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Disintegrating Spoke Nipple

harringtonp · 2021-06-19 21:12:15

I was replacing a tubeless tyre on a carbon front wheel and part of my usual routine is using a plastic tyre lever to remove old sealant that has lodged under the rim edge. While doing this I heard a bang the cause of which was a nipple disintegrating. See photo. Not sure why it happened then, I can only imagine it was…

19-06-2021 10:12PM

#1

harringtonp

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Posts: 2301

I was replacing a tubeless tyre on a carbon front wheel and part of my usual routine is using a plastic tyre lever to remove old sealant that has lodged under the rim edge. While doing this I heard a bang the cause of which was a nipple disintegrating. See photo.

Not sure why it happened then, I can only imagine it was already weakened and on the verge of going.

Anyhow, I had 2 spare spokes from the original wheelset and was able to replace the spoke. I just tightened the spoke until the wheel was mostly straight and usable again. I didn't touch any other spokes. It's not dead tru but may have been very slightly out anyway before the incident, I'm not sure. Anyway I'm reluctant to just keep tightening it to see if it comes any truer. Apart from the spokes either side of the inserted spoke, the others spokes on that side of the wheel had the same sound when plucking them.

When the wheel was built would all spokes on the same side have very similar tension ?

I'm thinking of buying
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/lifeline-spoke-tension-meter/rp-prod155417

and using it to ensure the tensions on the replaced spoke and those either side of it are in line with the rest on the side. Guess I'm looking for an opinion as to whether a fix as simple as this is likely to work ? I'm also wondering is the approach of just tightening the replaced spoke okay or is there usually more involved ?

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