Broken 3 12ga spokes using a Manic Mechanic Adapter..How to fix??

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Nockout19

New Member
Oct 22, 2013
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KY
I've got a wheel from my local bike shop that supposedly more heavily built with 12ga spokes coster brake arm says HiStop and the sticker said 26x 2.125 Wheel Master so not sure what it is and i'm using a Manic Mechanic adapter clamp.
Since i built the bike i've constantly had problems with the back wheel going out of true. and then about a month ago i had 2 spokes break their heads at the hub.then i got another one break a couple of days ago. someone mentioned that the adapter might be loose but i've already checked that and it's on there as tight as i would dare try,it aint touching the spokes.
of course it would seem to me that the spokes are breaking because their not properly tensioned but that brings back the question, why do the spokes keep coming loose?
So if anyone could give me some pointers as to what i could be doing wrong or what might be bad..
Also anyone that posts would you mind telling what kind of wheel setup is and if you have problems with spokes. Thanks
Oh..im running a 4stroke husheng with the ezqmatic trans. not a 2stroke
 
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biknut

Well-Known Member
Sep 28, 2010
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Dallas
Torque the hub adapter to the hub @ 20-25 ft lb. Hub adapters don't cause spokes to break, or rims to go out of true.

Single wall alloy wheels with 14g spokes can't handle the demands a motor bicycle puts on them for very long. You can expect a wheel of that type to go out of true, and have broken spokes quickly, unless you ride very conservatively. A wheel with 12g spokes can have the same problems depending on,

How much do you weigh? How fast do you ride? Does your bike have any suspension?
 

Nockout19

New Member
Oct 22, 2013
9
0
0
KY
Torque the hub adapter to the hub @ 20-25 ft lb. Hub adapters don't cause spokes to break, or rims to go out of true.

Single wall alloy wheels with 14g spokes can't handle the demands a motor bicycle puts on them for very long. You can expect a wheel of that type to go out of true, and have broken spokes quickly, unless you ride very conservatively. A wheel with 12g spokes can have the same problems depending on,

How much do you weigh? How fast do you ride? Does your bike have any suspension?
The Rim I have looks like its just single walled..its just bent over inside where the tire bead sits unlike the old s7 rim i had that looked like it was hollow inside ..Meaning it was Double walled?? I weigh about 210 and normally riding around 25-29mph. and no it dosn't have any suspension
I have a 58T sprocket
 
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MotorBicycleRacing

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Jul 28, 2010
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In answer to your email.
Sorry, I don't know what is causing your spokes to break.
Sounds like issues with the quality of your wheel or spokes not the right type?
Try another bicycle store for advice.

Doesn't seem like the adapter has anything to do with it.
 

biknut

Well-Known Member
Sep 28, 2010
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The Rim I have looks like its just single walled..its just bent over inside where the tire bead sits unlike the old s7 rim i had that looked like it was hollow inside ..Meaning it was Double walled?? I weigh about 210 and normally riding around 25-29mph. and no it dosn't have any suspension
I have a 58T sprocket
Doesn't sound too unusual. Your bike probably weights at least 60 lbs. That's double what a normal bicycle weighs. You're riding 30 mph. That's double the speed a normal bicycle goes. You weigh a hefty amount for high speed riding without suspension.

You'll need the best rims, and spokes possible to get reasonable life from a rear bicycle wheel. Hunt for a double wall rim with 12g spokes. The wider the better. Expect to pay $150 or more. In the mean time keep your speed below 20 mph on bumpy streets, and you probably won't have problems.
 

Nockout19

New Member
Oct 22, 2013
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0
KY
Doesn't sound too unusual. Your bike probably weights at least 60 lbs. That's double what a normal bicycle weighs. You're riding 30 mph. That's double the speed a normal bicycle goes. You weigh a hefty amount for high speed riding without suspension.

You'll need the best rims, and spokes possible to get reasonable life from a rear bicycle wheel. Hunt for a double wall rim with 12g spokes. The wider the better. Expect to pay $150 or more. In the mean time keep your speed below 20 mph on bumpy streets, and you probably won't have problems.
is there any coaster wheel that you would suggest with a hub compatible with the manic mechanic adapter? 1.520-1.528"
I've never got anything but the cheap stuff because id never had any real problems with them. so now that i'm getting up the price line not sure which ones are good and whichn ones arn't so worth it.

does custommotoredbicycles.com have anything that you would recommend?
thanks for your help
 

Nockout19

New Member
Oct 22, 2013
9
0
0
KY
I just got in from looking at my wheel and i noticed that on the coaster brake side of the wheel the spoke flange on the hub is bent,so when you spin the wheel it has a wobble from side to side.
I can definitely see it moving side to side when the wheel is spinning, but on stopping the wheel and examining it closely i cant see any bend in it which sounds ridiculous now that im writing it.

would that most likely have been cause from the adapter being loose at some time or something else. and how much would that add to the problem of spokes breaking?
 

CTripps

Active Member
Aug 22, 2011
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Vancouver, B.C.
I couldn't say what's wrong (or not quite right), having never used a hub adapter. I have, however, broken a few spokes.

The best advice I can give you is to buy a spoke wrench. Check your spokes before and after riding, and keep them tight. Go around the wheel from the valve stem and 'pluck' pairs of spokes like guitar strings. If you have any flex or play in a spoke, more than around 1/16" (max), it's loose. Be careful tightening spokes though, as the tip of the spoke can travel through the nipple and pierce the innertube.

If your wheel is out of true, you can usually straighten it with gradual adjustments of the spokes.