Reusing Spokes/Nipples

Is it possible to reuse old nipples and spokes that have very little rust? And should I also plate them with zinc or cadmium?

Yes on most of my bikes i have ha the spokes zinced and the nipples nickled.
Al

mattthomas4444 said:

Is it possible to reuse old nipples and spokes that have very little rust? And should I also plate them with zinc or cadmium?

Click to expand...

Not a good idea as old spokes may well break if they are used again, and this is something a pro wheel builder is not likely to for this reason.

Personally, I don't think it's a good idea considering new spokes and nipples are quite cheap.
I prefer to replace the originals with stainless.

Webby

I asked a pro wheel builder this same question, as I have a wheel with a not so good rim but stainless spokes. He said using spokes would be ok but he would use new nipples so they had a good thread.

Ian..

Personally I see no problem relacing a wheel with the used spokes and nipples, but most of the time the decision is based on why you are doing the job. For instance, if you are replacing a rusty rim and the spokes are fine, reuse them. If on the other hand you are replacing a rim that has been in an accident it may well be a good idea to use new spokes. Other factors are labor/price/availability, as a mechanic working at a brand X shop I had to repair a dirt bike wheel, half the spokes were broken and many others had rust frozen nipples. Being that the spokes were only available as a complete set and the owner probably doesn't want to pay 75/hr to have me wrestle with the rusty nipples I grabbed a set of bolt cutters and chopped the old ones out and started fresh.
During a previous winter I took my wheels apart just to clean the pieces, I liked the result, but when I think about how much time I put into polishing those spokes (all 80 of them, one at a time), I now wish I'd just sprung for a set of stainless, oh well.

GB

Thanks for the help, I think I may keep the spokes and get new nipples. Does anyone know what the original factory finish was on the spokes and nipples. Was it cadmium?

Always safer to buy new spokes, and you will wish you had done if the old ones start snapping shortly after the bike is put into use! This sort of thing is a bit like getting hold of a new pair of pistons, and rebuilding using the old rings...............it will work, but not that good an idea though.

I can't even think of how many things I wish I had replaced with new after I got it back together again. Time and time again. It's not worth the grief, replace them.

Dave
69S