Second bent axle - bad luck or something else?
So, last month i noticed something wrong with my rear wheel (Mavic kysrium Elite). It felt really sluggish although the bearings seemed ok. Took it for a service which revealed a bent axle.
Since then i have been using a brand new mavic Aksium on the rear, although ride time has been limited due to a niggling knee problem.
Anyway, when out in the week i noticed that when i took my hands off the bars the bike lent towards the right - a lot! When home i checked the wheels were true and seated correctly. Went out yesterday and had exactly the same issue. Decided to drop the bike off at the lbs and they found the rear axle was bent on this wheel as well :evil: (tbh it should have been apparent because they pointed out the rear tyre had clearly worn on the one side only).
They say they can't find any fault with the frame and think it may be bad luck.
I can't recall hitting any pot holes or cattle grids, plus i weigh 73kg so not exactly heavy weight. To have this happen to two wheels in the space of a month - could it really be bad luck, or is there something else likely to be causing it?
Thanks for any advice
Since then i have been using a brand new mavic Aksium on the rear, although ride time has been limited due to a niggling knee problem.
Anyway, when out in the week i noticed that when i took my hands off the bars the bike lent towards the right - a lot! When home i checked the wheels were true and seated correctly. Went out yesterday and had exactly the same issue. Decided to drop the bike off at the lbs and they found the rear axle was bent on this wheel as well :evil: (tbh it should have been apparent because they pointed out the rear tyre had clearly worn on the one side only).
They say they can't find any fault with the frame and think it may be bad luck.
I can't recall hitting any pot holes or cattle grids, plus i weigh 73kg so not exactly heavy weight. To have this happen to two wheels in the space of a month - could it really be bad luck, or is there something else likely to be causing it?
Thanks for any advice
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Are these things alloy? Maybe you should try a Shimano wheel with a steel axle?
All modern wheels feature bearings near to the dropouts. It is practically unheard of to bend or break axles in freehub wheel designs because the bending moment is so small as a result.
I would try a different LBS; the analysis of yours doesn't pass the smell test IMO.
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A bent axle is indeed rare/unlikely because of the oversize design.
That and the steel axles make the lower end Shimano rear hubs a more robust proposition than similarly priced ones from other manufacturers.
On Mavic wheels there is a long boss in the hub which pokes through the freehub body. There is a bearing in the end of the boss, so it is pretty close to the dropout I would say.
I can't see how you could bend an axle with that design (although it is absolutely minging in other ways).
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Causing the bearing problems with the freehub.....
Looks bend-resitant though.
Too late to try another LBS - they replaced the axle and the wheel is ready to pick up today. They also told me on the phone they are going to get in touch with Mavic about the Aksium as the wheel is only a few weeks old. Doubt they will offer any warranty replacement or anything though as they will no doubt claim 'wear and tear'.
I really hope that it is just a coincidence. If it does happen again then i think i will get another LBS to have a look at the frame as i can't think of anything else which would be causing it.
Thanks for all the replies.
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Not the Ksyrium.
I am picking up the Aksium later today so will ask for the axle - although would this stop them putting a claim in with Mavic??
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Good point! You're right, as you say, it's mine. Will defo ask to at least see it.
Wish i had asked to see the Kysrium axle now... :?