[Closed] Seized alloy nipples.. what to do?

Cut the spokes and use brass nipples next time.

£8 for a full set of nipples, but would require a full rebuild, so, what, an hour's work?

Changing nipples, if they're not seized solid, is easy enough- if you do it one at a time it's exactly the same process as replacing a single spoke. If you can be without the bike for a few days you can get really into it with the penetrating oil or diesel to improve your odds.

But, if the rim's out of shape already then it might well make more sense to get it refreshed by a good shop (you say buckled, is it actualyl [i]buckled[/i], or just out of true?)

On cheap wheels I've found that the siezed nipples just crumbled when I tried to true them. I replaced them and carried on riding.

Persinally I'd take it in get the spoke replaced and see what they say about trueing it. They might manage easily enough.

I'll probably drop it in the LBS... have just had the day from hell in IKEA ordering a kitchen ... 5 freakin hours it took. Thats equivalent to about 24hrs in normal time. Will have a better look tomorrow when ive recovered from the trauma..

If your not far from Lowestoft give us a shout it's what I do for a living and I offer class one to one so you can do it yourself in future with unlimited tea and coffee.

Thanks but im in west wales..

Can i just buy some new nipples and some new spokes and replace them all one at a time rather than strip them all in one go??

Apart from a spoke key which i have do i need a truing stand?? Spoke tension meter??

Ive got 2 sets of kinesis wheels so it might be best to work my way through the and replace the nipples before they all seize..

Yes you can.

Replace them one at a time, feel the tension before and try to match that in the new spoke, and then check against its neighbour. Keep doing that, until you've done them all and then true the wheel in you bike.

Don't cut the spokes. stupid advice.

Just about to do the same here on a set of Crosslight V3s after finding a nipple broke at the top. Just nipples, re-using the spokes.

Noticed that Kinesis offer a (heavier natch) HD version of the new ones, 32 brass nippled spokes. Same price as the lighter and cheese nippled ones.

If you do need to order spokes they conveniently (not) need 3 different sizes:
Front Disc side & Rear Drive side 282mm
Rear Disc side 284mm
Front non Disc side 286mm

14mm nipple. DT Swiss Competition are the nearest equivalent spoke.

njee20 - Member

Don't cut the spokes. stupid advice.

You'll quote possibly f××k the rim.

Cutting one spoke to remove it should be fine if there's no way of loosening the nipples.

ghostlymachine - Member

You'll quote possibly f××k the rim.

How?

If you cut spokes, you can suddenly release the tension on a particular area of the rim, meaning another area could then be under increased tension. This can then lead to the rim failing. An engineer will be along presently to explain this better than me. 😉

In practice; I've cut spokes just to save a hub (much quicker than undoing every single nipple) when the rim is useless. If you did want to do it and keep the rim, then cut opposing spokes, as this would lessen the risk of the above. Better to undo them properly if you can though.

It's exactly the same as when a spoke fails, only without the blunt impact that usually accompanies that. Wheels undergo constant changes in pressure and tension, it's what they're built for.

But there's every chance you could reuse the spokes. Even crumbly alloy nips usually fall off the spokes!

Oh yeah- I'd reuse the spokes if sensible and keep them for spares if not. But if not then there's no harm in cutting.

[quote=Northwind ]It's exactly the same as when a spoke fails, only without the blunt impact that usually accompanies that. Wheels undergo constant changes in pressure and tension, it's what they're built for.
This was my point. Cutting a single spoke (assuming you can't otherwise remove it) is no worse than a spoke breaking. If you're going to do them all then cutting them "opposite" then at 90 degrees etc would be the best way to prevent damaging the rim.

Thank everyone.. Especially rich for the spoke lengths. DT comps and brass nipples it is. Was quoted £60 by LBS (wheel rebuild with new spokes and nipples) per wheel. So will definitely be giving it a go and might even invest in a truing stand..

Just checked my emails and noticed the wheels are only 11 months old..
what's the likelihood of getting them warrantied??

Worth an ask

After chasing this for warranty apparently

this type of failure comes down to cleaning, and maintenance issues rather than any type of manufacturing defect.

So its somehow my fault that i haven't maintained the nipples.

Should i be regularly removing each spoke and nipple to clean and grease them?

Fwiw I replaced mine on rainy Monday. Front and back, one at a time, with a dot of linseed oil and £4 on a bag of Sapim silver brass nips. Used an old fork & frame as a stand. Needed to replace 2 spokes. 1 broke due to corroded on alu nipple, the other the nipple head broke off.

You'll get away with just 284 length as spares.

I've got a contact email addy within Kinesis design dept if you want to try a more direct approach re the warranty?

Id be asking them what sort of maintenance / cleaning regime they'd recommend for spokes and nipples and see why they say?

To be honest, riding alloy nipples in the winter will cause this sort of problem. Only ever had a wheel with alloy nipples once (came on a new Marin in the 90's) and they all seized pretty quickly when used in the wet in winter.

Also note they now offer an HD version. More spokes and brass nips. So they must acknowledge this weakness in the old V3s. (remembering they are supposed to be a hardy CX wheel)

I will just replace them myself but it seems kind of stupid to sell a wheelset branded as CX that isnt actually suitable for CX use.. Last time i looked CX riding usually involves ankle deep mud / puddles at some point.

I guess using alloy is just a way of getting the wheelset weight at a sub 1600g which makes it way more saleable..