Bicycle Mechanics - Shimano WH 540---spoke broken, nipple lost in rim

Hi guys, I am not sure if this is common or not but I broke a spoke which isn't a huge problem but the nipple (right word?) that attaches the spoke to the rim has come detached from the wall of the rim and is now jiggling around inside of the rim. Has anyone ever had this problem before? If so, how was it solved? I can see the little piece that is supposed to be attached to the wall of the rim but I think it might be a problem to get it re-attached to the rim. Or, once I hook it, will the pressure of the spoke being tightened be enough to keep it tight against the wall of the rim?

I took some photos. The first two are of the hole that is where the metal piece is supposed to attach and the third is a spoke that is fine and shows how the thing is supposed to look.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/green003.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/green005.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/green008.jpg

Doesn't that series have the spokes running through the rim? I think the nipples are at the hub, and the piece you have floating around is the eyelet.

Can you get it over to the valve stem hole and maybe grab it with needlenose pliers?

Either way, I think the rim is toast; sorry.

Doesn't that series have the spokes running through the rim? I think the nipples are at the hub, and the piece you have floating around is the eyelet.

Can you get it over to the valve stem hole and maybe grab it with needlenose pliers?

Either way, I think the rim is toast; sorry.

Yep. Spot on advice IMHO.

Yep. Spot on advice IMHO.

Wrong.

Take the tire, tube and rimtape off and replace the spoke. It's hard to see whether or not that hole is actually damaged from that fuzzy picture. Use macro mode on your camera if you have it.

http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/actionsports/WH/EV-WH-R540-R-2124_v1_m56577569830608665.pdf

http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/actionsports/WH/EV-WH-R540-F-2123_v1_m56577569830608664.pdf

You need the spoke + washer.

http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/SI/Wheel/WH-7701-R540/SI-4AM0E-En_v1_m56577569830611927.pdf

For replacing the spoke.

Any decent shop should be able to order direct from shimano the spoke you need once you tell them which part you actually need. e.g front, rear drive, rear left etc.

I'd vote for the corvus ultegra and 105 beats 105 and tiagra. I'm not a fan of the Shimano wheels though.

Thanks guys, operator is correct, it worked out pretty well. A bike shop nearby took on the job and I had an old beater WH535 wheel to salvage parts from. The hole in the rim isn't that bad, I took off the rim tape and the piece popped out. Sorry the photos sucked.