want to take a left turn.
Good luck
that works for spin on freewheels, but not always for a cassette free wheel. you may also need a chain whip.
Correct, I forgot about that.
I took the wheel to the LBS owner at lunch today. He ended up ordering me another wheel under warranty. He’s a real good guy and I appreciate his efforts and honesty. It’ll be a shame to lose him in September.
Bruce
from the description you gave it was a derailer adjustment error that led to this. warranting the wheel is cool for you but the tacoed rim wasnt defective.
bike shops dont “warranty” tubes for getting puntures for instance.
also, a warrantied wheel here is going to mean another single walled rim most likly, right light big fella.
You’re right, the rim wasn’t defective. I think it was a way to heal the situation quickly and easily. It’s not my call, but maybe the LBS guy shouldn’t pass the fix-it cost on.
As for another single-walled rim, we decided to try the same rim at no cost to me first and if I have problems in the future, I’ll buy a better rim at that time. I’m not going to be doing off-road stuff with it at all. It’ll be my commuter machine along the highways and byways of Rochelle…or more specifically, south on Main St. four blocks and west on 5th Ave. two blocks.
Bruce