broken spokes

Weisse Luft Wrote:
Do you do your laundry in the basement? Near a bottle of bleach?
Chlorine bleach?

Chloride ion SCC is a problem with stainless. Fortunately it only
happens with the ClO- ion at normal temperatures, otherwise our sweat
would be then end of our spokes. Chlorine by itself only attaacks
18-8/300 series stainless steel at elevated temperatures. This family
of stainless steels is found in most cycling components made of
stainless steels, including spokes, cables and fasteners.

If you can rule out chlorine bleach (including pool chemicals like HTH,
aka calcium hypochlorite) fumes, the reason for the failures is most
probably fatigue. Replace as needed, no need to relace the entire
wheel. it's kept in the laundry room away from the machine. other metal
items there ain't corroded. i guess the spokes are just going to break
from wear/age. i'll get it fixed & if it happens again, then i'll just
replace the rim. the bike's in excellent condition, & i would hate to
scrap it for just a stupid spoke...


--
saturnsc2

saturnsc2 Wrote:
it's kept in the laundry room away from the machine. other metal items
there ain't corroded. i guess the spokes are just going to break from
wear/age. i'll get it fixed & if it happens again, then i'll just
replace the rim. the bike's in excellent condition, & i would hate to
scrap it for just a stupid spoke...

Are the spokes stainless steel? You could try a magnet test but you
would need to compare to a carbon steel spoke since 18-8 SS in the cold
worked condition is slightly magnetic.

Cl ion induced SCC does not show as corrosion until far advanced. Its
a nearly invisible malady of metals, especially highly worked metals
like spoke elbows. In the advanced stages, the shiny surface becomes
"frosted" but its still stainless steel grey. The spokes eventually
become as brittle as uncooked dried pasta.


--
Weisse Luft