Touring - Strange Spoke/Rim repair

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Bikepacker67
07-09-05, 02:55 PM
In the process of truing my rear rim, I could hear a strange metallic "ticking" as I spun the wheel.

It turns out that the little washer-like thingy that surrounds the spoke nipple (and I assume is part of the rim) has come loose, and now travels up and down its respective spoke during revolutions, in a most annoying manner!

My question is, can I use a tiny nugget of putty epoxy to secure the widget? Of course I'll be careful not to seize up the nipple with the adhesive!

fsor
07-10-05, 02:08 PM
Do your rims have eyelets? These generally provide the bearing surface for the nipple. I have never seen one fail like that, but that may be the case. Is the spoke in question still under tension?
Bikepacker67
07-10-05, 04:46 PM
Do your rims have eyelets? These generally provide the bearing surface for the nipple. I have never seen one fail like that, but that may be the case. Is the spoke in question still under tension?


Yup... that's what it is... an eyelet. Leave it to me to get a rim injury that is both rare and prolly fatal!

The spoke itself is still under tension, but I bet if I release the tire pressure, that the backside of that eyelet will no longer keep the spoke in place.

fsor
07-11-05, 12:34 PM
I am just guessing, but it sounds like the eyelet broke such that the outer flange is loose. The spoke nipple is probably still sipported by the part (inner flange) that immediatley surrounds it and you are probably fine for a time. I would imagine that the eyelet is probably cracking around its bearing surface between the nipple and rim and will fail in time. Ultimately the rim is kaput, and I wouldn't do any long tours to the outer woebegones, but for a time, I don't see a big problem. I wouldn't glue the loose piece, myself...if it were mine, I would cut it off.