Getting a powered hub wheel rebuilt

[Mussels]

I made tentative enquiries at Cycle Surgery yesterday and they said they could only rebuild a wheel if it was removed from the bike completely. I wouldn't trust them to disconnect the electrics and I haven't looked yet to see if I can do it, so should I be able to find someone who can hand build it on the bike or is there a better way?

Edit:
The retailer can get it rebuilt but needs to send it off and I need to cover the 3rd party costs, I just hope this time it will last longer than a week. I would have deleted the thread but the forum doesn't have the option.

 

[Chris_Bike]

I made tentative enquiries at Cycle Surgery yesterday and they said they could only rebuild a wheel if it was removed from the bike completely. I wouldn't trust them to disconnect the electrics and I haven't looked yet to see if I can do it, so should I be able to find someone who can hand build it on the bike or is there a better way?

Edit:
The retailer can get it rebuilt but needs to send it off and I need to cover the 3rd party costs, I just hope this time it will last longer than a week. I would have deleted the thread but the forum doesn't have the option.

I really wouldn't want to rebuild a wheel in the bike frame. You really need to use a proper dishing tool and truing jig to get it right. A competent bike shop OUGHT to be able to take the wheel out OK!

 

[flecc]

You really need to use a proper dishing tool and truing jig to get it right.

For much of the life of the bicycle such things weren't used Chris, they weren't around in the trade I knew as a youngster, and wheels were perfectly built by people who'd been doing it for a lifetime. Dishing tools and jigs now make life easier and save a bit of time, but a craftsman's skills can do the job just as well.

Frankly some of the more fancy overpriced and over-engineered wheel building jigs I've seen are a matter for hilarity. We used an old pair of forks in a vice and the results didn't suffer the number of broken spokes so common these days!
.

 

[Chris_Bike]

My trueing jig cost £15 and the dishing tool a tenner and they've certainly earned their keep. I wouldn't want to build a wheel without them (and I wouldn't trust most bike shops to either!) Still I'm not a professional cycle mechanic!

 

[flecc]

Nothing wrong with that Chris.

I was thinking of some of the exotic jigs shown at some of the international cycle shows, bristling with accessories and costing several hundreds of pounds.
.

 

[Mussels]

I've dropped it into the retailer today who will take the wheel off and get it rebuilt, both the retailer and the manufacturer have been very helpful with this.

 

[flecc]

That's good Mussels, I hope they get it right for you this time.
.