Another spoke problem thread

[VRODE]

I wasn't overly worried about the spokes but after reading up on it, I got a torque wrench and extension and checked them at 400 miles. Only 2 in front and 2 in rear were out of torque spec. None were what I would call real loose. I spoke with the service dept. about the upcoming 600 mi service and they mentioned checking the spokes among the items they take care of.

But I'm still checking them myself.

 

[Rizzo]

While, I would never play the blame card, because quite honestly i could give a damn. Cynical I am, Curmudgeon maybe. But the fact remains, spokes are still a maintenance item. 450 miles on the clock at the start, 300 miles from home on a 900 mile trip, looks like the 600 mile check was missed.

Good Luck

I'm Canadian so my bike is in kilometers. By the time I arrived home, I was slightly over the service interval mileage.. the fact is, when I noticed the bent spoke, I still had a couple hundred miles to go before the scheduled maintenance. Who knows when it actually happened. It shouldn't have ever happened ever, much less before my first scheduled maintenance check.
Either way, it happened and I'm in the hook for fixing it it seems. It does not instill confidence in the wheels. I'm quite confident with the rest of the machine.
I'm not here looking for supporters (Curmudgeon or otherwise ). I'm just frustrated with the yamaha quality bike that started to fall apart a couple hundred miles before the first service. Maybe more.

 

[Don in Lodi]

It was a quick trip that was made at the last minute. The lost spoke happened on a Sunday and in the middle if nowhere. I had no choice but to ride it home the 300 miles or so. In retrospect, I should have checked the spokes but in reality, who. Among us would have checked the spokes in a brand new bike before an easy 600 mile round trip?
Bags were in the bike but hardly anything in them. No trunk
Not even a tank bag. It must have let go on a rough road we were riding down. Nothing really bad. This is an adventure bike right? Now that I've checked over the spokes, I had a bunch that were loose. Many low tones. Everything is fine now but for how long? I'll keep a close eye on them.
Leaving for California in 3 weeks. I guess if I have to. Uy an entire set, I will. Not happy with the service I'm getting though.
I admit that some onus is on me. Utterly this should never happen.

Check our For Sale folder, we usually have at least a couple folks parting out their spoke sets. I believe there's three lengths for the rear, get a full set, or two of each.
POI, at fifty some-odd thousand miles I'm only checking spoke tension at tire changes. Lost one a couple years ago, heard the tick while backing out, later found the nipple in the driveway, the tick was the spoke bending. Rode for a while minus one spoke.

 

[bnschroder]

Someone should start a thread called "Things to check after taking delivery of your new bike". I stumbled over the spoke topic on the forum by accident and would never have thought of checking my spokes. I rode cruisers before the S10, all with laced wheels, and never spent as much as a thought on spoke tension. But I like the wheels on the S10 and zip tying and pinging them every now and then isn't too much work


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[La Knee]

I got lucky and found one spoke that was about ready to fall out of the rear wheel . There seems to be many parts that rattle loose on this bike more than my 92 RM 250, it doesnt make sense that so many have this problem COME ON YAMMI!!

 

[bigboy61]

What is the recommended torque specs on tightening the spokes anyway?

 

[Rizzo]

What is the recommended torque specs on tightening the spokes anyway?

52 inch lbs I belive is recommended

 

[Don in Lodi]

52 inch lbs I believe is recommended

Sounded high to me, so I just checked it in my new to me service manual; 4.3 foot pounds = 51.6 inch pounds. ::008::

 

[WJBertrand]

All this talk of spoke breakages had me out in the garage tie-wrapping them all. I used the smallest tie wraps I could and set the tension on them just enough so they didn't have any slack. Looking at the tiny tie-wraps I'm wondering if they are up to the job?

 

[HeliMark]

I just put tie wraps on my bike last week. I just used the standard (?) size that I found in the electrical section of Lowe's. Bought the white ones, which blend ok with the spokes. When I was riding last week, walking up to the bike, I never noticed them. When I was stopped for breakfast, there was a guy looking at the bike, and found out he had a 2012. Not sure he even noticed.

