Question for HD Technicians behind the scenes at
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,323
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From: NJ
Question for HD Technicians behind the scenes at
Seriously......is there any point for me to bring in my bike to have the spokes checked on my bike?
I've done everything on the 5000 mile check up and ignored the "checking the spokes for tightness" because it just gets too complicated for me to really understand how to do it properly. Everything else is fine.
I certainly don't mind bringing her to a dealer to get it done right, but something tells me that the bike is going to sit there....or at best someone is going to rap each spoke with a 7/16 wrench and hear a "ting or a thud" and call it a day.......
Does anyone really address the spoke's on a 5000 mile check up and what if anything does a dealer do about them?
To do them properly it seems like a whole day project......
Please advise....
I've done everything on the 5000 mile check up and ignored the "checking the spokes for tightness" because it just gets too complicated for me to really understand how to do it properly. Everything else is fine.
I certainly don't mind bringing her to a dealer to get it done right, but something tells me that the bike is going to sit there....or at best someone is going to rap each spoke with a 7/16 wrench and hear a "ting or a thud" and call it a day.......
Does anyone really address the spoke's on a 5000 mile check up and what if anything does a dealer do about them?
To do them properly it seems like a whole day project......
Please advise....
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,984
Likes: 7
Many years ago I had spoked wheels. There were no other kinds.
I learned just about everything to do including relaceing.
Then one piece or mag type came out and I said wonderful wonderful.
A bike with spoke wheels would be a dealbuster today. I don't care how pretty.
But to help out. To do right you must take the wheel off and mount it into a rig (Harbor frieght has one) to adjust and true and balance. And you better be aware of the spoke location inside the rim. Don't want it to stick the tube. We used to use 1/8 in. solid core soder to balance. Today they actually have chrome plated fancy weights.
Really not all that hard to do except all the taking off and putting back. Time also.
I guess if everything seems OK, before, you could ding it with a 7/16 in. open end and see what you can. If it is tight you will see. Something to check though, like air pressure.
A bike with a "out of round wheel" will cause all kind of strange vibrations. and cannot be balanced right. Kinda pogo's along. Front anyway.
I also know more about chains that most riders today. But thats another story.
I learned just about everything to do including relaceing.
Then one piece or mag type came out and I said wonderful wonderful.
A bike with spoke wheels would be a dealbuster today. I don't care how pretty.
But to help out. To do right you must take the wheel off and mount it into a rig (Harbor frieght has one) to adjust and true and balance. And you better be aware of the spoke location inside the rim. Don't want it to stick the tube. We used to use 1/8 in. solid core soder to balance. Today they actually have chrome plated fancy weights.
Really not all that hard to do except all the taking off and putting back. Time also.
I guess if everything seems OK, before, you could ding it with a 7/16 in. open end and see what you can. If it is tight you will see. Something to check though, like air pressure.
A bike with a "out of round wheel" will cause all kind of strange vibrations. and cannot be balanced right. Kinda pogo's along. Front anyway.
I also know more about chains that most riders today. But thats another story.
Last edited by Old Gunny; Mar 2, 2010 at 07:24 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
Totally agree with gunny, I had the dealer swap out the spokes on my FLHX for the cast, it was a deal breaker for me. Spoke tightening if done incorrectly can cause vibration and flat tires if the spoke protrudes thru the nipple and thru the rim strip. There is also the dish of the rim to consider , rim not center to hub on purpose, that will cause spokes to sound different if tapped and you may pull the rim over and change the dish ,if present.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,323
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From: NJ
Jeeze.....I appreciate the feedback....
So basically I'll ride it until I ever encounter "wierd stuff" start to happen happen and then look to swap em out. Anyone have a general estimate how long they could last on a good day? 20,000 miles?? 50,000 miles......less???
So basically I'll ride it until I ever encounter "wierd stuff" start to happen happen and then look to swap em out. Anyone have a general estimate how long they could last on a good day? 20,000 miles?? 50,000 miles......less???
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
I have 35,000 on my spoke wheels with no problems. My bike is a '99 FLHRIC. My father in law has about 40,000 miles on spoke wheels of his '91 Heritage with no problems.
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