Scum at the track: they are amongst us!

**Biggles08** · 15th November 2011, 18:38

Originally Posted by p.dath

Do you perhaps have a case number and station that others could reference? If the complaint gets added to then it will probably be taken more seriously.

The Police Station was at Constellation Drive, Albany, Auckland and the complaint reference number is 111115/0182

**speights_bud** · 16th November 2011, 17:33

Yes as John said earlier, the Firns have had a few issues with their trailer (While its had my bikes in it), at least twice there were Brand new studs broken off brand new hubs, possibly due to bring loosened, happened after events in Taupo....

**Dreama** · 17th November 2011, 08:23

Originally Posted by speights_bud

Yes as John said earlier, the Firns have had a few issues with their trailer (While its had my bikes in it), at least twice there were Brand new studs broken off brand new hubs, possibly due to bring loosened, happened after events in Taupo....

I have to say that as an engineer I've been reading these posts with a degree of mirth.
Misalignment is one of greatest causes of mechanical failure, and no matter how tight they are, nuts, bolts and studs will fail in that circumstance unless they are total overkill for the usage .... wheel studs are not overkill and in fact it can be argued that are inadequate for the job. Four or five 7/16 studs to hold wheels on heavily laden trailers is minimilisim at best, then add misalignment into the equation.
The taper on wheel nuts have to exactly match the taper on the wheels ... the slightest deviation will mean they will work loose in stressful circumstances and intrinsically, the loads placed on bike trailers is often different to many other loaded trailers because of the weight biases, creating the stressful scenario.

Whilst the malicious sabotage theory may be possible, I do find it a bit theatrical. A person or group lurking about the pits with a wheel brace randomly loosening wheels nuts, or targeting individual trailers ....... sorry, I don't buy it.
I've repaired way to many catastrophic trailer wheel failures on boat trailers laden with the holiday gear to succumb to the 'sky is falling' thing.

**MSTRS:Me** · 17th November 2011, 08:34

Originally Posted by Dreama

... A person or group lurking about the pits with a wheel brace randomly loosening wheels nuts, or targeting individual trailers .......

Trailers, and the vehicles they are attached to, are often parked nowhere near the pits.
And these sort of failures are happening way too often at specific locations to be random chance. Coupled with things like partly cut tiedowns...well...

**manxkiwi** · 17th November 2011, 09:08

Originally Posted by Dreama

I have to say that as an engineer I've been reading these posts with a degree of mirth.
Misalignment is one of greatest causes of mechanical failure, and no matter how tight they are, nuts, bolts and studs will fail in that circumstance unless they are total overkill for the usage .... wheel studs are not overkill and in fact it can be argued that are inadequate for the job. Four or five 7/16 studs to hold wheels on heavily laden trailers is minimilisim at best, then add misalignment into the equation.
The taper on wheel nuts have to exactly match the taper on the wheels ... the slightest deviation will mean they will work loose in stressful circumstances and intrinsically, the loads placed on bike trailers is often different to many other loaded trailers because of the weight biases, creating the stressful scenario.

Whilst the malicious sabotage theory may be possible, I do find it a bit theatrical. A person or group lurking about the pits with a wheel brace randomly loosening wheels nuts, or targeting individual trailers ....... sorry, I don't buy it.
I've repaired way to many catastrophic trailer wheel failures on boat trailers laden with the holiday gear to succumb to the 'sky is falling' thing.

If Dreama's right the easy way to eliminate any foul play, is to check before and immediately after each substantial trip.

**codgyoleracer** · 17th November 2011, 09:53

Originally Posted by Dreama

I have to say that as an engineer I've been reading these posts with a degree of mirth.
Misalignment is one of greatest causes of mechanical failure, and no matter how tight they are, nuts, bolts and studs will fail in that circumstance unless they are total overkill for the usage .... wheel studs are not overkill and in fact it can be argued that are inadequate for the job. Four or five 7/16 studs to hold wheels on heavily laden trailers is minimilisim at best, then add misalignment into the equation.
The taper on wheel nuts have to exactly match the taper on the wheels ... the slightest deviation will mean they will work loose in stressful circumstances and intrinsically, the loads placed on bike trailers is often different to many other loaded trailers because of the weight biases, creating the stressful scenario.

Whilst the malicious sabotage theory may be possible, I do find it a bit theatrical. A person or group lurking about the pits with a wheel brace randomly loosening wheels nuts, or targeting individual trailers ....... sorry, I don't buy it.
I've repaired way to many catastrophic trailer wheel failures on boat trailers laden with the holiday gear to succumb to the 'sky is falling' thing.

What he said +1.

**nodrog:Me** · 17th November 2011, 09:57

holyshit, deja vu.

