Brand New Bike Missing Nipple on Spoke
#1
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Brand New Bike Missing Nipple on Spoke
I bought a cargo bike online and had it shipped. I took the unopened box to a local bike shop to assemble. The bike shop calls me and tells me the that the front spoke is missing a nipple. I emailed the company that I bought the bike from to send me either a brand new wheel or nipple but haven't heard back from them. I can't ride the bike home from the bike shop because the wheel is not secure. I can't put the bike on a car cargo rack because it's 60 pounds and is like 7 feet long. The bike shop doesn't have nipples that large to put on the spoke.
I'm screwed.
How does a bike loose a nipple?
Should the company send me a brand new wheel or just the nipple?
I don't understand how a spoke could lose a nipple.
Should I place another order for same cargo bike, switch the wheels, and return the new bike?
It's been almost a month since I bought the bike and still haven't ridden it even once.
I'm screwed.
How does a bike loose a nipple?
Should the company send me a brand new wheel or just the nipple?
I don't understand how a spoke could lose a nipple.
Should I place another order for same cargo bike, switch the wheels, and return the new bike?
It's been almost a month since I bought the bike and still haven't ridden it even once.
#2
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The spoke nipple isn’t “missing”. It’s missing the flare that keeps it in the hole in the rim. Looking at the picture, it looks to me like it may not have been made right. In other words, the shoulder wasn’t ever put on the nipple and the nipple was used anyway. It’s likely just a quality control issue on the spoke nipples but it shouldn’t cause any other problem. Replace it and look to see if any other nipple are missing the shoulders. I doubt they will be but it would be best to check.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
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Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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I bought a cargo bike online and had it shipped. I took the unopened box to a local bike shop to assemble. The bike shop calls me and tells me the that the front spoke is missing a nipple. I emailed the company that I bought the bike from to send me either a brand new wheel or nipple but haven't heard back from them. I can't ride the bike home from the bike shop because the wheel is not secure. I can't put the bike on a car cargo rack because it's 60 pounds and is like 7 feet long. The bike shop doesn't have nipples that large to put on the spoke.
I'm screwed.
How does a bike loose a nipple?
Should the company send me a brand new wheel or just the nipple?
I don't understand how a spoke could lose a nipple.
Should I place another order for same cargo bike, switch the wheels, and return the new bike?
It's been almost a month since I bought the bike and still haven't ridden it even once.
I'm screwed.
How does a bike loose a nipple?
Should the company send me a brand new wheel or just the nipple?
I don't understand how a spoke could lose a nipple.
Should I place another order for same cargo bike, switch the wheels, and return the new bike?
It's been almost a month since I bought the bike and still haven't ridden it even once.
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#4
Senior Member
The nipple is broken. My guess it the flare is rolling around inside the rim.
My new TokyoBike Mini Velo arrived with the EXACT same problem....essentially a packaging shortcoming.
Since I didnt opt for an LBS to unbox and assemble it, I snagged a nipple off of a wheel I have laying around and not using and Im good to go.
But...1) How does a LBS NOT have a spoke nipple of the needed size available? And how does the online seller of the bike NOT reply in a timely fashion. (Hint, the threat of a credit card charge dispute for the bicycle purchase usually gets their attention)
My new TokyoBike Mini Velo arrived with the EXACT same problem....essentially a packaging shortcoming.
Since I didnt opt for an LBS to unbox and assemble it, I snagged a nipple off of a wheel I have laying around and not using and Im good to go.
But...1) How does a LBS NOT have a spoke nipple of the needed size available? And how does the online seller of the bike NOT reply in a timely fashion. (Hint, the threat of a credit card charge dispute for the bicycle purchase usually gets their attention)
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Take the wheel to a motorcycle shop and see if they have a nipple that will fit. I've seen other cargo bikes that use oversize spokes that turned out to be the same gauge as motorcycle spokes.
