This was scary - dna wheel
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,232
Likes: 9,324
From: Georgia
I've responded to several threads over time on DNA wheels and have never mentioned this before.This is not the first time I've seen or heard of this happening.An estimator in my office had a new set of DNA's last year and had it happen to him.Fortunately he was at a red light after riding the mountains all day and when he went to take off a bolt that had backed out hit the swing arm and stopped him.That was the next to last bolt left in the pulley.It's hard for these companies to insure they have solid billet when they machine.Like other wheel companies I think DNA buys their hubs and does not machine their own.I could be wrong with that fact if so someone correct me.Nothing wrong with that just saying it's hard to insure uniformity in the casting.When you mount your pulley and brake disc you should double check the torque second time right then.You should be able to feel the bolt pulling if it's going to.I check torque every time I change rubber,if it doesn't click right at the setting back the bolt out clean the treads and check it out.You will see alum. pretty easy on a steel bolt if you have a problem.I've always subscribed to the 2-1 rule with steel bolts in aluminum.Good luck with DNA.G.
Stage I
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Same exact issue!
Hi Josh,
I had the exact same thing happen to me. DNA CHROME 18" X 5.5" 80 SPOKE REAR WHEEL HARLEY for 200 TIRE from American Classic Motors. Spoke to DNA tech, sent photos and struggling to get a response from them. I have to keep calling them to get responses.
Bolts were torqued properly and more than enough loctite was used. Grade 8 bolts were of proper length as well. Bolts pulled out one by one and broke off on the swingarm. Looks to me like the bolts are too close to the edge. I am an aggressive rider- maybe the hub just can't hold up? Regardless of what anyone says I know it was installed correctly. I also marked my bolts with nail polish to see if they move and they hadn't for the whole season and then all of sudden...
Regards,
Charles
I had the exact same thing happen to me. DNA CHROME 18" X 5.5" 80 SPOKE REAR WHEEL HARLEY for 200 TIRE from American Classic Motors. Spoke to DNA tech, sent photos and struggling to get a response from them. I have to keep calling them to get responses.
Bolts were torqued properly and more than enough loctite was used. Grade 8 bolts were of proper length as well. Bolts pulled out one by one and broke off on the swingarm. Looks to me like the bolts are too close to the edge. I am an aggressive rider- maybe the hub just can't hold up? Regardless of what anyone says I know it was installed correctly. I also marked my bolts with nail polish to see if they move and they hadn't for the whole season and then all of sudden...
Regards,
Charles
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 466
Likes: 0
From: CT
Hey Guys,
One of my goos friends had the same thing happen to him, but it was with his stock rear spoked wheel on his 08 crossbnes. He removed the rear pulley to have it painted and used the old hardware to reinstall it. It was torqued to spec and loctited. On a ride one day we noticed his rear sprocket bolts has come loose, one actually had broked off. To make a long story short, he pulled the wheel off and was able to remove all the bolts. He replaced them with all new hardware torqued and loctited again and never had another problem. Come to find out if you look in the service manual Harley requires you to replace your sprocket hardware everytime you remove your sprocket. It is my thought that by removing and re-installing the old hardware that it come how compromises the ability of the bolts to stay tight. Maybe they stretch as they are tightened and loosened, who knows? Just some food for thought.
One of my goos friends had the same thing happen to him, but it was with his stock rear spoked wheel on his 08 crossbnes. He removed the rear pulley to have it painted and used the old hardware to reinstall it. It was torqued to spec and loctited. On a ride one day we noticed his rear sprocket bolts has come loose, one actually had broked off. To make a long story short, he pulled the wheel off and was able to remove all the bolts. He replaced them with all new hardware torqued and loctited again and never had another problem. Come to find out if you look in the service manual Harley requires you to replace your sprocket hardware everytime you remove your sprocket. It is my thought that by removing and re-installing the old hardware that it come how compromises the ability of the bolts to stay tight. Maybe they stretch as they are tightened and loosened, who knows? Just some food for thought.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Hey Guys,
One of my goos friends had the same thing happen to him, but it was with his stock rear spoked wheel on his 08 crossbnes. He removed the rear pulley to have it painted and used the old hardware to reinstall it. It was torqued to spec and loctited. On a ride one day we noticed his rear sprocket bolts has come loose, one actually had broked off. To make a long story short, he pulled the wheel off and was able to remove all the bolts. He replaced them with all new hardware torqued and loctited again and never had another problem. Come to find out if you look in the service manual Harley requires you to replace your sprocket hardware everytime you remove your sprocket. It is my thought that by removing and re-installing the old hardware that it come how compromises the ability of the bolts to stay tight. Maybe they stretch as they are tightened and loosened, who knows? Just some food for thought.