**Biggles08** · 17th November 2011, 10:20

Originally Posted by Dreama

I have to say that as an engineer I've been reading these posts with a degree of mirth.
Misalignment is one of greatest causes of mechanical failure, and no matter how tight they are, nuts, bolts and studs will fail in that circumstance unless they are total overkill for the usage .... wheel studs are not overkill and in fact it can be argued that are inadequate for the job. Four or five 7/16 studs to hold wheels on heavily laden trailers is minimilisim at best, then add misalignment into the equation.
The taper on wheel nuts have to exactly match the taper on the wheels ... the slightest deviation will mean they will work loose in stressful circumstances and intrinsically, the loads placed on bike trailers is often different to many other loaded trailers because of the weight biases, creating the stressful scenario.

Whilst the malicious sabotage theory may be possible, I do find it a bit theatrical. A person or group lurking about the pits with a wheel brace randomly loosening wheels nuts, or targeting individual trailers ....... sorry, I don't buy it.
I've repaired way to many catastrophic trailer wheel failures on boat trailers laden with the holiday gear to succumb to the 'sky is falling' thing.

I don't actually disagree with you Dreama but this specific incident has 100% confirmed to me that the nuts were in fact removed from x4 wheels of my trailer. What are the mathematical chances of x2 nuts on each of the remaining x3 wheels (as x1 wheel was about to fall off with only x1 nut hallf on) having 'worked loose' in exactly the same format? Pretty slim I would say! The trailer has x5 studs on each of the four wheels and each wheel had only x3 bolts remaining in the same pattern after this trip? Its worth noting also that I had checked my trailer tire pressures prior to leaving for this trip in Auckland and never noticed x1 nut missing while I did that (granted I didn't specifically look for it but its pretty obvious). I can't comment on the other incidences here but I know for certain my trailer was tampered with at taupo.

**codgyoleracer** · 17th November 2011, 10:38

A) Invest in lock-nuts (or nuts with locks). (in your case chrome or anodized blingy ones are best used, or maybe those ones that shine bright pink at night)
B) Invest in thread locker Loctite
C) Drill and lockwire

Personally i have seen countless things like drainplugs, pinch bolts, brake caliper bolts, fork clamp bolts, axles either fall out , chains seperate, chain carriers fail or loossen to the point of a problem occuring. In 99% of cases it has been an issue of usually the owner (racer) not being the best of mechanics and not doing the job right. i include myself in that catagory.

However as most of us cannot justify carting around an A grade mechanic with us (unless our name is Shifrriffs, Stroud or Bugden) - then things like items A) B) & C) become more important "just in case"

Signed Glen "did i replace those R clips in my brake caliper pins ?" Williams.................... (no), followed by a lot of hurt :-)

**RobGassit** · 17th November 2011, 13:03

Thank god for Kiwibiker. There is always someone on here ready to tell you how to suck eggs. Regardless of what the Engineering Wisdom on here say's, I'll be watching my gear in future. What anyone else does is up to them.

**gixerracer** · 17th November 2011, 14:39

Originally Posted by codgyoleracer

A) Invest in lock-nuts (or nuts with locks). (in your case chrome or anodized blingy ones are best used, or maybe those ones that shine bright pink at night)
B) Invest in thread locker Loctite
C) Drill and lockwire

Personally i have seen countless things like drainplugs, pinch bolts, brake caliper bolts, fork clamp bolts, axles either fall out , chains seperate, chain carriers fail or loossen to the point of a problem occuring. In 99% of cases it has been an issue of usually the owner (racer) not being the best of mechanics and not doing the job right. i include myself in that catagory.

However as most of us cannot justify carting around an A grade mechanic with us (unless our name is Shifrriffs, Stroud or Bugden) - then things like items A) B) & C) become more important "just in case"

Signed Glen "did i replace those R clips in my brake caliper pins ?" Williams.................... (no), followed by a lot of hurt :-)

WTF A grade mechanics haha. Last 3-4 seasons I have had my brother who works as a farm bike mechanic( Not qualifed) and my mate Rhys works as a car mechanic( Not qualified) Stoudy uses whiom ever he can bludge up for free and Bobbie Bugden has Red Fenton who is a Fireman to the best of my knowledge

**White trash** · 17th November 2011, 14:46

This thread is epic. Love it.

**Biggles08** · 17th November 2011, 14:59

Originally Posted by White trash

This thread is epic. Love it.

Wheres Drew???? I thought he would be here too!

**codgyoleracer** · 17th November 2011, 15:01

Originally Posted by gixerracer

WTF A grade mechanics haha. Last 3-4 seasons I have had my brother who works as a farm bike mechanic( Not qualifed) and my mate Rhys works as a car mechanic( Not qualified) Stoudy uses whiom ever he can bludge up for free and Bobbie Bugden has Red Fenton who is a Fireman to the best of my knowledge

Oh yeah i forgot, ......... At least your mob know how to tighten handlebars.