Broken rear wheel spokes

[Chris57]

Whilst doing a thorough clean pre hibernation I've found 3 broken and 2 loose spokes, the wheels, along with the rest of the bike, have only covered 1800mls since being totally rebuilt. There's nothing that happened whilst riding that I can recall that could have caused an issue and only checked the spokes about 250mls ago when I adjusted the chain and they were fine so have been very fortunate that's for sure. After finding the problem last night it got me wondering if maybe it's a common Kettle issue because in 45yrs of owning/riding dozens of spoked wheel bikes I've not had it happen before, have I just been lucky?
A bit of background, the wheels had been rebuilt with rechromed rims & new spokes by the PO, personally I've had zero experience with building/repairing spoked wheels in the past but happy to tackle/have a go at most things. Any guidance/info as to the cause along with have a go or take it to a specialist advice will be gratefully received.

Many thanks,
Chris

[canaletto5]

I've rebuilt a few but always left the final trueing to an expert. I'ts possible the PO didn't and over/under tightened the spokes

[PaulD738]

I've rebuilt a few but always left the final trueing to an expert. I'ts possible the PO didn't and over/under tightened the spokes

+1 with Kev, I’ve just re spoked the rims on my T500 and for the life of me I can’t get them true in both planes? I can get them true in either one or the other but not both!
I’ve now slackened them off and I’m in the process of finding someone locally to true them up.
No luck at the moment though Is there anyone who knows a reputable wheel builder in the NW?

[martyducati]

Try a bicycle shop or mx bike dealer any one of them sources should sort you out,

[senicoli]

as far as I am aware its not unusual for kettles to break rear wheel spokes correct me if I am wrong, mine had three broken when I bought it which I replaced 800 miles later it broke two more replaced them too done 1200 miles since no problems colin

[Chris57]

Thx Guys, outsourcing seems to be the way to go then.

as far as I am aware its not unusual for kettles to break rear wheel spokes correct me if I am wrong, mine had three broken when I bought it which I replaced 800 miles later it broke two more replaced them too done 1200 miles since no problems colin

Must be the huge amount of power a Kettle puts out

[canaletto5]

More like the surging

[teazer]

Most likely the new spokes had not been heat treated after plating. When they are plated with chrome or cad or zinc, the process causes hydrogen to be embeded in the molecular structure leading to hydrogen embrittlement. The fix is to stick the spokes in an oven for 30 minutes at 400F. It's also possible that the spokes were over tightened, but that doesn't often cause spokes to fail.

Either strip the wheel and have the spokes baked or replace them with stainless from somewhere like Central Wheel in the UK or Buchanans in the US. You can build and true the wheel yourself with a little patience. You don't need a fancy schmancy truing stand, but they are nice to have. I have used a swingarm in a vice, back of a chair and table top, as well as the stand I now have.

[zapo]

I have stainless spokes.
One broke after 7000 miles, I put it down to "s**t happens" and replaced it.
No problems since