Moving existing spokes to new rim – is there a technique?

I need to replace current rim. Erd is same as the new one so will use the existing spokes new nipples/washers. Can I loosen all the spokes and move one at a time to the new rim? Is there a certain order they should be moved to make it easier? Eg all trailing spokes first, just move in sequence etc. thanks rich

Just move them one by one – tape the new rim to the old and switch over. Of course loosen the existing sopkes first, then move over.

Just leave the tension wound off until you can pop it in the jig.  It’s how I do it.

ive heard of it done, tape the two rims side by side, loosen ALL the spokes, and then transfer them in order of “left to right”ness,ie, the ones that are easy, or “on top” first, (youll go around the whole wheel, doing every 4th spoke) and then the one below it, and then the same for the other other flange.

Ive not done it, it sounds like a good way to stratch up your new rim.

I have stripped wheels down and rebuilt from existing spokes without any issues though. I would only do it with brass nipples, so if youve got aluminium nips, invest in a box of brass ones to do it with. Theyre not expensive.

I’ve done this a few times, it’s not too tricky. As the others say, tape your two rims together, loosen all the spokes, then methodically shift them over one by one. I did them in order round the wheel, IIRC

I have done it a few times.  As above just taped rims together, loosened all the spokes and went one by one around the rim.

+1 for what Fossy said.

Don’t forget to line up the valve holes and check the rims are both the same way round before you start.

I always just go spoke-by-spoke and it’s worked for me.

Great replies thanks everyone

Done it myself – switched Shimano hubbed Stans rims onto American Classic hubs and they are still running years later 🙂

Followed this https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/reusing-spokes.html

Olly

I’ve not done it, it sounds like a good way to scratch up your new rim.

No worse than building from scratch with the spokes. Might be different if the old rim has been through a lot but sure it can be spaced off easily enough so it wouldn’t scrape it.

I’ve done a couple – it works well.

I tend too slacken off in stages but then if the old rim is toast less of a concern.

Yeah no need to overthink- tape, loosen, then transfer the spokes that are on the “new rim” side onto the new rim then the other side, it’s easier to do than type!

ALso, if it’s got conventional nipples then I can’t recommend something like this too highly for the next step

BSC Tools SB-1 Adjustable Spoke Nipple Driver

I have the cyclus one, they all basically do the same thing and mean all your spokes start out set to the same depth. It makes the tensioning miles easier.