Bicycle Mechanics - Wheel build frustration....my turn!

Almost finished truing on a Open Sport 36* to an NOS Chorus hub, 3X (not that the stats mater)

But then one of the nipples snapped off and the head shot into and bounce off my shirt.

I'm using brass nipples from the LBS.

I don't think that the tension was too high, but I do not have a meter.

Just got a bad nipple perhaps, but lesson is to wear those safety glasses!:o

I've heard of nipples rounding so that they can't be turned, but I've never had one snap. Sounds like a bad nipple. I wonder what the tension was on the spoke. Was this on the front or rear? If rear, which side? Gerd Schraner recommends eye protection until the rim-tape has been applied. I always make sure I'm not in line with the end of the spokes. Sobering thought though…

- Wil

It is a new build, front. it just went!

Are the spokes too short? The end of the spoke should be flush with the nipple. Typically you'll strip the nipple's flats and can't turn it if the tension's too tight. Or you'll even strip the threads on the inside. But I've rarely seen heads snapping off nipples under tension...

Danno! good to hear from you!

The spokes are indeed slightly short than I like. They are flush with the bottom of the slot. So will this kill me or is it ok?

BTW: just sold me Bandit 1200, its down to the KTM Duke & the old Hurricane now :)

As long as you are engaging several nipple threads, you should be fine.

That's a new one for me. I've only built 15 or so wheels though.