#6
Senior Member
You could refer to the specifications on the bike as the website (hopefully) list the spoke gauge used in the specs.
Armed with THAT knowledge, call some other LBS’ and ask if they have have “X” size spoke nipples (they should have a wide range of them, any self-respecting shop should anyway...) and go get one. Take it to the shop you originally hired and get it finished up, and OTR.
Take it up with the seller when all is said and done.
Armed with THAT knowledge, call some other LBS’ and ask if they have have “X” size spoke nipples (they should have a wide range of them, any self-respecting shop should anyway...) and go get one. Take it to the shop you originally hired and get it finished up, and OTR.
Take it up with the seller when all is said and done.
#7
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You could refer to the specifications on the bike as the website (hopefully) list the spoke gauge used in the specs.
Armed with THAT knowledge, call some other LBS’ and ask if they have have “X” size spoke nipples (they should have a wide range of them, any self-respecting shop should anyway...) and go get one. Take it to the shop you originally hired and get it finished up, and OTR.
Take it up with the seller when all is said and done.
Armed with THAT knowledge, call some other LBS’ and ask if they have have “X” size spoke nipples (they should have a wide range of them, any self-respecting shop should anyway...) and go get one. Take it to the shop you originally hired and get it finished up, and OTR.
Take it up with the seller when all is said and done.
The Big Wheel: You can find 13 gauge spokes on line for $0.50 to $1 each. Buy several.
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Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Last edited by cyccommute; 09-02-19 at 09:20 AM.
#8
Senior Member
I disagree with the idea that bike shops are going to have a wide range of spoke nipple sizes. 99.9995% of bicycles are going to come with 2.0mm spokes (14 gauge). 99% of them are going to be straight gauge. Bike shops have nipples for 2.0mm spokes and will probably only have that size. You might be lucky enough to find a spoke nipple for a 1.8mm spoke but that is doubtful. A 2.3mm spoke (13gauge) just isn’t something that you run across all that often in a bike shop.
The Big Wheel: You can find 13 gauge spokes on line for $0.50 to $1 each. Buy several.
The Big Wheel: You can find 13 gauge spokes on line for $0.50 to $1 each. Buy several.
That said, I’m no expert but given the very wide (and getting wider every day) array of bicycle types and niche categories these days it’s super unreasonable to expect that all use the same spoke gauge across a very broad spectrum of bicycles.
Any bicycle shop that claims otherwise, or doesn’t anticipate needing/stocking this most basic part variant for a NUMBER of different variations is one which will fail they way of many other B&M shops have, yielding to the internet.
My response that any self-respecting LBS should have a variety of these in stock in different sizes refers to a LBS who intends to remain in business DESPITE pressure from the internet, by providing a value added service on a local level.
OP’s situation is either an LBS which doesn’t “get this” or has an inherent issue with servicing internet products. Or both.
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#9
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That said, I’m no expert but given the very wide (and getting wider every day) array of bicycle types and niche categories these days it’s super unreasonable to expect that all use the same spoke gauge across a very broad spectrum of bicycles.
Any bicycle shop that claims otherwise, or doesn’t anticipate needing/stocking this most basic part variant for a NUMBER of different variations is one which will fail they way of many other B&M shops have, yielding to the internet.
My response that any self-respecting LBS should have a variety of these in stock in different sizes refers to a LBS who intends to remain in business DESPITE pressure from the internet, by providing a value added service on a local level.
OP’s situation is either an LBS which doesn’t “get this” or has an inherent issue with servicing internet products. Or both.
Any bicycle shop that claims otherwise, or doesn’t anticipate needing/stocking this most basic part variant for a NUMBER of different variations is one which will fail they way of many other B&M shops have, yielding to the internet.
My response that any self-respecting LBS should have a variety of these in stock in different sizes refers to a LBS who intends to remain in business DESPITE pressure from the internet, by providing a value added service on a local level.
