aluminum nipple rounded/cracked, ride it or replace it
#1
aluminum nipple rounded/cracked, ride it or replace it
So I have some radially laced MTB wheels and I went to fiddle with it with my crappy spoke wrench, duh (new one on the way) and the aluminum nipple flats rounded off and I can see a crack where it meets the fatter part of the nipple.
So am I looking at a $30 visit to the LBS for detension/replace?
I have an assortment of nipples here from a wheel set I broke down. Could I remove and replace just this one with a brass nipple and bring it back to true?
It seems like the flats were not a threaded portion of the nipple so I wonder if it is still just as strong and can be ridden on for the rest of the week?
So am I looking at a $30 visit to the LBS for detension/replace?
I have an assortment of nipples here from a wheel set I broke down. Could I remove and replace just this one with a brass nipple and bring it back to true?
It seems like the flats were not a threaded portion of the nipple so I wonder if it is still just as strong and can be ridden on for the rest of the week?
#4
cab horn

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 28,353
Likes: 31
From: Toronto
Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,559
Likes: 53
From: The 'Wack, BC, Canada
Bikes: Norco (2), Miyata, Canondale, Soma, Redline
You're worrying about nothing. Just swap it for a brass one and tension it up and check the area for true as you do. No need to de- and retension the wheel.
However if you want something to worry about I'd be worrying about riding when it's quite possible that the spoke is not holding much of anything. Riding with a potentailly loose spoke isn't something you want to do for more than you absolutely have to.
However if you want something to worry about I'd be worrying about riding when it's quite possible that the spoke is not holding much of anything. Riding with a potentailly loose spoke isn't something you want to do for more than you absolutely have to.




