RAD manufacturing spokes and nipples?

[drewMember]

https://www.radmfg.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RADSK%2D1F&CartID=1

Looking to upgrade the nipples and or spokes on the 640. trying to true a new rim and spoke set, I’ve destroyed several nipples.

The rim and spokes were from a new old stock wheel. So maybe the nipples are just dodgy from sitting so long.

A few new nipples have faired better when they got tight.

Are there better brands of spoke spinners than others?

I looked a a kit that had interchangabile spanner heads and a torque wrench, are the torque wrenches needed?

As I thought that truing the wheel would have differing tensions on the spokes to pull the wheel true, is that correct?

Thanks in advance, drew

[scott bockingMember]

Spoke tension changes a little between drive and non drive side but not a lot. If you are tensioning them so that the nipples are hard to turn then you are going too far. They should be tight but not locked up.

STM

[andrewMember]

THIS WOULD BE A GOOD THREAD FOR BOLLOCKS :laugh: :laugh:

[drewMember]

singletrackmind wrote:

Spoke tension changes a little between drive and non drive side but not a lot. If you are tensioning them so that the nipples are hard to turn then you are going too far. They should be tight but not locked up.

STM

:blush: oh, oops. :S

If the wheel isn’t truing up by the time the nipple goes tight, what do you do?

This is my first …. Well second attempt after replacing nipples the first time.

I’ve managed to get it within 1mm for round, but about 3-4mm out of true.

[scott bockingMember]

Just tighten until there is some tension but they are not tight. Then work your way around the wheel making small adjustments until the wheel is true. Every turn on one spoke effects another so make small adjustments as you go. Keep in mine that on its own the rim is round so you are tensioning the spokes to strengthen it not distort it.

STM

[drewMember]

Thanks STM.

Do the RAD spoke kits look any good in your opinion?

The ones I’m looking at are s/s with supposed better than oem alloy nipples. Comes to around the $120 mark landed at my door. Going oem chromed steel ones would come in at $200+

[drewMember]

I’ve put in my order for a set, but bit more $$ than I anticipated as exchange rate was $0.84

So ended up being a shade under 150. Just hope they arrive in time to get it put together for nundle.

Local shop doesn’t do wheels. They outsource them to another shop…….

I’ll lace it up to the stage where the nipple are just touching the rim.

Interesting thing with the RAD nipples is that they don’t have a slot in the head, they have a hex for a socket.

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