Check your spokes!

[Blue_eyes]

Just a HEADS UP on SS (Stainless Steel) spokes.

I read somewhere on a XT1200Z forum that SS spokes might not be a smart way to go as they tend to break easier than the non SS steel spokes that Yamaha has chosen.

SS would be more vulnerable to the type of tention stress that off-road riding generates (SS is less flexible thus breaks more easily). That is why Yamaha chose for non SS for their spokes, despite the fact that they do tend to colour/oxidize.

So be aware of this before you decide to go for SS spokes.

 

[AVGeek]

What's the hot ticket for getting a tool on the front wheel spokes? I wound up using a 1/4" wrench, cause that's all I had. My 3/8" drive hex sockets were too big to get lined up correctly...

 

[Swagger]

I need to check mine now .... paranoia is a funny ol' thing :

 

[colorider]

I checked mine not too long ago, but will recheck them based on recent posts here. I also picked up some of the "green" loctite which I will apply after checking.

Seems like someone mentioned picking up a nice Allen wrench at HD or Lowes for adjusting the spokes.

 

[jajpko]

I checked mine not too long ago, but will recheck them based on recent posts here. I also picked up some of the "green" loctite which I will apply after checking.

Seems like someone mentioned picking up a nice Allen wrench at HD or Lowes for adjusting the spokes.

I bought a long hex bit 3/8 drive ball end. Works great. I think it is a 5mm, but should check.

 

[colorider]

I bought a long hex bit 3/8 drive ball end. Works great. I think it is a 5mm, but should check.

5mm sounds right. I'll check today at HD or wherever I end up and see what I can find.

Thanks!

 

[EricV]

Just caught this thread today. Crap, more stuff to check. Never had a dirt bike and the HD never had loose spokes, not even the '40. Lots of miles on that one too. We ditched the stupid chain, and now this? Guess I'll head out to the garage and start checking. At over 8k, it sounds like it's almost a given that I'll have some loose spokes.

Is there any reason using the loctite is a bad idea? Do spokes stretch during or from normal use? IOW, if I loctite the nipples after checking/tightening them all, am I going to be fighting a worse problem later?

 

[spasm]

Just caught this thread today. Crap, more stuff to check. Never had a dirt bike and the HD never had loose spokes, not even the '40. Lots of miles on that one too. We ditched the stupid chain, and now this? Guess I'll head out to the garage and start checking. At over 8k, it sounds like it's almost a given that I'll have some loose spokes.

Is there any reason using the loctite is a bad idea? Do spokes stretch during or from normal use? IOW, if I loctite the nipples after checking/tightening them all, am I going to be fighting a worse problem later?

my friend its a 5mm, and it takes about half hour every 6 thousand miles, its routine maintenance, i luv it lol ::022::

 

[EricV]

my friend its a 5mm, and it takes about half hour every 6 thousand miles, its routine maintenance, i luv it lol ::022::

Thanks. ::008:: Duly chatised for not doing my routine maintenance. ::024::

 

[EricV]

Just went out to the garage and re-torqued all the spokes. 6 Nm (4.3 Ft/lbs or 51.6 in/lbs). A 6" socket extension works best with a 5mm allen socket. You'll need an allen bit at least 1" long for clearance. I used a 10", then realized later the 6" would have fit inside the wheel. I have a in/lb torque wrench, so used that. For reference, most of the back spoke nipples tightened up 1/4 turn or so, several took a full turn, a couple took more.

On the front wheel most took just a tiny bit, some none, only a few 1/2 turn or so. Some pics below of how the wrench sits in at the two different angles needed for each set of spokes on each side. The job didn't take long, but was much easier in front with a wheel stand.

Close up:

Other angle. Note how in the above shots you have to weave the tool between the spokes, but on the below ones it's a strait shot. This process is the same on the rear wheel.

