Rear wheel ideas?

[Bubbalowe]

1972 small stroker Shovel with 2002 TLEU sidecar and broke a spoke on original rear wheel (no shame). Wore off a Shenko tire after putting sidecar on so switched to darkside with a Coker 5:00 x 16 car tire and think the stiffer tire accented the sidecar strain to rear wheel. After all those years the broke spoke is probably a sign of things to come. The car tire looks as new as the day it was installed so would like to keep running them. Are there better/stronger than OEM spokes and rims? Am partial to the round swingarm and drum brake but could change over to cast wheel, disc brake and new master cylinder? Have a 9 spoke 2002 front wheel that would look great mated up to original drum and sprocket just don't know if I want to tackle a job that size.

[exeric]

I had a sidecar on my 1951FL. A sidecar is hell on almost every part of a motorcycle, but also fun and that is the trade off. H-D spokes, and nipples are quite stout so I don't know if there is a stronger upgrade. I guess Buchannan's could advise you on that. Alloy wheels are probably the best long run option.

[Bubbalowe]

I had a sidecar on my 1951FL. A sidecar is hell on almost every part of a motorcycle, but also fun and that is the trade off. H-D spokes, and nipples are quite stout so I don't know if there is a stronger upgrade. I guess Buchannan's could advise you on that. Alloy wheels are probably the best long run option.

Thanks.
Have never used Buchannons, will give them a call.

[Jerry Wieland]

Don't use stainless - they break faster than OEM,

Thanks.
Have never used Buchannons, will give them a call.

[bselph]

Agree with Jerry about stainless. I have broken many spokes on my 33VC with sidecar. Buchannon has heavy duty spokes that will help but the biggest issue is the side forces out on the rear tire and the fact that stainless "work hardens" and then breaks. When Harley shipped a bike with sidecar from the factory back in the day of spokes, they used heavy duty spokes.

[34 cac]

Your spoke broke because the are loose. Replace your spokes with a standard spoke and keep your wheels maintained.

[exeric]

This thread brings up an interesting question. Did Harley-Davidson make their own spokes, or did they have a vendor? In the early days of motorcycle manufacturing, most manufacturers got their spokes from Torrington. Big companies don't want to re-invent the wheel so I have to think H-D had a preferred vendor.

[Rubone]

Your spoke broke because the are loose. Replace your spokes with a standard spoke and keep your wheels maintained.

This is the best answer yet. I have run a sidecar rig for over 40 years and have never broken a spoke, including rough use. I regularly ride it on dirt roads and with heavy loads.

[bselph]

Who makes new non stainless spokes and nipples?

[Bubbalowe]

With good spokes going for $5 @ have decided to not fight it and put a cast wheel on. Means giving up my beautiful round swing arm for a cheesey square one. But- The bike is a rider with fiberglass bags so much is covered, disc brake is an up grade and will match car, Timken bearings designed for side load which sidecars add, AND cast wheels don't need spoke maintenance. Got a Dixie NOS wheel, ebay used swingarm, caliper, rotor and sprocket for under $300. Only need bearings, trip to powder coating and new master cylinder.

[Jerry Wieland]

I was told years ago that the Singer Sewing Machine company made the spokes for HD.

Jerry

This thread brings up an interesting question. Did Harley-Davidson make their own spokes, or did they have a vendor? In the early days of motorcycle manufacturing, most manufacturers got their spokes from Torrington. Big companies don't want to re-invent the wheel so I have to think H-D had a preferred vendor.

[41craig]

Don't use stainless - they break faster than OEM,

Jerry; I disagree. In the mid 1970's I ran off a 2 lane Mo. state highway checking a noise on my bike and ended up on the gravel shoulder. I hit a concrete side road lip that sent me in the air with my springer pogoing. I rode it out, but I bent the front rim and broke 4 steel spokes. In 1991, while riding on another Mo. state divided 4 lane highway, a brand new Ford Escort pulled out from a side road and I hit it on the left rear wheel. ( She didn't see me ) Of course it broke my springer and bent the hell out of my front wheel. None of the Buchannon stainless steel spokes broke. It did pull several of them, with their nipples through the rim. This sold me on Buchannon stainless steel spokes.image0-051.jpgimage0-052.jpgimage0-055.jpg
Craig
P.S. Now these broken spokes were not O.E.M. They were aftermarket chrome spokes.