Originally Posted by
tendency
What sort of spoke prep should I be doing before building up the wheel (aluminum/aluminum spokes/nipples)? I was thinking just some Park bike grease on the threads.
This is one of those questions like "which chain lube should I use?" There are a few answers that are OK.
Lubes (oils and greases) are for reducing the friction during the build up and reducing the long term corrosion that makes sliding parts easier to move. For Al nipples and rims (w/out eyelets at the spoke holes) lubing the nipple/rim seat makes for an easier time to get good spoke tension levels.
Spoke Prep (the product) and other thread filling products are about reducing the chance of a nipple unwinding when the spoke's tension is reduced during riding. It also will help reduce corrosion over time but as it has a somewhat glue like quality it adds to the friction of the nipple turning on the spoke's threads.
As some here have already said either approach will aid the build up and make future truing easier. Some here have mentioned how they prep/lube the nipple contact points.
I just applied Spoke Prep to a set of spokes for a tandem wheel build (Velocity Dyad 40* rim w/ no eyelets) last night. I thin the Spoke Prep slightly with alcohol, bunch up the spokes in one hand with the ends even (I tap the bunch on the bench top to get the spokes all the same positionally) and tap the threaded end in the Spoke Prep's cap. Only the last mm or so of the threads have SP on them at this point. I'll roll the bunch of spokes about in a bunch to spread the SP down the length of the threads and no further. This results in a thin coating, I can easily see/feel the threads crests.
After I lace the spokes and only start the nipples a few threads worth I'll go back with a squeeze TriFlow bottle and add a tiny drop of lube at three points; the nipple head to both draw lube down the nipples insides and down the outside to where the nipple/rim seat is and also on the spoke at the still exposed threads.
I tension up and true/dish the wheel to completion. After i take a rag/paper towel and wet it with some Clean Streak then wipe off the rim and nipples both inside and outside the rim. This helps to remove the excess lube and reduce future grime collecting.
I have seen really good wheel builders only use grease, only use SP and/or only use oils with no real differences in the final results. But this says more about the builder than their preparation. So much like that chain lube question I see it as more a "use something" answer than which something to use. Andy
I have a friend who has been a regionally ranked racer, a shop owner and a supplier sales rep for decades. We have many similar experiences and have spent hours with a beer and talking about our industry and the various things we do in it. He mentioned that he applies a wicking LockTight to each nipple's end (w/ no other lube or prep) on his wheels. I had a cringing moment but he's the captain of his wheels so I kept my opinions to myself, just glad I would not be the one truing those wheels later
