Rear wheel rim problem

guerney

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 7, 2021
11,650
3,298
I'm starting to think my Chinese brake pads have contributed greatly to the problem.
The wheel has deteriorated in the last week so I've ordered a new cheap wheel off Amazon.
These? Added to my shopping cart but then thought "Nah, they'll wear out my rims faster".


Genuine Clark pads are reputedly easier on rims, but I've only ever used Clarks this millenium so can't compare. I haven't tried my new Clark rim brakes with replaceable pad inserts yet, but will soon.

January (with damaged spoke nipple):

61034


Now:


61035
 
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thelarkbox

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 23, 2023
1,309
405
oxon
Fwiw i cycled along with nice cream coloured tyres for a couple of years before fitting the conversion kit,
It didnt take long post kit fit for the black brake block and rim? debris to stain my once clean looking tyres!! If the usual black colour I would have been oblivious to just how significant the difference a motor made.
 

guerney

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 7, 2021
11,650
3,298
Perhaps try over inflating only a little extra, say 20psi extra to test and then let the pressure back down to normal.
Thanks, I'll try that when I get around to replacing the wheel. I may film the pressure guage on my track pump and the rim, in case there's a chance of something interesting occurring. Might be dull, so probably not.


I have experienced rim failure on a number of occasions. In all cases, I got a warning when braking from the brake lever pulsing due to the rim bulging outwards in one spot. In all cases, I just let some air out and the rim got me home. The place where the rim is joined, usually 180 degrees opposite the valve is a vulnerable place. I have on one occasion had a rim failure before the groove wore away. Some people claim that the groove actually causes a weakness in the rim. The Ryde/Rigida rims that I like have no groove but holes appear when they are badly worn but I have seen them bulge out before this.
You've had a number of rim failures and didn't die even once? :oops:
 

sjpt

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 8, 2018
3,878
2,780
Winchester
I've been lucky. Just one catastrophic rim failure, complete buckling of wheel. But the bike was sitting in the garage at the time. It wouldn't have been much fun if I'd been riding.
 

Wayners

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 5, 2023
422
94
55
Gloucester
Update.

Swapped wheel today.
Friday the rear wheel locked as jammed on brake shoe.
Finally the rim failed although I'm surprised it's split.

61893
 

matthewslack

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2021
2,074
1,470
Years of life left in that. Don't give up!
 

guerney

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 7, 2021
11,650
3,298
I've been lucky. Just one catastrophic rim failure, complete buckling of wheel. But the bike was sitting in the garage at the time. It wouldn't have been much fun if I'd been riding.
Lucky escape! How did it happen? Was there highly localised neutron star gravity temporarily in one small area of your garage? Perhaps a very small neutron star was passing under that spot, before speeding back to the core and out again to buckle a worn bike wheel in Australia, as it slowly consumes the Earth from within?
 
Last edited:

guerney

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 7, 2021
11,650
3,298
Update.

Swapped wheel today.
Friday the rear wheel locked as jammed on brake shoe.
Finally the rim failed although I'm surprised it's split.

View attachment 61893
At least you didn't end up crushed like a bug by traffic. Hard to tell from the photo, but is there more wear/score line to the right of that split than the left?

I see the the Grim Reaper's dark silhouette looming foggy nights, because I'm still using the rims posted about above. Can't be long now.
 

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