Rear wheel come loose!

[DigDirt]

A friend and I went for a spin between the Mooresville and China Grove, NC yesterday morning. After about 20 miles my friend (on a r1100rt) stopped at an intersection and asked me if his rear tire was flat. It wasn't, but we decided to pull over and check it out.

To his dismay, all 4 bolts were loose!....another mile or so and that thing was coming off. BMW tool kit in hand, all bolts were tightened to exact torque specifications (with aid of the plug wrench for leverage ).

This can't be a common occurrence......can it? My tool kit doesn't even have the lug wrench.

I took this picture with my phone to immortalize the event.....selfishly putting my bike in the background composition.

[ckcarr]

The BMW tool kit has a torque wrench in it? That's a funny looking torque wrench.

This happens (rarely) when the wheel is not torqued properly to specifications. Do a search and you will find a few other examples.


This is the problem to be honest:

"BMW tool kit in hand, all bolts were tightened to exact torque specifications (with aid of the plug wrench for leverage )."

I bet he's never used a torque wrench on the rear wheel.

[Rapid Dog]

...not likely, probably wasn't torqued to begin with....dat's what i tink...

[roger albert]

Never happens if installed properly

[Mark Estes]

It's more common than you would think. It's happened to several people in my local club and as noted, there's been several posts on this board about it.

Keep those lugs torqued to spec. and check them regularly!

[jduke]

Another reason I like to change my own tires.

[geothepencil]

I know of a case of it. Caused some serious injuries. My recollection is that it happened after rally tire tent work. Stop sooner than immediately should you feel something not right about the rear. The assessment of a mile may have been generous.

geo

[Rapid Dog]

...we have a member here recently (names and dates reserved) that left a shop after his major service and found his rear wheel coming loose on the freeway...they did everything great, they just didn't torque down the lugs...

[geothepencil]

1st cousin to this would be the dealer who sends you out for a test ride on a bike with tires deflated to 15 or 20 pounds.


geo

[Dr. Curve]

Check and see if previous service had used anti-seize on the bolts. Sure way to loosen up a wheel........and quickly to. NEVER will loosen if installed correctly with proper tools, bolts, and thread conditions. Agreeing with Roger.......even.....

[Chris Canning]

Mine came loose when i didn't tighten it up correctly with a torque wrench up to 105NM as i should have done

[IvanTT]

Originally Posted by geothepencil

1st cousin to this would be the dealer who sends you out for a test ride on a bike with tires deflated to 15 or 20 pounds.


geo

Been there done that. If the back end is squirming or the steering is heavy...

Stop Drop (the center stand) and don't roll!

[on2wheels52]

No oil on the threads or grease on the mounting surface. I was about to do both to mine when I was looking up the torque specs and saw that was a NO.
Jim

[Sideshow_S]

<--- Guilty of using only the lug wrench to tighten the bolts in haste and not using the spark plug wrench for extra leverage. Wheel came loose about 4500 miles later -- luckily in the city. Luckily, the rotor keeps it from coming off on the oilheads and gives a fair warning. I thought my tire was flat, too -- or my paralever bearings had self-destructed.

[ckcarr]

Maybe this is why there are now five lug nuts on the r1200s... And the torque spec is less... Just sayin' Like the government don't acknowledge responsibility simply slide in the fix.

[geothepencil]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Maybe this is why there are now five lug nuts on the r1200s... And the torque spec is less... Just sayin' Like the government don't acknowledge responsibility simply slide in the fix.

Well, maybe an engineer here can also calculate the added safety margin which the K1200RS enjoyed by using five bolts @105Nm instead of the four found on the R bikes of the same period.


geo

[mfbRSV]

Originally Posted by geothepencil

Well, maybe an engineer here can also calculate the added safety margin which the K1200RS enjoyed by using five bolts @105Nm instead of the four found on the R bikes of the same period.


geo

How does a 25% increase in safety sound?

[geothepencil]

Originally Posted by mfbRSV

How does a 25% increase in safety sound?

OK with me, We'll just ignore HP differences in the bikes and the effect of placement of the 5th bolt and congratulate ourselves on our smartness !

geo

[Sideshow_S]

[mfbRSV]

Originally Posted by geothepencil

OK with me, We'll just ignore HP differences in the bikes and the effect of placement of the 5th bolt and congratulate ourselves on our smartness !

geo

And all this time I thought K-bike folks just hated to get water inside the hub.