Broken Rear Spokes....Anyone Have This Problem

[team222]

14,000 miles on my 02 Capo now and it has thrown/broke 6 spokes so far.

Twice it broke one spoke each and they were immediately replaced. Twice it broke two spokes at the same time ...again all were immediately replaced

I checked the side runout by spinning the rim and it is about 1/16th of an inch. There is very little top to bottom runout

I had someone spin the rear rim and I put a thin screwdriver tip against the remaining spokes and all emit the same crisp sound............no dull thud noise a loose spokes has.

Any ideas/help/suggestions


Thx


Mike


Thx



Mike

[yarrai]

hi mike,
i have no suggestion but a question. what milage you broke your first spokes at?

[team222]

hi mike,
i have no suggestion but a question. what milage you broke your first spokes at?

Not too sure but it was within the first month or so that I owned it. Say less than 2000 miles

[calgaryjeff]

I am also concerned about the rusty nipples

[yarrai]

I am also concerned about the rusty nipples

rusty nipples after a month/2k miles? cannot be. what else it can be than poorely assambled wheel? is 1/16" offset within tolerance? i wonder, if i can check mine somehow.

[team222]

rusty nipples after a month/2k miles? cannot be. what else it can be than poorely assambled wheel? is 1/16" offset within tolerance? i wonder, if i can check mine somehow.

No rust on nipples.

I checked the runout by putting the bike on the centerstand and starting it then putting it into first gear

Then take straw from Macdonalds or anything soft this shape and hold the end steady/gently against the side of the rim flange/edge as it is wheel is rotating.....gaps that appear between the end of the straw and the rim is the side to side runout.

Do the same thing for for top runout by positioning the straw on the top of the rim flange.

Mike

[Tokidoki]

Is the tyre holding pressure ok? Just a thought that you might have a crack in the rim.

Similarly, any history of wheel balance problems. Might have been a tyre distorting or maybe a bearing going out? I would also check wheel alignment.

Somethings putting unusual stress on the spokes.

Tokidoki

[monoi]

I bent a few spokes one day when I forgot to remove the chain after taking off the padlock, but the wheel is still good one year later.

As Toki says (that is, if its really him), there must be something else wrong.

Oh, and my nipples have gone rusty too, not so much at the back because of the chain oiler, but the front wheel was changed under warranty...

Monoi (for that is me)

[veetwin]

talking about tyre pressures,if you have to keep added air every weekend,just tighten the valve stem nuts,they pull the seal under the rim tighter,don,t fall for that new valve trick when you get new tyres they won,t have an 0E to suite, its a con.

[team222]

Is the tyre holding pressure ok? Just a thought that you might have a crack in the rim.

Similarly, any history of wheel balance problems. Might have been a tyre distorting or maybe a bearing going out? I would also check wheel alignment.

Somethings putting unusual stress on the spokes.

Tokidoki

I have had bouts with losing air in the front and back rims both....one time 8 -10 lb in a month but I think this was the nut on the valve stem not being tight.

One common thing in all this has happened three times over a long time.

The first spoke broke when the bike was near new....this was replaced when the second tire was put on. Then two more broke at the same time...which were replaced when the second tire wore out and was replaced. Now 400 miles into the third rear tire two more have broke

So I am thinking since this has been happening for a long period it cant be wheel alignment unless the bike was out of alignment from the factory and my dealer misaligned it twice with the new tires.

Now related to wheel balance I have run the bike to redline often in 6th with 16t and have experienced no tire imbalance that I can feel....again I am thinking with spokes breaking with all three tires being on there that one tire would be in balance.

I have called Aprilia Tech Line on this and will be asking my dealer to put this in on a warranty claim. By chance I have a spare rear rim/hub that came with spokes and ready to go for this winters Capo Tourono update and I might have this installed to see what happens. If it starts throwing spokes maybe I should think about going on a diet or modifying my riding habits or something.

I have photos of the missing spoke location the first time this happened and will compare this to the two missing spoke locations now.....maybe this will tell us something.

Thanks for your help and it looks to me as if I am alone with this problem since no one else replied they have it............ouch.............



Best


Mike

[Nordboy2]

Rusty nipples, now sorted with some silver hammerite and a smallish artist brush, look as good as new.

[dave]

In the nearly three years I have owned the capo I have broken 4 spokes all up. I think it was due to the service guy tightened them with out realizing the is a little lock grub screw in on top of the spoke end in the nipple he tried to tighten a few nipples with out first loosening the the grub screw. I think that must be the reason. hasnt happened for a while now. but I only ever lost one at a time, but one time befor I could replace the missing one another went so I stole one from the front and put it in the rear. the rear has short and long ones, I now carry both nipples and spokes and the bloody little grub screws.

[team222]

In the nearly three years I have owned the capo I have broken 4 spokes all up. I think it was due to the service guy tightened them with out realizing the is a little lock grub screw in on top of the spoke end in the nipple he tried to tighten a few nipples with out first loosening the the grub screw. I think that must be the reason. hasnt happened for a while now. but I only ever lost one at a time, but one time befor I could replace the missing one another went so I stole one from the front and put it in the rear. the rear has short and long ones, I now carry both nipples and spokes and the bloody little grub screws.

Hi Dave

Great feedback..........I will check this out and thx for the post.

I put the Kosman weldup widening of the stock rear rim on hold so I could run 170 or 180 rear street tire due to this.

Best and owe you one


Mike