Q: De-lacing Rims - Specifically Cruiser Wheels

[diesel]

Ok I have a nice set of 24" Ukai's that I want to strip down.

What's the best way to do this?

- Do I just cut all the spokes and throw them away?

- Or do I unscrew each one and save them?

Cheers
Dan

[mark 2]

Unscrew them Dan, you think your saving time butchering them, it never works out this way

[NORTY40]

Just make sure you take the freewheel off before you de-lace them 

[oldschoolrb]

cut the suckes straight off if you dont need save them , the nippples will undo with your fingers off the bit you'v cut off   with the rest of the spokes you got left over arange them in to a mad mess and weild them suckers into a big mess !! spray it pink then give it your misses for vday to hang her sh#t on !! she will love it .............. cus you thought of her while fixing your wheels up !!! win win , Brian Jonsons for a month ,, if not you need a bird from stoke they love that sh#t ,,,,,,,,,,,,, whoop whoop

[baldbmxer]

Depends if the spokes are in good condition.

Nice then break them down. Crap then chop em' up Dan 

[diesel]

Cheers all:

JJ - the spokes are ok ish, they are pretty thick gauge, but would need a re-chrome to make show worthy

Are 24" spokes still easy to get ahold of - My concern is that I would hate to chop them and then have problems getting the right length spokes

[Dark Diggler]

If the spokes are mega tight, be careful if you cut em, dont cut 2 or 3 next to each other as you could twist and bend the rim, if you have to cut em, do opposite ones one at a time 

[Mattdub]

Spoke key , take them out seperately . Takes no time if yer sat in front of the TV . Also are the rims in good nick or need new anno ? , if they're good nick/minters you could scratch the rims going at the spokes with cutters because spokes tend to have a mind of there own when cut . No rush I'm assuming Dan  .

[diesel]

Cool - I think therefore I will unscrew them one by one.

Just need to buy a spoke key now, any advice on which one to buy? 'One does all' kind of thingy, would be great

No rush, there off to be anodised anyway

[Mattdub]

Cool - I think therefore I will unscrew them one by one.

Just need to buy a spoke key now, any advice on which one to buy? 'One does all' kind of thingy, would be great

No rush, there off to be anodised anyway

Mine has a yellow plastic flat surface , seems to work fine  ( looks like below ) .

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=41056

[HUTCHMAN]

Definitely get a "SPOKEY" i'm still using the same one i bought the best part of probably 20 years ago. They work a bit better because they make contact with all for side of the spoke nipple.

[diesel]

Cheers all, as luck has it one of Lads at work had one that I could borrow.

Took them apart in no time at all (40 mins top) Started as advised at the valve hole, then moving to the opposite side of the rim, then back and so forth, to release the pressure evenly.

 

[kevin (A.K.A) kai riviere]

glad you got the info you needed.....knowledge is power 

[diesel]

Thanks for your pm & advise Kevin - really useful

[moley]

Yep!!  Deffo Freewheel removal first and then Remove each spoke one at a time, it wont take much time!!

If you have problems then make sure you cut the spoke at the hub end and not the nipple end otherwise ya might be stuck with a shitty nipple stuck to ya rim!!