One of my goos friends had the same thing happen to him, but it was with his stock rear spoked wheel on his 08 crossbnes. He removed the rear pulley to have it painted and used the old hardware to reinstall it. It was torqued to spec and loctited. On a ride one day we noticed his rear sprocket bolts has come loose, one actually had broked off. To make a long story short, he pulled the wheel off and was able to remove all the bolts. He replaced them with all new hardware torqued and loctited again and never had another problem. Come to find out if you look in the service manual Harley requires you to replace your sprocket hardware everytime you remove your sprocket. It is my thought that by removing and re-installing the old hardware that it come how compromises the ability of the bolts to stay tight. Maybe they stretch as they are tightened and loosened, who knows? Just some food for thought.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10,058
Likes: 8
From: MEXICO
I've responded to several threads over time on DNA wheels and have never mentioned this before.This is not the first time I've seen or heard of this happening.An estimator in my office had a new set of DNA's last year and had it happen to him.Fortunately he was at a red light after riding the mountains all day and when he went to take off a bolt that had backed out hit the swing arm and stopped him.That was the next to last bolt left in the pulley.It's hard for these companies to insure they have solid billet when they machine.Like other wheel companies I think DNA buys their hubs and does not machine their own.I could be wrong with that fact if so someone correct me.Nothing wrong with that just saying it's hard to insure uniformity in the casting.When you mount your pulley and brake disc you should double check the torque second time right then.You should be able to feel the bolt pulling if it's going to.I check torque every time I change rubber,if it doesn't click right at the setting back the bolt out clean the treads and check it out.You will see alum. pretty easy on a steel bolt if you have a problem.I've always subscribed to the 2-1 rule with steel bolts in aluminum.Good luck with DNA.G.
+1 I've heard enough scary stories from DNA I wouldn't buy those or suggest them to my friends. Those are security parts in a motorcycle, I wouldn't want to end up being under the defective parts in the quiality charts...
Mimo.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 2
From: Nebraska
I bought a DNA Pulley to replace the stock harley one but I am running the pulley on the stock hub setup. I had the same thing happen to me where the bolts backed out and two of them broke off inside the hub. I had to have those two drilled and tapped again. The next time around I just cleaned the bolts real good... loctite and torqued. Have not had any problem since and it's been well over a year ago.
The DNA pulley though is really getting chewed up now. Not peeling but getting pitted.
When I ordered the pulley and brake rotors from DNA they sent me the wrong pulley at first. They sent me a 70th when I needed a 66th for my 07. I could not get them to respond for crap about getting a right one.. then I finally just started calling them and asking for extensions trying to get passed to someone who might care and eventually I got my salesmen from the start. He told me they didn't make a 66th pulley. So I told him I was packing it all back up and returning for a credit.
I went to their website and left a huge comment on their comment section about how **** poor they were and ect.... Boy, did that do wonders. Next thing I knew I was called by a totally different salesman from them asking me how they could make things right. I accidentally had an email sent back to me ( hounded them with emails) that showed that evidently a vice president of some sort read my website comment and passed down through the ranks like "****... how did this happen? Someone get this taken care of immediatly!" Apparently there are a lot of family members running this outfit as a lot of them had the same last name.
I had my stuff within the week. Funny, they did make a 66th pulley.
Aside from that. I will never buy from them again though. They have no one technical that can help you and they are real shady in my opinion.
The DNA pulley though is really getting chewed up now. Not peeling but getting pitted.
