Loose spokes
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Loose spokes
I have a 2005 Road King Classic and ever since I put the 95" kit on it, My spokes on the rear wheel keep loosining up. I had my Indy re true and tighten up all the spokes last year but within a month they were loose again. Some of the spokes seem like Doesany one know of a permanent fix? If not, I would like to replace them with fat spoke tires but I am concerned with them being radially laced that it woun't be strong enough and eventually I will run into the same problem. Any thoughts?
Thanks, Herb
Thanks, Herb
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 1
From: Douglasville, GA
Get them torqued properly and use Loctite 220. It's designed to wick into pre-assembled parts.
http://henkelna.com/us/content_data/...ide_032010.pdf
http://henkelna.com/us/content_data/...ide_032010.pdf
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 637
Likes: 3
From: Laurel, Maryland
Get rid of those laces!
Not sure if i'd go from one problem spoked wheel to another potentially problemed spoked wheel.
Go with a cast aluminum wheel.
Easier to clean, no more tubes so if you get a puncture you can do a temporary fix along the side of the road, looke better than spoked wheels (IMHO) and you can probably get a set of genuine HD take off's from eBay for half (or better) the price of new.
I wouldn't advise putting loctite on the spokes either. They're supposed to be adjustable, glueing them kinda defeats the purpose.
Good luck!
GSF
Go with a cast aluminum wheel.
Easier to clean, no more tubes so if you get a puncture you can do a temporary fix along the side of the road, looke better than spoked wheels (IMHO) and you can probably get a set of genuine HD take off's from eBay for half (or better) the price of new.
I wouldn't advise putting loctite on the spokes either. They're supposed to be adjustable, glueing them kinda defeats the purpose.
Good luck!
GSF
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
Radially spokes wheels are for show, and have always been a source of trouble....
There are two things to watch out for with radial wheels. Because the nipples point straight inward from the rim, they can turn more easily in most rims than when they are bent to a slight angle by a semi-tangent spoke pattern. This ease of turning increases the risk of their unscrewing themselves on the road. To prevent this, nipples on radial wheels should not be lubricated, and it is a good idea to use a spoke adhesive such as Wheelsmith Spoke Prep or one of the milder flavors of Loctite Ž on them. (Or, if a rim does not have recessed spoke holes, the rim tape and air pressure in the inner tube will keep the spokes from turning -- at least with a high-pressure tire).
The other potential problem with radial wheels is that the spokes, trailing straight outward on the hub flange, can possibly rip the outer edge of the flange right off along the line of the spoke holes. This is most likely to happen with small-flange, 36 hole hubs, because there is less metal between the spoke holes. If a used hub is re-laced radially, the notches left by the old spokes can act as stress risers, further weakening the flange.
Many hub manufacturers specifically recommend against radial spoking for this reason, and will not honor warranties on hubs that have been spoked radially.
There are two things to watch out for with radial wheels. Because the nipples point straight inward from the rim, they can turn more easily in most rims than when they are bent to a slight angle by a semi-tangent spoke pattern. This ease of turning increases the risk of their unscrewing themselves on the road. To prevent this, nipples on radial wheels should not be lubricated, and it is a good idea to use a spoke adhesive such as Wheelsmith Spoke Prep or one of the milder flavors of Loctite Ž on them. (Or, if a rim does not have recessed spoke holes, the rim tape and air pressure in the inner tube will keep the spokes from turning -- at least with a high-pressure tire).
The other potential problem with radial wheels is that the spokes, trailing straight outward on the hub flange, can possibly rip the outer edge of the flange right off along the line of the spoke holes. This is most likely to happen with small-flange, 36 hole hubs, because there is less metal between the spoke holes. If a used hub is re-laced radially, the notches left by the old spokes can act as stress risers, further weakening the flange.
Many hub manufacturers specifically recommend against radial spoking for this reason, and will not honor warranties on hubs that have been spoked radially.
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
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Do you mean spookes? Yea, your right! A bartender can cure that ailment cheeper than a psychologist!
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
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Thanks for all the replies! I've been thinking of getting rid of the spokes... The problem is I have yet to find a cast or solid wheel that I like on a RK Classic. I guess I'll keep looking...
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Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 107
From: Joplin, MO
Look at some of the "Fat spoke" wheels. You get the same look and style, and much stronger wheels. The spokes are sealed somehow, so you do not have to run a tube. They may be more like a solid wheel, not really sealed spokes.
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