Has anyone replaced a 21" Wheel spoke?

[Todd in PA]

Has anyone ever replaced a wheel spoke on a 21" rim?
If so, how was it done?
I was thinking of drilling out and welding from behind. but is real a challenge from the front at the hub cap hole.
The wheel I have is real nice except one spoke that is bent horribly bad where the metal has stretched.
Plus what wheels I have seen recently at swaps are pretty well pitted, I feel with all the metal rusted that badly they don't have the same structure as new.

 

[wrndln]

You might consider cutting the spoke off above the hub since it sounds like your problem is with the long spokes which are usually the bent ones. You could then drill out the spoke rim connection and install a spoke from an unusable rim and weld the replacement spoke to the "stub" left near the hub. I don't know if I would use the repaired rim for one of the 4 main wheels one the ground, maybe for the spare, since you say it looks very nice.

One other option is to heat shrink the bent area (stretched spoke) with a torch and try to straighten it as it shrinks. Heat the spoke with a torch and quench it with a wet rag. It will probably take a number of heat/quench cycles to shrink it enough as you straighten it.
Rusty Nelson

 

[Kurt in NJ]

You don't need all the spokes ----when the car was new Ford had a stunt driver drive around on 2 wheels that 1/2 the spokes were cut out ---just to prove how strong his new welded wheels were.

Rather than cutting out that stretched spoke ---shrink it with heat ---there was a post that described how , but I think it was on old fordbarn, perhaps others can remember.

 

[Todd in PA]

Thanks for the responses.
I will give the heat shrinking method a go first, the car is a driver not looking for perfect, but I do want nice and safe.