Originally Posted by
Shimagnolo
The nipple head must be in compression, which means the spoke must thread up into it.
If the spoke is too short, the nipple shaft will be under full spoke tension, and will likely separate from the head.
Shimagnolo, I've said this before way back in another thread - the nipple drawings you are using are INCORRECT. A standard profile nipple has approx 1/2mm of vertical downward thickness from the flat BEFORE it starts to curve in toward the rim seat.
Your drawing misleads people into thinking that coming up 1/2 to 1mm short of the flat is already too short - which is not the case.
So long as the spoke end penetrates the lower portion of the head AND the rim seat thickness - things are okay. Typically, this point is roughly 1mm below the flat.
OP, don't look too much at the threads showing on the nipple barrel side - look down instead into the top (head) of the nipple. If you came up more than a millimeter short of the flat - i.e., it appears to be 2-3mm below the flat - then YES, your spokes are too short.
=8-)