27
votes
Accepted
Purpose of 'bore' on spoke nipples - why are spoke nipples not threaded through their entire length?
Adding threads to any sort of bolt under tension doesn't actually make it much stronger, beyond the first ≈5 threads. Adding more basically just adds dead mass; either way the whole thing will ...
- 3,751
16
votes
Accepted
What kind of wheels use spoke washers/nipple washers?
Spoke washers are used at the hub end, between the flared out cap and the hub itself. The intention is to take up extra length between the bend and the end, to help prevent the spoke from breaking. ...
- 129k
13
votes
Purpose of 'bore' on spoke nipples - why are spoke nipples not threaded through their entire length?
The bore guides the thread of the spoke to the threading of the nipple allowing easier spoking with less risk of cross-threading.
The bore also allows the spoke to be threaded deeper w/o adding more ...
- 241
9
votes
Accepted
Are you supposed to paint the spoke nipples?
No, you are not supposed to paint spoke nipples.
Painting them could create a very hard to break joint between the nipple and its spoke, making eventual spoke tension adjustments hard to do. Paint can ...
- 4,169
8
votes
Rim suspension?
I have never heard of anything like this, and here are my thoughts on why this concept has not been made:
My guess is that suspension at the rim and outer end of the spoke will effectively re-tension ...
- 129k
8
votes
Accepted
How to avoid damaging spoke nipples when wheel building
Using a high quality spoke key that engages on 4 sides (and fits properly) usually avoids this problem, even with coloured alu nipples.
- 15.3k
8
votes
Accepted
Freeing stiff nipples?
I agree with Daniel’s comment, I’ve had success with using vice grips to hold spokes myself. Be careful not to use excessive force to prevent crushing the spoke. It may help to add a small “flag” made ...
- 16.9k
8
votes
Are you supposed to paint the spoke nipples?
Painting over rust is a cosmetic coverup at best.
You can remove rust mechanically and then protect, but paint will almost certainly get in the threads which will cause frustration later.
There are ...
- 129k
8
votes
Do I need new rim tape after replacing spoke + nipple?
It depends on the Rim Tape.
Some variants are closed rubber or PU rings of flat material and can be easily removed with a tire mounting tool. If you don't rip them apart on disassembly, you can of ...
- 81
7
votes
Do I need new rim tape after replacing spoke + nipple?
Rim tape for tubed tyres is surprisingly stretchy. If you can get one pick or screwdriver under it, then work a second stick of some sort underneath, it should be possible to flip the whole ring of ...
- 129k
6
votes
Accepted
When do I have to replace worn or rounded spoke nipples?
If that nipple turns out to be in a trouble spot that needs attention again, it's easy to imagine it stripping out all the way and needing to be replaced at that point.
Sometimes when it's mangled ...
- 87k
6
votes
Accepted
Common for spoke nipple head to rust but not nipple body?
That's an unusual rust pattern but not impossible. Your wheel has a cloth rim strip? Those hold moisture from rain and road dampness.
There's a chance your rim is not particularly waterproof, so ...
- 129k
5
votes
Spoke wrench conversion master guide
Nipple wrench flat sizes don't correspond to spoke gauge in as clean or universal of a way as you're suggesting.
This depends a little on where you are in the world (and in history), but 2mm aka 14g ...
- 87k
5
votes
Accepted
Replace vintage barrel nipple Shimano shifter cable
It's a Shimano Positron shift cable.
The outer housing is also special.
Picture from WorthPoint.com
I found a few for sale on ebay - not an endorsement.
There were two Positron systems. The first one ...
- 23k
5
votes
Accepted
Is a Spoke "collar" (i.e., spoke well) in deep section wheel replaceable?
I’m kind of guessing that the “collar” doesn’t serve a structural function and is instead just a fancy washer which makes wheel building easier because the nipple can’t drop into the inside of the rim....
- 28.8k
4
votes
Is a Spoke "collar" (i.e., spoke well) in deep section wheel replaceable?
I would have to lean toward "toast" here.
At 20 years old, you are looking at some deterioration due to some corrosion and/or stress cycles that have done in the spoke well insert. Also, at ...
- 6,477
4
votes
Purpose of 'bore' on spoke nipples - why are spoke nipples not threaded through their entire length?
The "bore" allows the unthreaded portion of the spoke to enter the nipple body, eliminating the need to thread the spoke more or use a shorter nipple. This is especially useful in some wheel-building ...
- 53.9k
4
votes
Accepted
Spoke nipples sticking out
Yes. You have a single-walled rim (which is a terrible name because it's really a single "valley floor") These are sometimes called "box section" rims because they're ...
- 129k
3
votes
Spoke wrench conversion master guide
There are spoke wreches which compare many different sizes in one tool. Not that expensive either. They look like this:
I have two of these and have thus far not come across a size that wasn't on the ...
2
votes
What kind of wheels need different nipple for front vs. rear?
Those are Motorcycle spoke nipples. Bicycles can have different spokes and nipples between the front and rear wheels but there is no standard.
- 342
2
votes
Do spoke nipples come in one standard body size for the gauge?
Here's measurements from 3 in my immediate vicinity:
Sapim Sil Brass 14G 12mm, I believe featuring the Sapim Polyax design: 3.7mm
Wheelsmith Duristan BN14 (Silver 14g Brass): 3.82mm
DT Sil Brass ...
- 87k
2
votes
What kind of wheels use spoke washers/nipple washers?
For most of the last 50 years, higher quality rims had steel eyelets at the spoke holes to distribute stress and double-wall rims had ferrules that were crimped by the eyelets and which distributed ...
- 181
2
votes
Brake Cable Ends - Barrel and Pear Nipples
I'm currently looking into making my own brake cable ends, using common electrical solder - purely for academic entertainment value.
During my research, I came across this post on Brake cable ...
- 367
2
votes
Why do spoke nipples keep falling out?
This is a strange problem you're describing. Having them chronically come loose to the point of falling off is not a common problem, and even so the obvious solution is more/proper tension, but if the ...
- 87k
2
votes
Accepted
What is the "nipple head height" of a DT Swiss Squorx nipple?
Late to this party, but... This is a aluminium DT Swiss squarx nipple, the head seems to be 6mm if I measured it correctly. Overall length seems to be 15mm.
Regards
Magnus
- 918
1
vote
How do i determine the length, diameter & if my road bicycle spokes are single or double butted spokes. Help so i can order correct size nipples
Focusing only on single vs double butted spokes: I am not sure that the distinction is very important in your case.
In the bicycle industry, butting means that the wall thickness of a tube or the ...
- 35.3k
1
vote
How do i determine the length, diameter & if my road bicycle spokes are single or double butted spokes. Help so i can order correct size nipples
What's your goal here?
If you have a broken spoke, take out a good one from the same side of the wheel, and measure it. Note the front and rear wheels may have spokes of different lengths, and the ...
- 129k
1
vote
How to avoid damaging spoke nipples when wheel building
When building or trueing a wheel, you have the tire off. You can turn the nipples from their head side. Notice how their heads are slotted for a flathead screwdriver? That tool will work, until the ...
- 2,740
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