 Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 46
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 46 |
Someone please explain how this could happen or why its happening. When I bought my 2003 TBA 6 months ago it had 4 spokes that were removed on the front wheel. The owner said that when it got real cold outside he noticed that they popped out of their housing and at that point he just pulled them out. I didn't buy that story at first but after sending the rim into Buchanons in california who are supposedly the best in the business they informed me that it seemed to not be caused by any accident of any kind. However they couldnt tell me if it was a defect or not for sure.
I live in michigan and my bike has been parked under my apartment car port with a cover on it since the beginning of winter. I went out today to check on it and noticed that one of my my real wheel spokes has popped out of the housing.
So I have a couple questions.
1) How could this occur & what should I do?
2) Im guessing the obvious answer is that I need to call a mechanic...again.. pay $500 to have it removed, sent to buchanons, fixed, shipped back, mounted & rebalanced and than have put back on the bike. Is this all that I can do?
3.) Is it safe to ride with one rear wheel spoke broke?
Thanks guys! This is just getting to be such a ****** hassle.
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 386
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 386 |
I'm not sure how cold it gets there but my 2005 had survived 2 Canadian winters with no damage to the spoked wheels during storage. (no heat in my garage and the bike up on a jack) I've switched to speedy wheels just for the look but I've never heard of anyone else up here having problems with spokes, HD's or otherwise. Heck I've even rode a honda dirtbike in the middle of winter without any spoke issues. (Gimmie a break...it gets boring up here in the winter...) No idea for a solution other than getting speedy wheels or tracking down a complete spoked wheel from another member and trying it out? 
1982 Pontiac Trans Am...K.I.T.T. in progress.
"It looks like Darth Vaders bathroom in here..."
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 318
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 318 |
When I took my 04 America for testing last year the examiner checked every spoke,He told me that there had been a fault on the early bonneville range with spokes breaking.
I personally would not ride it until you get it checked out
Ride to eat,Eat to ride!
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 259
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 259 |
Sounds like the previous owner may have over tightened the spokes seeing as how its been both wheels,
and no trouble with the front 1 since it was rebuilt, so maybe there set to the correct tension now.
Just an idea though
“There is no heaven, there is no ******, except here on Earth.â€
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 318
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 318 |
Ride to eat,Eat to ride!
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,198 Likes: 1
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,198 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
Is it safe to ride with one rear wheel spoke broke?
Shouldn't be a problem - I rode over 1000 miles this past summer with 3 broken (on the same part of the wheel) after my chain came off.
As someone else says, get it checked so you know why its happening.
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
I kinda hate to express my opinion on a safety issue, as everone on here knows from my "elevated" position, but here goes anyway. Years ago, when I was a lot poorer and desperate, I rode an old, Triumph chopper that had a few spokes broke on the rear wheel. Never had any problems. One spoke broke? Probably safe enough. But I would definately keep an eye on it. It's too bad you have such a weird problem. Never heard of this kind of thing on such a new bike.
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,362
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,362 |
Only thing I can think of is contraction of the metal due to extreme cold but I've never heard of anything like this affecting bike spokes... maybe they're over-tightened as midnight suggested, or faulty.
Yeah you probably can ride with 1 spoke missing if you know why it's missing, however with spokes apparently randomly breaking on your bike I don't think I'd risk it till I found out why it's happening.
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,061 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,061 Likes: 8 |
How are the spokes breaking? When you say they are pulling out of the housing, I'll assume it is the hub, not the rim. Are the heads of the spokes breaking/deforming and pulling through or are the holes in the housing opening up allowing the spoke to pull through with the spoke looking ok? BTW, I left my 03 BA in an unheated shed for a couple of winters. Temps dropped to -40C a few times with no problem with spokes. I switched to chrome mag wheels. Here is the thread explaining why and where to purchase.
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 46
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 46 |
Sorry for my lack of technical knowledge on wheels. The spoke itself looks completely fine, it looks as if it just slipped out of the top housing, so now its just hanging there still attached to the bottom. There not breaking, I should be clear on that, they are coming out of the housing. Too much tension on the spokes would seem to describe whats happening pretty well.
Its just so ****** odd. This is my first bike, and it has 1000 miles on it. Every single person Ive talked to with 10-30 years experience has never heard of this occuring randomly, especially on both wheels.
I dont think the owner did a thing to this bike besides park it in his garage. He is the original owner and only put 800 miles on in the 7 years he had her. Nothing has been replaced, tires are stock, battery, etc.
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,194 Likes: 56
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,194 Likes: 56 |
Mileage and riding conditions will have a lot to do with spoke longevity. The rougher the roads the more the spokes flex and the sooner they will start to break. I too have ridden old bikes with a few broken spokes with no problem. If the bike doesn't have a lot of miles or hasn't been ridden regularly over very rough terrain then I wouldn't ride it and re-lace the wheels with fresh spokes. Never heard of cold hot cycles causing breakage. You can just replace a single spoke but chances are you will just soon find another broken.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,061 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,061 Likes: 8 |
Quote:
Sorry for my lack of technical knowledge on wheels. The spoke itself looks completely fine, it looks as if it just slipped out of the top housing, so now its just hanging there still attached to the bottom. There not breaking,
Steve, When you say slipped out of the top housing...still attached to the bottom, do you mean slipped out of the rim that the tire is secured too with the spoke hanging from the center hub? Or slipped out of the hub and attached to the rim? It makes a difference. Can you take a couple of pics of the spokes up close especially the ends?
