Spoke/Nipple Lube

AltaNorton · Mar 23, 2011

Well, against the advice of many, I am reusing my spokes. I polished them up nicely and they look great. But I'm getting restless and want to do something, with nothing else to do, I want to relace the wheel tonight. But do I need lube for the spokes, or is that only for stainless spokes and nipples? I would wait for it to pop up on swooshdaves thread but I'm not patient enough. Sorry.

Also what is the purpose of the lube anyways?

Thanks
Matt

Hobot · Mar 23, 2011

Spoke nipples must be inordinately tight for the size of the part and may tend to gall threads or bind in the rim before full torque reached if not lubed. The lube supplied by Bucann's is rather thick slow flow sticky oil in small squeeze bottle. I'd use engine honey like STP or thick gear lube or about what ever on hand as long and not so thin to drain or evaporate off too soon.

swooshdave · Mar 23, 2011

mattthomas4444 said:
Well, against the advice of many, I am reusing my spokes. I polished them up nicely and they look great. But I'm getting restless and want to do something, with nothing else to do, I want to relace the wheel tonight. But do I need lube for the spokes, or is that only for stainless spokes and nipples? I would wait for it to pop up on swooshdaves thread but I'm not patient enough. Sorry.

Also what is the purpose of the lube anyways?

Thanks
Matt

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8724&start=60#p100012

I just spoke to Buchanan's, because I am using the stainless spokes and the nickel-plated steel nipples no lubricant or oil or anti-seize is required. Just dry. If you use the stainless nipples then they provide a lubricant.

AltaNorton · Mar 23, 2011

Oops, sorry Dave, I even read that far into your thread, I mush have turned a blind eye to that info for no reason.

bluto · Mar 24, 2011

FWIW Phil Wood tenacious oil works great for bicycle wheel building, would probably work well on MC wheels too....good stuff to have on hand in any case, stays put on parts, bicycle shops carry it

ILLF8ED · Mar 24, 2011

Local wheel guru Kelly Moss uses glycerin. He did my wheels in '98. After 30,000 miles they are still true.

rvich · Mar 24, 2011

The idea of lubing bolts before torquing is to give a more constant torque reading. I have seen this wisdom debated, but then I have seen almost everything debated at one time or another. I don't see how it could hurt and I like the idea of lubing the surface of the nipple where it meets the rim. I would make sure that whatever I used was rubber friendly, just because that is the kind of guy I am! I would probably also spin the nipple on to the spoke prior to installing just to make sure it felt good.

Russ

swooshdave · Mar 24, 2011

rvich said:
The idea of lubing bolts before torquing is to give a more constant torque reading.
Russ

I tried that line with the wife. She just did this:

:roll:

platinumsmith · Mar 24, 2011

Hey, I could use a good spokeNipple lube!, but I digress..............

Spoke/Nipple Lube

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