EliteWheels ENT nipples cracking

[epifas87]

Hey guys, how are you?
I noticed all nipples on my ENT wheels have cracked in lenght. According to the seller/official AliExpress store, they are Pillar DSN alloy nipples, which I read somewhere react chemically (galvanic corrosion) with the exposed carbon inside the rim.. Is this true?
Taking into account that I live right by the sea, and 99% of my riding is done within 500 meters of the salt water: if I swap the alloy nipples for the brass version, will this stop happening again?

[gribs]

I rebuilt a mates set of Hunt alloy wheels that did the same with brass nipples and they've been fine since. Basic ali nipples and steel spokes all do this eventually.

[epifas87]

I rebuilt a mates set of Hunt alloy wheels that did the same with brass nipples and they've been fine since. Basic ali nipples and steel spokes all do this eventually.

Thanks for the answer!
Do your friend has the same "salt climate" that I have here?

[loheiman]

It's really a shame that Elite Wheels doesn't give you the option of using brass nipples when ordering through AliExpress. Seems like an easy thing that would make a big difference

[gribs]

I'm in the UK so the roads get salted in winter and it rains a lot too. If you ride all year it's hard on components.

[POTOOOOOOOO]

It’s an unfortunate consequence of manufacturers chasing weight as a marketing headline.
If you can save 60 grams by using alloy instead of brass it’s an easy win.

Alloy can be ok, but I try and avoid it as I also live on the coast and ride all year round.

[epifas87]

It's really a shame that Elite Wheels doesn't give you the option of using brass nipples when ordering through AliExpress. Seems like an easy thing that would make a big difference

Agree 100% !!
But from what I've gathered from talking to their customer service on Aliex, they only use Alloy nipples on their wheels

I'm in the UK so the roads get salted in winter and it rains a lot too. If you ride all year it's hard on components.

When I started noticing this, I started rinsing the bike after every ride, though it's too late now.. Will change to brass like you did

It’s an unfortunate consequence of manufacturers chasing weight as a marketing headline.
If you can save 60 grams by using alloy instead of brass it’s an easy win.

Alloy can be ok, but I try and avoid it as I also live on the coast and ride all year round.

Taking into account that it's a 1700g wheelset, the extra 60g doesn't seem to make a difference..
Would also make them very durable, besides being very cost-effective

[epifas87]

Another doubt I'm having, and the seller can't seem to solve: the wheel uses Pillar 1423 spokes.
I believe the nipples are the DSN model (also from Pillar), but I don't know what gauge they are: 13, 14 or 15.
Can anyone confirm the exact model of spoke and nipple I need to buy?

[loheiman]

It’s an unfortunate consequence of manufacturers chasing weight as a marketing headline.
If you can save 60 grams by using alloy instead of brass it’s an easy win.

Alloy can be ok, but I try and avoid it as I also live on the coast and ride all year round.

It's not even 60 grams, it's just over 30grams. DT swiss brass nipples are 1g each. Their alloy nipples are 0.32g each. 0.68 x 48 = 32.6g.

So annoying

[Sander2177]

Man that’s not great but I have seen bikes being derived buy people whom live buy the sea and it’s definitely does your bike no favours!
Sea air moisture and Aluminium spoke nipples not a good combo.
100% brass nipples
I have just specified these with CX Ray spoke for a winter set of wheels to avoid this potential issue.

[epifas87]

And here I was thinking about reselling EliteWheels where I live to try and make some cash on the side...
Can't do that until they open the possibility to change nipples to brass

[Chiyou]

Another doubt I'm having, and the seller can't seem to solve: the wheel uses Pillar 1423 spokes.
I believe the nipples are the DSN model (also from Pillar), but I don't know what gauge they are: 13, 14 or 15.
Can anyone confirm the exact model of spoke and nipple I need to buy?

To confirm whether you indeed have Pillar 1423 spokes, I would check against the dimensions Pillar lists in their catalog (page 21). Specifically, the bladed section should be 2.3 mm wide ('W' dimension) and 1.5 mm thick ('ØD2').
https://www.pillarspoke.com/_files/ugd/629fcb_9ab003ae3921465e9234265ab8ca0c69.pdf
The catalog also mentions that these spokes have a 14G thread (as is the case for most other road spokes) .

Their nipples are listed on page 29; find the row for DSN and look at the illustration. If that matches what's in your wheels, great. As you'll see in the catalog, DSN 14 nipples come in different lengths; I'm guessing yours are 14.4 but measure to be sure.

(I don't think you need to buy new spokes, just new nipples.)

[epifas87]

To confirm whether you indeed have Pillar 1423 spokes, I would check against the dimensions Pillar lists in their catalog (page 21). Specifically, the bladed section should be 2.3 mm wide ('W' dimension) and 1.5 mm thick ('ØD2').
https://www.pillarspoke.com/_files/ugd/629fcb_9ab003ae3921465e9234265ab8ca0c69.pdf
The catalog also mentions that these spokes have a 14G thread (as is the case for most other road spokes) .

Their nipples are listed on page 29; find the row for DSN and look at the illustration. If that matches what's in your wheels, great. As you'll see in the catalog, DSN 14 nipples come in different lengths; I'm guessing yours are 14.4 but measure to be sure.

(I don't think you need to buy new spokes, just new nipples.)

Thanks for the reply, sorry I'm just seeing this now..
Ended up removing part of the rim tape, confirmed they are indeed DSN nipples, and based on the info from the Elite store regarding the lenght, bought DSN14 16mm brass nipples, they should be getting here next week.

The Elite store ended up refundind the fee my mechanic asked for his service and sent me new alloy nipples as well. I think they handled it greatly, nothing to complain from my part, will definetely buy and recommend their products and service!

[crazyravr]

I started to have the same issue with my 9Velo wheelset. Its been two years riding in all conditions and 20K km. They sent me a new / updated hub and spokes with brass nipples to get them rebuilt. I will do this as soon as another one snaps.

[epifas87]

I started to have the same issue with my 9Velo wheelset. Its been two years riding in all conditions and 20K km. They sent me a new / updated hub and spokes with brass nipples to get them rebuilt. I will do this as soon as another one snaps.

Now THAT is a warranty, if I've ever seen one!