OP’s situation is either an LBS which doesn’t “get this” or has an inherent issue with servicing internet products. Or both.
There just not that many bikes with spokes of that size made. I see hundreds of bicycle wheels every year at my local co-op. I’ve worked there for 10 years and I’ve seen only a couple of wheels with 13 gauge spokes.
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Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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#10
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If your bike shop can't get a spoke nipple, that may be the tip of the iceberg of problems with the bike. Send it back and ask the bike shop for advice on a similar bike that uses normal parts.
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What brand and model bike? Do we know for sure that the nipple is an odd size? Did the bike shop even try to source one?
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Its been a month and you haven't heard back? I would try to contact the seller again. If you don't hear back I would say you are screwed in terms of getting satisfaction from the seller unless you dispute the charge with your credit card company.
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Then again, I've seen some department-store, single-wall rims with a strength of assembly comparable to sewing buttons to cheese.....
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It is not feasible that the wheel was assembled with a nipple with no head on it. Wheels are assembled first by putting the nipple in the hole in the rim then doing the initial tightening onto the spoke using the screwdriver flat on the nipple head. If the nipple had no head, the nipple would not have been able to be screwed on to the spoke. Obviously this nipple was defective and broke (under much less force than normal) after assembly.
#15
Cycleway town
There are a few sizes of spoke/nipple between bicycle and Moped, i think conventional bike is 14-guage (2mm) but i used like 12G at 2.6mm for my latest e-wheel. 13 is about 2.3mm afaik and yours is probably that.
A good LBS should have spares or at least be able to get them. One who just says they can't.. well that's not really an LBS imo. Where is this place, Walmart..?!
A good LBS should have spares or at least be able to get them. One who just says they can't.. well that's not really an LBS imo. Where is this place, Walmart..?!
#16
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That is the brand new nippleless spoke design. Designed so that when it gets cold you have no hardening and protruding of the nipple.
#17
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It is not feasible that the wheel was assembled with a nipple with no head on it. Wheels are assembled first by putting the nipple in the hole in the rim then doing the initial tightening onto the spoke using the screwdriver flat on the nipple head. If the nipple had no head, the nipple would not have been able to be screwed on to the spoke. Obviously this nipple was defective and broke (under much less force than normal) after assembly.
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Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#18
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If you have a nearby shop that sells or services e-bikes they could probably fit you up. E-bike wheels seem to have either 12 or 13g spokes.
#19
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#20
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Why they'd use a 13g spoke and single-wall rim though, is beyond me. Must be a strong alloy...
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It looks like it broke or was defective.
A nipple would be fine, although you'll need a motorcycle spoke wrench.
While I won't recommend doing so, when I rode a set of wheels made by someone else and broke 1 of 32 spokes I made the 700C wheel true and rode it for a few months.
Should the company send me a brand new wheel or just the nipple?
It's been almost a month since I bought the bike and still haven't ridden it even once.
#22
Cycleway town
Yeah i discovered a snapped spoke on an old mountain bike once, whilst i was cleaning it. No idea how long it'd been snapped for. It was gone at the hub so the other spokes were holding it in place. Had probably been snapped for hundreds of miles...
#23
Senior Member
Go to bike shop.
Collect wheel.
Take to another bike shop and ask them if they can fix it, if not ask them what gauge nipple you need. Order nipple either through bike shop or online. Return to original bike shop and give them nipple and wheel and tell them to fix it.
Sweet mother of Satan, how can the people who run this bike shop and the people who sold this bike be so utterly clueless about rudimentary maintenance and customer service?
Collect wheel.
Take to another bike shop and ask them if they can fix it, if not ask them what gauge nipple you need. Order nipple either through bike shop or online. Return to original bike shop and give them nipple and wheel and tell them to fix it.
Sweet mother of Satan, how can the people who run this bike shop and the people who sold this bike be so utterly clueless about rudimentary maintenance and customer service?
#24
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