Loose spokes

[knothead]

Anyone else having trouble with thee spokes? Seems like I have to tighten mine every few times I ride. It's not that I don't know how to tighten spokes/true wheels, I've done it many times on other bikes.
But I've never had a new bike before, are the spokes supposed to be stretchy when new?? I rode about 60 miles today and could feel them going soft, I stopped and tightened them, but now I'll need to take the tires off and true the wheels properly.

[Savage]

Haven't had to touch mine

[liverchip]

I haven't had to tighten mine either, but is something I check periodically.

[mrhyak]

On the new Ural motorcycles they are adding lock-tite to the spokes. Might be something to try to resolve your problem.

[frostbite]

My bike did that < 500Km's on the front wheel. Afterwards the problem subsided.

[IronFist]

I got my new tires put on yesterday, I was told to report back today for a free spoke wrench. Mine were loose, and still are. Question:? Would locktite hurt the rubber inside the rim? My thread lock does nasty things to plastic. :roll:

[katoranger]

Over 1200kms and my are all still tight. I don't think locktite is necessary. The spokes usually only stretch to a point and then stop.

Allen

[knothead]

Leave it to me to have an odd problem, guess it's just a new bike thing. I'm still under 500km on mine so I'll chalk it up to being one of the bugs than need to be worked out. Most of my trouble has been with the rear. Yesterday was the front. I'll fix it later today and hope that will be it, I'll loc-tite them as a "next to the last" resort.

n2r:
I don't think that thread locker would hurt rubber, but if you're worried about it just let the stuff cure for 24hrs before putting the rim strip back on. You shouldn't put enough on the threads to show anyway.

[AZ200cc]

A while back a couple of mine came loose, I snugged them up. front wheel only...

[IronFist]

Yes knot, I see that you are right. I'm just new, it'll go away. :oops:

[ejcycles]

knothead
What brand bike do you own? The only ones that seem to have problems are the Roketa's & Viva's.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by ejcycles

knothead
What brand bike do you own? The only ones that seem to have problems are the Roketa's & Viva's.

It's a Lifan. While I have been tightening the spokes, I've been somewhat timid in doing so until I can set up a truing stand and do it properly, so part of it is my fault because I'm running them a bit on the soft side (rather than snap one while riding). I set a stand up today, but other things came up and I had to put off working on my wheels.

I kinda figured the wheels were common between the Chinese bikes.

[pumpkin]

wheels are common but hubs are not. front hub off a viva will not fit a lifan brake rotor bolts up differant speedo hooks up differant. i'm gonna try to get my hub put on a viva wheel if i can find someone local to do it

[ejcycles]

knothead
Call me today my shop... 330-274-0098 between 10:00-6:00 EST. time I will give you some advice on truing a wheel. Too much for me to hunt/peck and post.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by ejcycles

knothead
Call me today my shop... 330-274-0098 between 10:00-6:00 EST. time I will give you some advice on truing a wheel. Too much for me to hunt/peck and post.

I apreciate the offer! I think I have it under control though. I built a truing stand and wipped out the old dial indicator. I now have a very true, round wheel with tight spokes. I shouldn't have any more trouble now. The problems I have had I think were due mostly to the spokes being unevenly tightened (plus that big 21" hoop... wow is that thing sensitive, the least turn of the nipple would really make a difference!).