Big nipples vs small nipples

[Mojoman]

I have managed to break a few spokes over the years and each time the break is in the nipple. I had another one go over the long weekend and wound up taking a spoke from an old wheel and 200+km on its still fine.

 

But you can see the difference in nipple size, is a bigger nipple the better one or doesn't it really make much of a difference.

 

[rouxtjie]

I prefer small nipples...just saying

[Thug]

And there I was thinking about breasts..... again.

[Sarge]

Hell why did I check this topic?? Nipples??

Sarge

[Reg Lizard]

Some like it big, others like it small

[javadude]

Bigger nipple, shorter spoke maybe?

[ChUkKy]

I like small nipples on mammories

But my wheels have no nipples on the rim

[Johan Bornman]

It doesn't matter. The thread engagement is still the same. The weight weenies will prefer the shorter ones but often, depending on the type of rim, we have to use long ones so that they protrude far enough out the rim for a spanner to grip.

 

Long nipples are also prone to breaking off when tensioning the wheel.

 

But for your purposes, it doesn't matter. It is called ANT - Asymmetric Nipple Technology

[Meentb]

Prefer them to be small as well.

[Mojoman]

It doesn't matter. The thread engagement is still the same. The weight weenies will prefer the shorter ones but often, depending on the type of rim, we have to use long ones so that they protrude far enough out the rim for a spanner to grip.

 

Long nipples are also prone to breaking off when tensioning the wheel.

 

But for your purposes, it doesn't matter. It is called ANT - Asymmetric Nipple Technology

Would a longer nipple support the spoke more when threaded into the nipple? I have thrown the broken spoke and nipple away but the spoke broke off on the threaded section going into the smaller nipple.

[Johan Bornman]

Would a longer nipple support the spoke more when threaded into the nipple? I have thrown the broken spoke and nipple away but the spoke broke off on the threaded section going into the smaller nipple.

No, not in a way that matters.

 

 

Within nipple brands, a 12mm and 16mm nipple will have exactly the same thread engagement, meaning that a longer nipple should never be used as a substitute for a too-short spoke.

 

The extra length comes from the extra piece of non-threaded bore at the entrance point of the nipple. This is just to give you better reach for tool grip with very thick rims.

 

The standard is 12mm but every now and then we have to use a longer nipple as the application requires.

[Cuppa Bru]

Oops! Something went seriously wrong!

 

Sorry guys, but I give up. It doesn't want to delete.

 

This thread get you so excited you can't control yourself?

[Mojoman]

Thanks Johan.

[Cruz Addict]

uh i so prefer the small ones nothing worse than a dinner plate.

as for my bike doesnt really bother me as long as it holds

[DJR]

Oops! Something went seriously wrong!

 

Sorry guys, but I give up. It doesn't want to delete.

 

Ha ha finally something JB doesn't seem to know how to fix!

[LeTurbo]

JB, did you actually go and grind those nipples quickly and take the shot and transfer it to your computer and edit it and post it? That's dedication.

 

Unless you have shots of ground nipples just lying around, in which case it's just weird.