Protruding spokes

[jorgemartin]

Hello, I've just built a wheel and I've come across the following issue: some of the spokes are sticking out of the nipple and touching the rim tape. My first thought was "the spokes are too long", but I've measured hub and rim again and used more than one online calculator and the length seems to be right. If the spoke is touching the rim tape even ever so slightly, is that a big issue? Are my spokes too tense? (I don't have a spoke tensiometer) Should I file the offending spokes off? Any ideas?

 

[Herzog]

Hello, I've just built a wheel and I've come across the following issue: some of the spokes are sticking out of the nipple and touching the rim tape. My first thought was "the spokes are too long", but I've measured hub and rim again and used more than one online calculator and the length seems to be right. If the spoke is touching the rim tape even ever so slightly, is that a big issue? Are my spokes too tense? (I don't have a spoke tensiometer) Should I file the offending spokes off? Any ideas?

You have done the crossing pattern right (i.e., if you planned a three cross, you've got a three cross)?


I wouldn't have the spoke touching the rim tape, you're asking for a puncture.

 

[jorgemartin]

Yeah, I planned a two cross and I got a two cross. Perhaps all the spokes need loosening a bit.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Either you've got the wrong spoke length or you've laced them up wrong, but they shouldn't be up to the rim tape.

Is it a back wheel and could you have mixed the drive and non-drive spokes up?

 

[jorgemartin]

It's a rear wheel and I've used shorter spokes on the drive side.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

I'd be inclined to take it apart and start again: if everything is right you shouldn't end up with the result you have.

What I'm getting at, is I would take the protruding spokes as an indication that something has gone wrong.

 

[jorgemartin]

I've taken it apart and re-built it but I think I have to check the lacing again. It's not protruding by much... I wonder if the problem might be that it's too tight or no chance?

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

I've not built enough wheels to be able to give you a decisive answer, but I'm doubtful.

I can't see how you'd arrive at a true wheel with protruding spokes, unless something had gone awry.

 

[andrew_s]

If the lacing is right, the spokes are too long. There could have been a problem with the data entered - maybe something like entering or selecting the data for a 1998 hub, but using a current hub assuming they are the same.

Don't loosen the spokes, and check that the spokes are all properly tight. If you've run out of spoke thread the nipple will feel tight at the spoke key but there still won't be enough tension on the spoke.
If that's all OK, and the spoke ends are touching the rim tape as you say, I'd recommend that you use veloplugs instead of rim tape.

 

[compo]

If everything checks out correctly and the wheel is built correctly, why worry. Get a Dremel or a file out and take the ends down a bit, flush with the ends of the nipples.

 

[Ian H]

As Compo said. As long as they're not proud of the well of the rim it won't be a problem. Slackening the spokes enough to make a difference to the amount of protrusion will not give you a reliable wheel.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

I defer to your experience (Compo & Ian H), but would have thought the correct spoke length/lacing would avoid this problem; or to put it another way, if you have this problem, then it is an indication that you don't have the correct spoke length/lacing.

Is it not such an exact science? Cutting the end of spokes off seems a bit of a bodge.

 

[Herzog]

I've taken it apart and re-built it but I think I have to check the lacing again. It's not protruding by much... I wonder if the problem might be that it's too tight or no chance?

I can almost guarantee it won't be because the spokes have too much tension. What hub and rim combo are you using? And what length spokes are you using?

 

[accountantpete]

As long as the nipple is not bottoming out of thread you will be ok. If you don't want to take the thread down you can introduce a washer between rim and nipple - it spreads the load more evenly at the same time.

 

[Ian H]

As long as the nipple is not bottoming out of thread you will be ok. If you don't want to take the thread down you can introduce a washer between rim and nipple - it spreads the load more evenly at the same time.

Yup, except I'm not sure that washers would work with eyeleted or double-eyeleted rims.

I've built wheels in the past with 3 or 4mm protruding. It's never been a problem in terms of longevity. In the days before box-section rims you often had to file spokes down flush.