We're guessing here because most of us haven't seen this kind of failure before where spokes fail while at rest.
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8
New Tires
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New Tires
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8 |
The standard Bonnie variations have had a rear spoke breakage problem, not enough to cause a recall though. This is the first I've heard of a America/ Speedy problem. Did Buchanons completely relace the wheel? They are top notch. You might want to call them and see what they say.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 896
phoenix
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phoenix
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 896 |
Quote:
Someone please explain how this could happen or why its happening. When I bought my 2003 TBA 6 months ago it had 4 spokes that were removed on the front wheel. The owner said that when it got real cold outside he noticed that they popped out of their housing and at that point he just pulled them out. I didn't buy that story at first but after sending the rim into Buchanons in california who are supposedly the best in the business they informed me that it seemed to not be caused by any accident of any kind. However they couldnt tell me if it was a defect or not for sure.
I live in michigan and my bike has been parked under my apartment car port with a cover on it since the beginning of winter. I went out today to check on it and noticed that one of my my real wheel spokes has popped out of the housing.
So I have a couple questions.
1) How could this occur & what should I do?
2) Im guessing the obvious answer is that I need to call a mechanic...again.. pay $500 to have it removed, sent to buchanons, fixed, shipped back, mounted & rebalanced and than have put back on the bike. Is this all that I can do?
3.) Is it safe to ride with one rear wheel spoke broke?
Thanks guys! This is just getting to be such a ****** hassle.
When i built the 4 wheels for my 70 BSA and my 70 triumph[both restored]Used a dab of "loc-tite] on each nipple before installing it.I haven't had any trouble with The BSA the triumph is owned by a jeweler in Bankok. I have a salvage 04 america, if you need to ask any questions or look over my rear wheel? you may.PM me if this interests you. cheers bob s 
PS i forgot to tell you i live right out here by britton .tecumseh area 20 miles from you
Last edited by bsa_bob; 02/24/2010 9:14 AM.
bob s
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
This is a case I don't think I've ever encountered.
If I read this correctly your spokes have been pulling free from the hub and not the rim; and, there is no breakage, just a free spoke flopping around attached to the rim. Yes?
Unless I miss my guess, there are inner and outer spokes with differing angles from the butt end. At least that's the case with the vintage wheels I just re-laced, inner-outer and left-right for a total of four angles. I think maybe you have a pair of wheels that are laced inside out and that's why the spokes are popping free. I'd check the butt angle first and see what's happening there, then if my guess is right, you'll need to have the wheels re-laced properly.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Ed, I sure hope that his wheel(s) is(are) not laced inside out as that would not reflect well on Buchanan's Spoke & Rim, Inc. Shucks, the very fact that spokes are still coming loose after receiving the wheels back doesn't speak well either. Whatever the case, those wheels would not spin another foot under power till it was sorted. Vera Lynn had a rear wheel nipple break in two. Replaced the nipple as the spoke was fine. Never did find the bit that should have dropped inside the tire.  
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
Ed, I sure hope that his wheel(s) is(are) not laced inside out as that would not reflect well on Buchanan's Spoke & Rim, Inc. Shucks, the very fact that spokes are still coming loose after receiving the wheels back doesn't speak well either. Whatever the case, those wheels would not spin another foot under power till it was sorted.
Vera Lynn had a rear wheel nipple break in two. Replaced the nipple as the spoke was fine. Never did find the bit that should have dropped inside the tire.
I read that as only the front had been done and this time one had popped loose on the rear but not out of the front hub again. An intriguing problem to be sure.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
won't you post some closeup photos of the hub(s)?
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 46
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 46 |
I have a pic of the wheel. How do I post pictures?
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 46
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 46 |
By the way this is the rear rim not the front! This same exact issue occurred on the front rim though and I sent that one to Buchanons. That rim has been fine since it was returned. It seems to me that Triumph just made some incredibly low quality wheels for a few of their bikes (mine being one of them) and corrected the problem shortly after making it, hence very few other people having the issue.
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 259
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 259 |
send this wheel off and have it repaired also, looks like a very bad batch of spokes and spoke nuts,
other than a wheel thats over 20 years old, I've never seen a spoke nut corrode like that, if your happy with the job you had done on the front wheel, then trust the same company to repair your rear, just ask for Stainless Spokes
“There is no heaven, there is no ******, except here on Earth.â€
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 896
phoenix
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phoenix
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 896 |
Quote:
send this wheel off and have it repaired also, looks like a very bad batch of spokes and spoke nuts,
other than a wheel thats over 20 years old, I've never seen a spoke nut corrode like that, if your happy with the job you had done on the front wheel, then trust the same company to repair your rear, just ask for Stainless Spokes
I concur....get those spoke off that bike....and get stainless, with nickle plated nipples. you won't have anymore problems.
bob s
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Re: Spoke broke again! This time on back wheel
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Thanks for the pictures. The head of the nipple actually blew off so the spoke didn't "pull" through, it really fell out. Probably a bad batch of nipples, or more likely they were damaged during installation, this really should be a warranty claim. In any event you'll want to replace the whole lot. The spokes look fine to me, didn't break or bend, but the peace of mind replacing them gives is probably in order as well.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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