pigiron

I was riding along and picked up a fallen branch with my front wheel. The branch tore through my front wheel and pulled a handful of spokes from the nipples. The nipples didn't pull through the rim rather the nipples just broke. Luckily I didn't have to walk too far. When I got back home I started working on the wheel to remove and replace the broken spokes. Then I discovered that all the nipples were seized to the spokes. I tried WD-40 and placing a few drops of oil at the spoke/nipple connection but that didn't work. This is/was a nice wheel - record hubs/mavic open pro rims, aluminum nipples. I bought them new from a local shop about 8 years ago and have put probably 10,000 miles on them. The hubs still spin nice and smooth. Seems like not too much rim wear, but it's hard to tell. Questions:

1. Anybody have any ideas on how to free up the nipples?

2. I talked to the shop where I got them. They assured me that they always prep the spokes with Wheelsmith spoke prep and just said that this can happen with aluminum nipples. Is that true? Is there anything better than Wheelsmith spoke prep? Some people swear by boiled linseed oil. Sheldon only recommends using a light oil on his site.

Anway, they've offered to cut me a price on a new front wheel. They're recommending only keeping the hub (a 32 hole Record) and a new Mavic Open Pro, 14/15/14 db spokes, brass nipples, 3 cross. It sounds a little conservative for me. I'm about 155lbs and before this have never broken a spoke - at least on my road bike. Assuming I keep just the hub, what are some other ideas people have for a light build? It's been a long time since I shopped for wheels and I don't really know what is out there.

3. Any thoughts on what kind of preventative maintenance I can do to my rear wheel? I took a closer look and the nipples there also look like they're on the verge of seizing. The nipples show corrosion, but can still be turned.

Bill Kapaun

Just curious. What's their reason for replacing the wheel instead of just the spokes?

pigiron

All the nipples are seized to the spokes. Therefore the wheel can't be trued when the new spokes are put in.

Retro Grouch 

It's an 8-year old rim that's been stressed badly enough to break several nipples. What do you think the chances are of the rim beind dead-on straight? As long as you're spending the money to have the wheel rebuilt why would anybody cheap out on reusing what, at the very best, is going to be an iffy rim.

I'd agree that a 32 spoke 3 cross front wheel is on the conservative side. Uh - what's wrong with that?

simplify

Sounds like a great recommendation for the rim and spokes, and brass nipples. Yes, it is true that aluminum nipples can and do seize like this *regardless* of the prep. Once they're truly seized, they are almost impossible to free up. They usually just crumble away.

For your rear wheel, if they're still turning, maybe you could consider replacing them now with brass nipples, an "ounce of prevention". If that rim is showing serious wear, now would be a great time to swap it out for a new one, and replace the nipples at the same time. Done now, you won't have the expense of a new set of spokes, assuming that yours are good now and have been maintained in a state of proper tension.

Nessism

Yup, what lawkd said.

Aluminum nipples are up there with aluminum freehub bodies (on Shimano wheels) as some of the poorest weight weenie mods of all time. Go with brass nipples or be prepaired to replace nipples every few years.

BTW, for someone your weight 15/16 spokes or straight 15's are plenty strong and will save you a little weight over 14/15.

mtnbiker4791

alittle heat and some good penetrating fluid (not WD-40) works wonders sometimes. Sounds like you are light on wheels and could get away with radial laced with DT reveolution spokes can go with alloy nipples but its something you need to have trued and lube the nipples everyonce in awhile. brass nipples will also seize up if not taken care of. After lossing as many spokes as you have puts lots of stress on the remaining spokes and rim. Sounds like the shop that you had build the wheels in the first place knows what they are doing.

pigiron

Thanks for the comments. I'm looking for something as light or lighter than my current wheels and also to just try something new and different. So now I'm thinking of a Velocity Aerohead, 2-cross, brass nipples, and Wheelsmith XL 14 spokes.

I'm going to try heating up the spoke/nipple area with a hairdryer and I'll let you know if that works.

Nessism

Hit the nipples with some PB Blaster (or equivalent true penetrating oil) for a couple of days first. After that try holding the spokes with some pliers to keep them from spinning while you turn the nipples.

Good luck.