Beware loose spokes
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Kansas
Beware loose spokes
Back story- I had new tires put on when I got the 03 DWG in 12' from my grandpa. Did a full service, new battery, and general check up. I put over 7k on the bike through winter until my back went out. Been tinkering with the carb lately getting the runnability up to par. Also noticed the front tire has some minor weather checking in the sidewall.
Now to present- I noticed a few nights ago I had a weird feeling while driving. It was almost like a cracked frame the way it acted. Checked the tire pressure and the front was 6psi low. Checked front spokes and all the bushings/welds on the frame and neck. Seemed a lot better until last night. Acted a lot weirder even with the tires aired up properly. These tires have slight cupping to them, but it's not bad. They'll be getting replaced shortly. A friend at work had said I needed to check the spokes again. Lo and behold, I had over 8 loose spokes on the back rim.
The bike will sit until I find a shop to check the rim and replace the tires. Now I'm looking at different rims in case the hub is cracked or has some other defect.
Now to present- I noticed a few nights ago I had a weird feeling while driving. It was almost like a cracked frame the way it acted. Checked the tire pressure and the front was 6psi low. Checked front spokes and all the bushings/welds on the frame and neck. Seemed a lot better until last night. Acted a lot weirder even with the tires aired up properly. These tires have slight cupping to them, but it's not bad. They'll be getting replaced shortly. A friend at work had said I needed to check the spokes again. Lo and behold, I had over 8 loose spokes on the back rim.
The bike will sit until I find a shop to check the rim and replace the tires. Now I'm looking at different rims in case the hub is cracked or has some other defect.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 7
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From: Kansas
Thanks. The longest it sat after I got it was mid 13 to 14. Didn't think the spokes would loosen up like that. I'll have the shop I take my bike to make sure the hub and ring are running true when they do my tires.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
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From: Central Texas
True story, My 2000 FXDWG got loose spokes in the rear wheel, I don't know how many, but it seamed like a lot of them. I took it to my Indy, and he tightened them up, about a month later they got loose again, so I took it back to him and he tightened them up again, on his dime. Two weeks later they got loose again, so back to my Indy it went, now this time he suggested, respoking it, but all he had were the nice ss spokes, so I paid for the spokes, and he ate the labor. About a month later those nice, expensive spokes loosened off, so needless to say I bought a used mag rear wheel, and no more problems. When I bought My brand new Road King Classic, the spokes came off and the mags went on before it ever left the dealership, so no more spokes for me ever again.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,332
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From: Upstate New York
I've run Harley 40 spoke laced wheels on my bikes for 28 years without an issue. I've even built two sets of wheels, including the set I'm riding on now. It's not that I'm gentle with them, either. I've ridden Jeep trails that are smoother than some of what passes for roads here. I do check the spoke tension at every 5K service, but that's it.
The only thing that comes to mind is that my hubs are steel, whereas Harley switched to aluminum hubs in '97. I suspect that might play a role. I can't think of any other reason, offhand.
The only thing that comes to mind is that my hubs are steel, whereas Harley switched to aluminum hubs in '97. I suspect that might play a role. I can't think of any other reason, offhand.
Last edited by Uncle G.; Jun 28, 2017 at 12:34 PM.
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