Big story/theory.
So, I have a bit of an issue here.
When I started building wheels around 2008-2009, I bought myself a bottle of Linseed oil as spoke prep/lube/locker and it had worked 100% for many years with probably 30+ wheelsets built in the 14yrs.
Every time I went to use it, it was a struggle getting the cap off the bottle as it had 'dried' and locked the lid on. It used to always have dried linseed gunk around there too... and the little 'piss pot' I use for dunking the spokes in was always dried HARD.
In the past few years, I'm getting ready for a fight with the lid and it twists off smooth as.... Didnt think much about it.
About a year ago #2 son comes to me and tells me his spokes are loose... hmmm, strange and I tension the wheel. Then #1 son's rear wheel, I tension it too.
I have relaced about 5-6 rears in the past 2 years so didn't think much about it.
Derby at x-mas (a month ago) #1 says his spokes are loose, #2 feels his and they are also loose
They can be tightened and loosened by hand... WTF, nek minnit, "dad your spokes are loose too"
So I have 3 rear wheels to tension and try and lock with Loctite Thread locker before we even ride a bike in St Helens.
We get home to Adelaide and loose spokes again on all 3 bikes.
So my theory is Linseed oil looses it drying ability over time, my 14yr bottle no longer dries and locks the spokes.
The little 'piss pot' I use to dip the spokes in - is semi wet with Linseed oil with a jelly like cover over the top and its open to air, not dry as it used to be.
I now have the task of rebuilding some wheel sets.
#1 sons Nextie Premium 29 XC race wheelset (loose)
#2 sons Nextie Premium 29 XC race wheelset (loose)
#1 sons rear DT swiss enduro wheel (loose)
#2 sons rear WTB enduro wheel (loose)
My Nextie Deviate wheelset (rear loose, front ok but it has been built with the same shitty oil)
My Nextie Transition Spur wheelset (rear coming loose, front ok but it has been built with the same shitty oil)
10 wheels in total.
No idea the approach to take just yet, I may try loosening each nipple by 10-12 turns and dripping the new 'Improved drying' Linseed oil I got from Bunnings today on the threads
If anyone else has another theory on this, let me know but I'm pretty sure this is whats going on.
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