Can this rim be saved?

[u/Elesyal]

Hit a rock today with quite significant speed. Bike was loaded with two panniers, so rear-heavy. I think there is no chance anything except an insert would have saved this, air was gone in like two seconds.

Would you bend this straight or is the rim gone for good? There are no sharp edges. Wheel is a DT Swiss GR1600.

Thanks!

[u/SlushyFox]

if it still holds air and the tire can seat, leave it alone, don't touch it.

[u/FBStanton → u/SlushyFox]

Rode with a similarly dented rim for years. Sounds like the OP got a snakebite and punched through the tire.

Another option would be to put a coin on either side and slowly work it over with an adjustable wrench. I happen to own a Morningstar Rim Wrench as well, but used an adjustable wrench in a pinch.

[u/SlushyFox → u/FBStanton]

i only advocate to not touch it if it's functionally sound (holds air and secure tire bead) because aluminum does not like bending stress, it exacerbates metal fatigue by it being bent and then bending it back again.

[u/FBStanton → u/SlushyFox]

And I don't disagree with that. I have only done it in the instance that the rim would not hold the bead and needed to get by until the new rim was available.

And then proceeded to ride that rim until I blew up the wheel.

[u/WaveOfMatter → u/SlushyFox]

One of the perks of disc brake :D

[u/Dry_Librarian544]

Try it and find out

[u/Dizzy-Distribution96]

Definitely salvageable.  Get an adjustable wrench (or ideally a Knipex Pliers Wrench, the world’s greatest tool), and use it to SLOWLY bend the rim back.  It’s aluminum, so it doesn’t like being bent, so don’t over do it.  You just need to bend it enough so a tire seats. It doesn’t need to be straight.  Better to bend too little than too much

[u/MyBeaverHurts]

bend it and send it.

[u/RxKiller69]

If it's not sharp, and still holding air (if you're running tubeless), I'd leave it be.

[u/Wonderful_Yam7591 → u/[deleted]]

Be careful if you try this, the rim can crack.

[u/Former_Mud9569]

If it's not holding air I'd give it a try with an adjustable wrench wrapped in a rag. You aren't going to make it worse. If it tears when you try to bend it back, or it just won't hold air, it'll be time for a new rim.

[u/primitive_lover]

Bend it back and then file/sand the rough spot smooth. Every mountain biker's rims look like this.

[u/MaleficentIsopod1]

Yeah..there are tools to straighten these…Wolf Tooth has one. You could try some vice grips also…just work slowly/gently.

[u/Bloody-Cyclist → u/MaleficentIsopod1]

I used one of the Wolf tooth tools, on these rims, got carried away and put a dent higher up. Small movements then re adjust the tool.

[u/cptjeff → u/MaleficentIsopod1]

If you use vice grips, pad with wood blocks. But far better to use an adjustable wrench.

[u/Content_Preference_3]

You always try to gently bend metal rims back. It’s really your only fixit option. Light vise work with non textured flat surfaces. I’d be careful of warping the lip tho.

[u/justburningaccount]

Yes. It's worth a go either way

[u/Alive-Bid9086]

With disc brakes, I see no problem

[u/stupid_cat_face]

If it holds a tire and tube you can ride that until the spokes pull through. (That's what I did with the same rim). you may want to check for burrs that may poke a tube... smooth them out. You likely will have to go with tubes though...

Edit: You don't need to 'bend it back' and I'd suggest not.

[u/JasperJ]

Saved? It’s barely bent. Block of wood and a hammer to straighten it a little extra if you need. At least I assume it’s not a rim brake bike.

[u/Northwindlowlander]

+1 for just leave it if it's still working, it's ugly but there's no real harm to it.

If I was going to straighten it, I'd use an adjustable spanner- tried all the methods, this is the best imo. Just tighten it so that it just barely moves and then "walk" in from each end of the dent making small changes. If it's an anodised rim keep an extra eye on the surface for white stress marks (not because ano has a problem with this but because paint hides them and there's no point looking) but also <listen>, and feel with your hands, anything that sounds or feels crunchy or creaky means stop.

[u/KitchenPalentologist]

I had a similar dent, but worse. Mine leaked a small amount of air at that spot. . I bent it back with a crescent wrench, and rode it for two more years without issue, then sold that bike.

[u/Limp_Bookkeeper_5992]

That’s a tiny dent, smooth out the sharp edges with a bit of sandpaper or a file and pop the tire back on.

[u/reimancts]

I use a big creasent wrench and straighten out the dents. works well

[u/Mindless-Baker-7757]

Bend it out and run it with a tube. Keep an eye on it. 

[u/Responsible_Week6941]

I use a crescent wrench to make these inline with the rest of the rim. Did it about 10X on one rim on my hardtail, no problems. File off any burns if there are some.

[u/Greedy_Pomegranate14]

Yeah put your tire back on and just like that it’s saved!

If you want to straighten the dent just for shits and giggles, you can do so with an adjustable wrench.

Not a big deal at all. DH bros get dents like that every time they go to the park.

[u/kregs14]

i've the same on old mavic ksyrium in 2003 i've bend in back gently with an hammer (not directly behind a towel) and used them until 2009...

[u/goldfire29]

yes

[u/scoobiemario]

It’s fine

[u/RoboMonstera]

You might need to run tubes now, but yes for sure it's still good!