When I ordered the pulley and brake rotors from DNA they sent me the wrong pulley at first. They sent me a 70th when I needed a 66th for my 07. I could not get them to respond for crap about getting a right one.. then I finally just started calling them and asking for extensions trying to get passed to someone who might care and eventually I got my salesmen from the start. He told me they didn't make a 66th pulley. So I told him I was packing it all back up and returning for a credit.
I went to their website and left a huge comment on their comment section about how **** poor they were and ect.... Boy, did that do wonders. Next thing I knew I was called by a totally different salesman from them asking me how they could make things right. I accidentally had an email sent back to me ( hounded them with emails) that showed that evidently a vice president of some sort read my website comment and passed down through the ranks like "****... how did this happen? Someone get this taken care of immediatly!" Apparently there are a lot of family members running this outfit as a lot of them had the same last name.
I had my stuff within the week. Funny, they did make a 66th pulley.
Aside from that. I will never buy from them again though. They have no one technical that can help you and they are real shady in my opinion.
Last edited by lionsqrne; Dec 14, 2009 at 03:04 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 2
From: Central IL.
I have DNA wheels, rotors, and pulley. I could not be happier with my purchase. I do not doubt the replies that have been left here, and would take you guys replies to heart.
When I had my accident, my front wheel was bent. I called to talk to the salesman that sold me the wheels so I would make sure I got the same rim and bearings. They looked it up and seen that I only had the wheels for 4 months. Asked why I was replacing the rim and told them. They sold me a replacement for cost!
So hopefully they have seen the light at the end of their tunnel and will take better care of their customers!
When I had my accident, my front wheel was bent. I called to talk to the salesman that sold me the wheels so I would make sure I got the same rim and bearings. They looked it up and seen that I only had the wheels for 4 months. Asked why I was replacing the rim and told them. They sold me a replacement for cost!
So hopefully they have seen the light at the end of their tunnel and will take better care of their customers!
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 3
From: Brick NJ
i am going to bet everything i have you were NOT using bolts with shoulders
same thing happened to me, bought some fancy chrome bolts for the pulley WITHOUT shoulders
installed my WELD rear wheel, everything was A OK for a few hundred miles
long story short, i heard a rubbing noise while coming to a stop light one day, yup, the bolts worked themselves loose and backed out
while removing them one came loose and snapped, i had to weld a new head on it to remove it
replaced them all with bolts with shoulders and no problems since
without shoulders, the pulley is allowed to move back and forth thus loosening the bolts, no amount of loctite will help this problem
hope this helps
same thing happened to me, bought some fancy chrome bolts for the pulley WITHOUT shoulders
installed my WELD rear wheel, everything was A OK for a few hundred miles
long story short, i heard a rubbing noise while coming to a stop light one day, yup, the bolts worked themselves loose and backed out
while removing them one came loose and snapped, i had to weld a new head on it to remove it
replaced them all with bolts with shoulders and no problems since
without shoulders, the pulley is allowed to move back and forth thus loosening the bolts, no amount of loctite will help this problem
hope this helps
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
That was pretty cool of them to do that as they had nothing to do with your accident. Like you said, maybe they have learned their lesson and are treating customers better.
As for those shoulder bolts.. Sounds like we know what the problem is.
As for those shoulder bolts.. Sounds like we know what the problem is.
I have DNA wheels, rotors, and pulley. I could not be happier with my purchase. I do not doubt the replies that have been left here, and would take you guys replies to heart.
When I had my accident, my front wheel was bent. I called to talk to the salesman that sold me the wheels so I would make sure I got the same rim and bearings. They looked it up and seen that I only had the wheels for 4 months. Asked why I was replacing the rim and told them. They sold me a replacement for cost!
So hopefully they have seen the light at the end of their tunnel and will take better care of their customers!
When I had my accident, my front wheel was bent. I called to talk to the salesman that sold me the wheels so I would make sure I got the same rim and bearings. They looked it up and seen that I only had the wheels for 4 months. Asked why I was replacing the rim and told them. They sold me a replacement for cost!
So hopefully they have seen the light at the end of their tunnel and will take better care of their customers!
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