Close up:

 

[rem]

Capital idea, Eric dude. And good pics. As soon as I get my bike back home (NOBOOOOODY KNOWS >>>), I'm gonna do that. Thanks. R ::022:: ::026:: ::012::

 

[EricV]

Capital idea, Eric dude. And good pics. As soon as I get my bike back home (NOBOOOOODY KNOWS >>>), I'm gonna do that. Thanks. R ::022:: ::026:: ::012::

Just trying to give back a little. Great stuff on this forum. FWIW, the red mark in the pics is just some grease pencil I used as a reference otherwise I'd have been going round and round and round and round...

 

[colorider]

Went to Lowes and picked up a long shank, 3/8" drive ball end 5mm hex. $6.80 and it works great on the end of a 3/8" drive ratchet. I simply checked to see if they were all snug, but not for torque. Front is a pain unless you have a method to raise the front wheel. I'll work on that the next time I get ready to check them.

 

[rem]

Front is a pain unless you have a method to raise the front wheel.

I'll just get the wife to do it. 8) R

 

[jajpko]

Went to Lowes and picked up a long shank, 3/8" drive ball end 5mm hex. $6.80 and it works great on the end of a 3/8" drive ratchet. I simply checked to see if they were all snug, but not for torque. Front is a pain unless you have a method to raise the front wheel. I'll work on that the next time I get ready to check them.

Good deal on the tool....
Rod, put the bike on the center stand and have someone sit on the passenger seat. This should raise the front wheel so you can check the spokes.

Also if you put the bike on the center stand, you can use a bottle jack or scissor jack and a block of wood. Use under the front of the engine and raise just enough to spin the wheel.
I like to use a strap on the center stand to keep it from folding and dropping the bike..lol If you don't push on it, it should be ok..

 

[EricV]

Rod, put the bike on the center stand and have someone sit on the passenger seat. This should raise the front wheel so you can check the spokes.

Also if you put the bike on the center stand, you can use a bottle jack or scissor jack and a block of wood. Use under the front of the engine and raise just enough to spin the wheel.
I like to use a strap on the center stand to keep it from folding and dropping the bike..lol If you don't push on it, it should be ok..

Good suggestions. I've also done this by putting the recycling bin on the back seat and tossing in jugs of water and everything else laying around the garage until it lifts the front wheel. For fork removal I went with the jack! More stable. ::013::

 

[Kidder]

I finally got around to pulling the rear wheel and checking for damage done by the spoke. I couldn't find any. So, I reinstalled the wheel, put on the new rear spoke and checked all the others. A few of the rear ones needed a little tightening. All of the fronts were good.

Also, individual spokes/fasteners aren't available. I had to order an entire rear spoke set.

If anyone needs one or two PM me and I'll sell them to try and recoup some of the cost of the entire set.

 

[colorider]

Good deal on the tool....
Rod, put the bike on the center stand and have someone sit on the passenger seat. This should raise the front wheel so you can check the spokes.

Also if you put the bike on the center stand, you can use a bottle jack or scissor jack and a block of wood. Use under the front of the engine and raise just enough to spin the wheel.
I like to use a strap on the center stand to keep it from folding and dropping the bike..lol If you don't push on it, it should be ok..

I always used a scissor jack and block of wood on my ST1100/1300 and my FJR, but when I tired it with the plastic OEM engine guard on the SuperT, it did not seem like a good idea. I also have a metal stand made out of black gas pipe that I used to raise the front on other bikes that I may try next time. You simply use a couple straps tied to the handlebars to raise/suspend the front while working on the front wheel.

 

[Giovanni]

Make sure the dealer is aware of this. After the 600 mile service I asked the mechanic if he checked the spokes and I got the blank stare and then an uh huh. So I went home and double checked them myself. In fact I did the whole thing over because there were some mistakes and so I didn't trust any part of the service they performed.

all the world is the same country....in Italy sometimes is equal and I have cheked my spokes by myself too.

 

[stevepsd]

Guys

Part of the routine maintenance is to check for rim runout as well,( both vertical and horizontal run out). Just don't off blindly checking spoke torque and simply tightening the loose spokes, as this can led to severe rim runout. How? When you tighten a spoke you are pulling the rim in that direction. It is all a balancing act to end up with correctly tighten spokes and acceptable rim runout.

Just sayin.