My poor nipples and cracked rim

[Hairy]

So now just to clarify that this post is not what some reader might think it is

 

So a few years ago I won a nice set of bonti wheels and a year later the nipples basically exploded when a spoke wrench was brought close to it due to corrosion.

 

Bonti boys replaced this with a shiny new set of wheels.

 

Just short on two years later the same nipple issue arises and more distressingly on the rear wheel the spokes and eyelets look like they are being pulled through the rim itself and when looking in the rim well there are long cracks to the rim it self that very nearly go along the full circumference of the rim. This really scared me that I have been riding a wheelset like this!

 

Now the Bonti boys and girls have been notified and it is a matter of crossing my fingers that they give a new shinny set of wheels in return for the current set of wheels

 

Some pics below of the nipples and rim.

[sometime]

That could've ended really badly - lucky you spotted that when you did!

[Hairy]

Funny thing with the colour of the rims, I just never ever picked up the faults.

 

Thanks to the eagle eyed Chaps at Action Cycles in CT they picked up the cracked nipples and eyelets when I took the wheels in for a hub and free body service. (Wheelset is rolling flipping smoothly and I can't ride them)

 

The crack in the well was picked up over the weekend by a friend after I took the tyres and rim strips off the wheelset ... that was when I had a cold shiver up the spine moment.

[cadenceblur]

Hi

 

not meaning to derail your thread, but a real noob when it comes wheels etc. What does a wheel service entail and what is the purpose? How often does one need to do it?

Does it apply to all wheelsets. I have a set of Shimano Rs10's and a set of mavic ksyriums .

Wouldn't want the same thing to happen to me.

[CAAD4]

Check those Ksyriums regularly. I know of two sets of SL's that cracked like that...

 

Hairy I hope you get sorted. I sold my Bontrager road wheels after breaking three spokes at different times. The wheelset was replaced by Solomon's and I promptly sold them.

[ichnusa]

madala!

[Hairy]

A wheel service at a lbs usually entails they check your spoke tension and true the whhelset should out be required, open the hubs to inspect, clean and relube the bearings and my particular case I asked them to service the free hub body at the same time as or was feeling a little sticky.

 

The wheelset is really lovely and smooth right now, well at least the hubs are!

 

If they exchange the wheelset I hope they will allow me to strip out the hubs, but I doubt they would grant me this.

 

Now I have the exact same wheelset on the 29.er and I am fearing the worst in the inevitable future.

 

H

[CAAD4]

Am I correct in assuming that the Bontrager agency has also changed recently like Trek?

[Dustbin Dog]

The cracked rim would normally be an indication of an old rim with plenty miles. As for the nipples I don't know, looks more like with the corrosion, they have been over tightened with a spoke key and cracked. Just my 2 cents worth.

[Hairy]

The cracked rim would normally be an indication of an old rim with plenty miles. As for the nipples I don't know, looks more like with the corrosion, they have been over tightened with a spoke key and cracked. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

Since owning the wheelset I have never put a spoke key to them.

Am I correct in assuming that the Bontrager agency has also changed recently like Trek?

Correct

[droo]

Aluminium nipples corrode. Not much that can be done about it. As for the rims, if they're cracking like that then either the spoke tension's too high or you ride them hard...

 

My R0.02 - get the replacements, flog them before you ride them, and get a custom set built up, with brass nipples - my personal choice would be ZTR Flow on Hope Pro II, but the possibilities are endless...

 

Edit: Had a set of Bonti wheels a few years back, and they did a pretty similar thing.

Edited August 7, 2012 by droo

[Hairy]

Hi Droo.

 

If they give me a new wheelset I will be on bonti set no 3.

 

Should I get the replacement set I will have my lbs strip down the wheelset and rebuild it again, then also replace the nipples with brass ones.

 

If they do not replace the current hubs will be built up on a set of flows.

 

RE spokes, are straight gauge spokes stronger when built up vs butted spokes?

[Hairy]

Local Trek agents confirmed pics and claim sent yesterday, so by around Monday / Tuesday next week I will get an answer from them RE the outcome ...

[Reg Lizard]

Just had my Ksyrium SL's rims replaced, so yes check them regularly.

[SURFER]

Hope you come right

[Hairy]

Hope you come right

thanks