I would think the small ones would work. They are just be holding the spoke, and doubt the centrifugal force is that much.

But I had a flashback. As I was doing the tie wraps, I was wondering if I could somehow put some cards on the spokes...

Mark

 

[WJBertrand]

Thanks, I ended up with black ones and they are somewhat noticeable, at least to me. Not sure anyone else would pay attention. I wanted to find some gray or silver ones but they didn't have anything at Lowe's or the various auto parts places. Back in my Motocross days (late '60s - early '70s) no such thing as tie-wraps so we used safety wire.

 

[Walka]

First week with my -14 xt1200ze didn‘t end so well.
Lost one of the rear wheel spokes just 500 km after the service.
Properly made 10.000 km service by the dealer/seller?

::002::

 

[murdock2002]

For ode who have decided to zip tie your spokes, can you post a picture to show of how/where you did that...just received my new 2015 Saturday and would like to do that as a precaution as I break-in the bikes initial miles. Thanks in advance!

 

[Bryce]

For ode who have decided to zip tie your spokes, can you post a picture to show of how/where you did that...just received my new 2015 Saturday and would like to do that as a precaution as I break-in the bikes initial miles. Thanks in advance!

Not the best picture, but...

I Zip Tied them where the spokes cross each other (See the red arrows). not real tight, but not where they are rattling around either.

 

[HeliMark]

Not the best picture, but...

I Zip Tied them where the spokes cross each other (See the red arrows). not real tight, but not where they are rattling around either.

+1

If you tighten the zip ties too much, it doesn't allow the spokes to move as freely around like they should. In a previous post someone had mentioned that it may have contributed to a broken spoke they had.

Mark

 

[Rizzo]

So an update to my original post. The dealer closest to me is the dealer I went through to try my warranty claim, has not returned my multiple calls.and messages to the service manager. I had to go there personally to get an answer the first time. I won't mention their name but they are located on Argyll RD in Edmonton. New owners, same terrible service department. It appears, at least from my first meeting with them, that Yamaha won't cover it under warranty. From the lack of caring from the service guy, they didn't try very hard. I called the dealer I purchased the bike from 3hrs away. At least they are sympathetic to my situation as I'm leaving for California in 10 days. I ordered the spoke set from.them at their cost which was appreciated. My sales guy went above and beyond for me.
So I now have now purchased an entire lacing set to replace one spoke. I know I'm not the only one.
A somewhat happy ending I guess. Very unhappy with my local dealer and unimpressed with Yamaha. Life goes on and I'm looking forward to a good trip. I'll be checking my spokes every night.

 

[WJBertrand]

I think I would still go directly to Yamaha corporate. You should not have had to pay for anything.


-Jeff

 

[markjenn]

There really is no mechanical way that zip-ties at spoke intersections are going to either contribute to or prevent spoke breakage. (The spokes are basically in pure tension all the time.) Zip-tieing just means they won't flail around if one breaks - it is something to do to reduce the consequences of breakage, not to prevent it.

- Mark

 

[bnschroder]

Since the spokes typically come off at the nipple, i.e. at the hub, you want to zip tie them at the two-spoke intersection closest to the hub.
Secondly - don't tighten them too much, as earlier mentioned. It will also make the zip ties last longer.
And finally - I have only heard of stories of rear wheel spokes coming off, so I only zip tied mine on the rear wheel

 

[murdock2002]

There really is no mechanical way that zip-ties at spoke intersections are going to either contribute to or prevent spoke breakage. (The spokes are basically in pure tension all the time.) Zip-tieing just means they won't flail around if one breaks - it is something to do to reduce the consequences of breakage, not to prevent it.

- Mark

Understood...only want to zip tie them so in the e does come loose or break, it won't completed jack up everything else, like the rear swing arm/shaft.