If you're talking brass plated nipples against an aluminum rim then yes; a drop of oil at the nipple/rim or eyelet interface is good. Be sure and wipe off any excess as regular oil is a dirt magnet. It's as if you didn't wash your face for a week.

Also, sometimes the noise is created by the valve stem in the rim, FYI.

 

It's perfectly fine to drip a small amount of Tri-Flow or similar substance onto the nipple/spoke interface as well as the nipple/rim interface. Sometimes the spoke crosses will also make noise. Especially with bladed spokes.

 

I took apart both hubs and oiled them.

When it comes to hubs, I sure hope you meant greased, not oiled. Just checking.

Oiling nipples is a good idea for any well built wheel. Obviously, this was not done on your wheels when they were built.

 

The hubs have sealed bearing units in them. I used Chain-L oil on the O ring seals and the ratcheting pawls. Is that not OK? It quieted the free hub nicely.

I am running tubes, but these are tubless ready rims. Is there any chance of oil seeping under the plastic rim band and compromising the seal?

16 mile commute this morning in pure silence! I have finally (for now at least) gotten every aspect of this bike smooth and quite. Feels really good.

 

The hubs have sealed bearing units in them. I used Chain-L oil on the O ring seals and the ratcheting pawls. Is that not OK? It quieted the free hub nicely.

16 mile commute this morning in pure silence! I have finally (for now at least) gotten every aspect of this bike smooth and quite. Feels really good.

Do you mean sealed bearings as in cartridges? I think you should use grease on those. Oil is fine for the freehub.

Others here may also have an opinion.

 

I have a few hundred miles on a new bike, and it has developed a faint chirp sound that corresponds to wheel rotations. Only while riding, can't duplicate on the work stand.

So I had the same thing and it drove me nuts because I knew everything was right with my wheels and nothing was rubbing. I kept checking and checking and everything was perfect.

Finally from riding really slow and watching my wheel I could determine where in the revolution it happened and it was when the valve stem was at 6 o'clock (so on the ground).

I spit on the stem, wiggled it so some got inside, and chirp gone.

Turns out apparently there was some rubbing or whatever between the valve and rim that happened when the valve was at 6 o'clock. I wouldn't have believe it if I didn't experience it. I chased this down for like 4 months. When I got home I just put a little chain lube on the valve stem and it's never come back. So try that.

 

Good points. Thanks. I think I put too much oil in the hub, because now it is seeping past the O ring and creeping onto the rotor and traveling toward the braking surface.

 

when i rebuild hubs, bb's, pedals, rear derailleurs or headsets, i use grease (not oil).

when i build wheels, grease is applied to the spoke threads and eyelets.

after i buy a used bike, i spray a light lubricant (oil) on/in the nipples ... and loosen then retighten each spoke during my overhaul process.

oil lubricant can also be applied to aluminum components like the moving pivot points of derailleurs and calipers.

 

You know, the 'net nanny' would not let me open this thread at work.....

 

I was trying to think of a pic that I could post that would not get me banned by the mods. My mind went straight to ..............well, you know.

 

*giggles at title*



*walks away*

 

Prevents chafing

 

 

No one likes squeaky nipples, give this a try:

 

He said oiled nipples, uhe hee hee hee.