06/28/2025
Update:
Thanks for all the very thoughtful responses....
Happy no one suggested glue was the answer!
You are right, it needs to be able to continue to move. I do suspect that this would not have occurred if the spokes were not glued into the hub.
I am experimenting with a spacer...luckily the wheel belongs to a friend of ours so we will be able to monitor. (Kathy wants me to hurry up so she can try the wheel!)
Update on the wheel clunk in the post below.
Some really good guesses...and all of the things mentioned can and have caused issues.
In this case, the spokes are glued into the hub, and they are pinned into the outer rim with small dowels.
The entire drive hub/spoke assembly is floating in the outer rim, meaning all the spokes are presently a little short. Hopefully the vid shows that.
The noise was not there when the wheel was purchased, which may point to a change in environment creating wood to shrink or expand. This means a future change in environment or a change of seasons could cause the rim to shrink...or spokes to expand
(Ussualy a change in the rim)
When I was first asked about this noise, I assumed what we were dealing with was an axle slipping in the hub. I see this more times then you would think when the axle is round and pinned into the center hub. Over time, the axle becomes loose and when treadling the crank makes a clunk when it goes over center.
(Is this all too much information and boring?)
Antique wheels of course had a square center section on the crank that went into a square hole in the center hub. They can come loose, but we do not see as often we do on modern wheels.
For what it is worth, we see a loose spoke or 2 very often making a clicking or ticking sound as the wheel foes around. Easy to tighten a spoke. Deb Swingholm called this out first I think...good ear!
Now, what is the best way to repair this?
What is the worse way to repair?
Keep in mind the wheel will continue to expand and contract in the future!
