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[bikerhifinut]

So I have a broken spoke on the rear wheel of my 2011 B5 EFI.
spare on order from our hosts. However on examining the wheel and the part thats snapped (at the hub, inside spoke) I can't see how it's possible to feed the new one through the hole in the hub and turn it to mate with the nipple. however i try the spoke will always foul on the other spokes. I was hoping this would be simple as the nipple is still servicable and i wasnt expecting this sort of 3D origami.............
Any tips chaps?

Andy

[papasmurf]

One broken spoke is often followed by others, replacing a spoke is tedious:-

http://www.dansmc.com/spokewheels.htm

[bikerhifinut]

So just to replace one broken spoke I have to take the wheel out, remove the tyre and tube, and then dismantle the whole wheel?
Well I got a new tyre on order anyway so thats not a problem but that spoke repair looks way too tedious and beyond my skills. I think I will be taking the wheel to a shop.
Andy.

[papasmurf]

bikerhifinut, it might be tedious to do the job properly but it is safer. At the very least you will have to take the tyre and tube off and use a proper spoke key. You need to check the run out at the rim and the spoke tension.

[bikerhifinut]

Its going to a shop. I'm not risking my neck to save £50.
I need to change the tyre anyway so its no extra work for me.
Just a bit peeved that a bike thats not even done 2500 miles is twanging spokes already, I know its got a sidecar on but I have never seen spokes go off this soon on other bikes.
Thanks anyway Papasmurf, I know you're trying to help.

[Tim NZ]

Study the hub flange closely, and also the same spokes fore and aft around from the broken one?


Look closely to see IF the broken spoke is or has been fretting on the spoke-flange at all?


Also look at the other spoke heads to see if they are seated fully.


Counter sinking for the spoke heads in the flange rim is not always as good as it could be, and occasionally spokes do rub on the flange... PING!


Check all spokes to make sure none are loose; DONT over tighten, just 'check'. Any loose spoke will ring 'flat' compared to the others when tapped with a screw driver blade or similar 'hammer'.




Unfortunately, if you drive the chair with any degree of enthusiasm you should expect to break plenty more spokes.


Then after the 3rd of 4th broken spoke you will realise that the only real cure is a full set of High-Tensile spokes.


(Buy a spare hub and rim and have it fitted with the H-T spokes)

[papasmurf]

bikerhifinut, you didn't mention the bike had a sidecar fitted in your thread-opener. Who fitted the sidecar?

[bikerhifinut]

Papasmurf:
It was fitted by Watsonian Squire at their place in Blockley, I bought the whole outfit with the 500 from them. I would expect that they have fitted everything properly, it's not like they haven't stuck a Watsonian Grand Prix sidecar on an Enfield 500EFI before. They used to be the UK importers of Enfields.
If I can ask whats the significance of who fitted it to a spoke going ping?
To the other poster, I admit I do ride with a certain amount of gusto, but not to any extreme, this is hardly a high performance plot!
Getting to think more and more that if I am to carry on with my sidecar antics I maybe should look at a different tug, but anything with spoked wheels is going to have this issue. The other concerns will also be what sort of abuse am I subjecting the wheel and swingarm bearings to, if the forces can snap spokes then there must be fairly significant side forces on the rear suspension. Anyway like I said i think this could be a job for a professional if I cant figure out how to thread a spoke in. I did a cursory check of the other spokes in the wheel and I havent found any that appear loose or otherwise mounted badly yet. I'll check again when I have the wheel out.

A.

[Tim NZ]

When I go away two-up, I ALWAYS take a few spare spokes for the rear wheel.


Ride long, hard, fast and overloaded over rough roads, and the RE SS spokes' break.


Do the same with a Side-car fitted and expect to repairing the wheel on a daily basis!


There are a few options with Jappo MX bike rear-wheels that can be adapted to fit, and they come Std with H-T spokes...?

[papasmurf]

bikerhifinut, I asked who fitted the sidecar to eliminate a possible source of the problem. Although I fitted both our sidecars myself I had some VERY expert help over the phone. (The now deceased Phil Primmer.)
My BMW K75S and Squire ST1 was also road tested by Watsonian Squire at their request when I visited them a few years ago to look at Enfields. Apparently according to the tester I had done as good a job as possible without spending several £thousands more on leading links and car wheels and tyres.
Having seen some real bodge attempts by Destroy-It-Yourselfers at motorcycle rallies at fitting sidecars, that is why I asked the question.