Triumphrat

chrisn · 10-12-2006, 05:08 AM

Hello,
I'm a member of the Tiger forum.

A fellow member of my local RAT pack recently suffered a potentially dangerous rear wheel spoke failure. An article featuring this defect has been published in this weeks MCN and can be viewed HERE

I'm aware this issue has been identified in other threads on this site, but it would be useful to know just how many people have been affected by this failure by replying to this thread.
Thankyou.

Mecchanica · 10-12-2006, 05:15 AM

Take a screwdriver or wrench and tap the spokes. You will likely find some which are high pitched (tight), and some which are dull (loose). Seems to be more of a problem on the rear than the front.
Proper fix it to pull the wheel and tire, and retrue the rear wheel properly, keeping all the spokes at nearly the same tension. Grind down any spoke ends which protrude through the nipples.
If your front wheel is wrong, do it, too. Less chance of breaking a spoke, but more severe consequences if it goes flat.

Rexa · 10-12-2006, 07:36 AM

Thank you for your posting Chrisn !

I will let re-lace my bonnies wheels with thicker spokes, I had 4 spokes broken at july, and my dealer gave me completely new rear wheel, but it is maybe as bad as that old wheel, so it´s better run in safe side.

johnyC · 10-12-2006, 10:20 AM

Hello Chris,

If it's broken spokes you want, have a read at this thread. 822 posts at last count:

http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/...&msg=11577.762

sweatmachine · 10-12-2006, 10:29 AM

English_Spanner · 10-12-2006, 06:08 PM

Quote:

On 2006-10-12 08:20, johnyC wrote:
Hello Chris,

If it's broken spokes you want, have a read at this thread. 822 posts at last count:

http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/...&msg=11577.762

I just spent an hour reading some of that thread.
Scary stuff.
I wish I knew about this earlier today because I went on a tour to the Hinkley factory this morning. It would have been nice to have something as meaty as this spoke subject to fire at them at the question time.

ohiorider · 10-12-2006, 07:35 PM

I'm certain Triumph doesn't make their own wheels. So I hope they have a good supplier contract in place, one that will permit them to take action on this problem without having to eat a bunch of cost themselves, although just working out the 'mechanics' of such a recall would be costly and time-consuming.

In any event, Triumph needs to do more than simply tell their dealer network to 'check' spokes at regular maintenance periods. It doesn't address the issue ..... spoke wheels in this day and time shouldn't break spokes.

Bob

KingBear · 10-12-2006, 08:45 PM

The fact that the wheels are outsourced does not diminish Triumph's responsibility at all. It just adds one more name to the list of respondents in the wrongful death lawsuit.

Wheels made for Triumph are made to their design specifications and tolerances, using specified materials. More importantly, it is Triumph who is notified of the failures, and are therefore responsible for addressing them.

If Triumph thinks they are off the hook because they tell us to tighten our spokes in the owners manual, they have another think coming.

Mecchanica · 10-12-2006, 11:08 PM

From my observation of only my own bike...I think the problem is that they don't tension all the spokes evenly. Some are waaaay tighter than others and so take a disproportionate amount of stress.
The spoke design is the same as used on the front of HDs Sportsters and Superglides, all with the "narrow glides". There is no reason for the spokes to break if trued and tensioned properly.
The hub is no wider than the old conical hubs of the late Meriden days, 71-74/5. And the spokes are considerably heavier. The stainless is only a problem if it work hardens and this only happens if it cycles because of the differing spoke tensions. Get them all even before you rack up heavy mileage and the wheel should be good for a long, long time.
If this worries you, remove the wheel and tire and take the wheel assy. to a wheelbuilder, or do it yourself. This isn't overly difficult for anyone with a decent mechanical sense. If it's your first wheel truing, it may take you all day.....well, the winter is nearly upon us and it would give you a good excuse to hang out in the garage.

19Echo · 10-14-2006, 11:46 AM

Hello All, New to Rat.net,
The other woman is a 05 T-100 (My Tangerine Dream),,,
Can anyone please tell me what the correct
spoke wrench size, torque settings, and suggested tightening pattern that is needed for our both front and rear wheel spokes ?

thanks in advance,,,