Need a new rear wheel -- where do I start?

[mbwaterdog]

Hi all,

I converted a Trek Marlin (Gary Fisher Ed) back in 2016 and the time has finally come to replace the rear wheel. I live on the Central Coast of CA and the salty air combined with the BBSHD torque just totally killed the aluminum spokes and heads. It is so out of true that the tire is actually rubbing on the frame. I can't true it anymore because the heads are so corroded that they just fall apart. Here's the thing, I've never replaced a wheel before and I have no idea where to start. Things are a bit tight, so I'm hoping to keep the budget less than $150 for a new wheel. I would like to replace the current wheel with one that is more suited for an ebike - steel spokes and brass backings on the heads, perhaps. I welcome any suggestions for where to shop around for a wheel!

Here is my setup:

Stock Bontrager 29" wheels
WTB 29" Slicks with tubes and liners
9 speed cassette
Disc brakes
Frame is Trek Marlin (Gary Fisher Edition)
BBSHD Mid Drive

Will also need to replace the derailleur soon, but not as urgent as the wheel. This is my commuter bike (20 miles / day).

 

[harryS]

Are the eyelets in the rim corroded too? Nothing worse than paint flaking off the rim? You can buy steel spokes and brass nipples for around a dollar each. Take out a good one, measure it (see Google) and you can order them.

Flip the bike upside down, replace one at a time. SHouldn't be too hard to get it true again.

A wheel isn't much more and should easily fit your budget. Bike purists will laugh, but I have an inexpensive $49 Wheelmaster front wheel on my old Trek 830, and my 26" fat bike front wheel was around $99, both alloy. The premium comes for lightness in a wheel, not necessary in an ebike.

 

[tomjasz]

Any decent bike shop, or larger online source can supply a finished wheel. Treat the new wheel with something like Boeshield, of course making certain if you have tim brakes to not treat the braking surface.

 

[indianajo]

I buy parts from www.modernbike.com in Iowa
and www.thebikeshopstore.com in NY.
I buy spokes in packs of 50 from DTswiss, that when I bought were US steel. You are fortunate that you have the length you will need well established. ****ese "steel" can be of variable tensile strength. I wouldn't buy spokes on ebay or amazon except the 2nd does sell on amazon. I have seen very bad results from the "tools" my co-workers bought from harbor freight.
I've never bought a rim, don't imagine you can buy steel anymore, but they do have rims. Also built up wheels.
nipples I bought in packs of 50 were brass. I bought the extra long ones, 12 mm instead of 10, so I could take up irregularities of my build.
Making sure all spokes ring at about the same pitch, and that the wheel runs true, are IMHO the keys to a good build. Make sure none are sticking out into the tube area past the nipple. If necessary, cut one off with an 8" diagonal plier (chanllock) and rethread by running the nipple out past the cut area. Wear safety glasses when cutting spokes, the end will jump out.

 

[tomjasz]

All my new rims are Alex double wall eBike rims. Tough and durable.
Quality Taiwanese maker Alex Rims has made a line of Rims specifically for EBikes with their new DM 24. Made of 6061H-T6 Alloy for strength, it has a pinned joint with a wide 32mm profile ideal for EBikes.

29″, 622X24, 725g
26″, 559X24, 665g