rec.sport.unicycling · Public discussion

spoke nipple size mystery

Started by onewheeldave · · Last activity · 2 posts · 478 views

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rec.sport.unicycling
Published
14 August 2004
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14 August 2004
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onewheeldave
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  1. Recent wheel truing issues with my 29-er Nimbus have been excarbated by
    two things: -

    1. my own inexperience with wheel truing
    2. what I thought was either an ill-fitting spoke key or worn spoke
    nipples

    1 is improving all the time as I've now spent a fair bit of time messing
    around with tightening and loosening spokes in an effort to ensure the
    tyre (2.1 notos) doesn't rub against the 28" round Nimbus frame- it's
    quite a tight fit.

    I've been hampered by the keys inability to tighten certain spokes. It's
    a round key with various size holes, '14' is the one that fits the
    nipples, but it's a loose fit that I'm sure has worn them to some
    extent, and with some there's no possibility of tightening.

    In a recent session I have tried removing the tyre and accessing the
    screw tips with a screwdriver, but, for some reason they seem fragile
    and, again on the tight ones, the slot tends to give way.

    I got round it by purchasing some replacement nipples, which turn out to
    be '15's, but which are a good fit to the '15' on the spoke key.

    The plot thickened two days ago when I found the '15' hole on the key
    seemed to fit all the spoke nipples on my Nimbus. A mystery as
    previously it hadn't, but a happy one as it looked like I could now do a
    proper truing.

    However, trying it again later the '15' would no longer fit!?

    It was then that I took a good close look at my key and found that,
    opposite the '15' hole, was another '15' hole; furthermore, the other
    '15' was not the exact same size- one hole fits the nipples of my
    Nimbus, the other doesn't.

    (Also, it has two '14' holes).

    Today I went to the LBS the buy some more spoke nipples, it turns out
    that the shops key says my Nimbus is size '14', however, with my round
    spoke key the best fit is the second of the '15's.

    Happily, I seem to be sorted now, as I know the source of the problem
    and I now have 36 new spoke nipples so, if necessary I can replace all
    the worn and ill fitting ones on my wheel.

    But I'm just wondering if anyone can explain why my key has two
    different size '15's, and also as a warning to anyone else with one of
    these multi-size keys to have a good look at it before embarking on a
    wheel truing session.

    --
    onewheeldave - Semi Skilled Unicyclist

    "He's also been known to indulge in a spot of flame juggling - but it's
    the Muni that really fires him up."

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  2. The round spoke key you describe is a cheap and inaccurate tool. It's
    convenient because it has various sizes but typically this type of spoke
    wrench is not as precise as something like a Park Tools spoke wrench.

    You should invest in a good spoke wrench if you plan on tinkering much
    with wheel building/truing.

    -mg

    --
    mgrant - Ever hoping for the best!

    The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older, shorter of
    breath, and one day closer to death.
    michael_j_grant (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Gallery: http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/Michael_Grant/
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