Brompton rear rack plus EZ wheels problem

[Georgios M]

Hi all,

I bought yesterday my rear rack and easy wheels set. They were installed at the bike store that I bought them.

However, when I fold and roll it, it's not following a straight line but turns rightwards.
From the bike store they told me that this is the way it rolls by design. Is that correct?

Do any of you have the same issue? Do your bikes with rear rack and easy wheels on roll in straight line or not?

Thanks a lot

P.S I bought them mainly in order to be able to roll it easy when folded, so it's a little annoying to spend £100 and not be able to go straight

 

[GeraldH]

Hi Georgios,
no, it is not by design, it is simply bad manufacture! I just bought the third Brompton for my family, all have easy wheels. The first two Bromptons roll in a straight line but the third one turns leftwards when folded. From the bike store my son was told that they cannot do anything without danger that it will be even worse afterwards. I would be very glad to get a solution for this problem.

 

[Georgios M]

Hi Gerald,

Unfortunately I am still trying to find a solution. Now I talk with Brompton through their website and wait to see what kind of solution they will suggest. In my case it is either an installation fault or as you said a bad manufacture. But in any case somebody must replace it. I will let you know what happened.

 

[GeraldH]

Hi Georgios,
it is a good idea to try to find a solution via the Brompton website. May be I should also try this - to show them, that this is a real problem, which doesn't bother only one single customer. In my case the installation was done by the bike store. So in any case it is not my fault.
I will also keep you informed, how this story continues in my case.

 

[GeraldH]

Hi Georgios,

I finally was able to solve the problem in my case. At first I described the problem in a German Brompton-forum, where I got the hint, that the "ears", which are part of the frame and carry two of the eazyWheels, are often bent during transport. This is generally connected with hair cracks of the lacquer. It is not possible to repair this without replacing the whole rear part of the frame. However, luckily this was not the fact in my case.

In my case I could see the rear left eazyWheel, which is mounted on the rack not to be straight. So I took 2 lining discs and for each of them I fined down one half of it to be thinner than the other half. These lining discs I attached to the screw (which holds the eazyWheel) on both sides of the rack's "ear" on which the eazyWheel is mounted. When turning the lining discs so that the screw turns to the wanted direction, this resulted in a perfect straight line, when rolling the folded Brompton.

I hope, this can help you and I hope, my English to be good enough for you to understand what I mean (I am not sure if the technical vocabulary like "lining discs" is correct and understandable). But if something is unclear, don`t hesitate to ask me.

With kind regards,

Gerald.

 

[Georgios M]

Hi Gerald,

Thank for the explanation but I don't think that I understood lol. I am not that good with English terminology as well. Is it possible to attach a photo of it?
For my case, they told me that they will send another rack to the store in order change it. I am still waiting for the rack to be delivered so I cannot say more for it.

Thanks again and I will keep you informed of my case.
Georgios

Hi Georgios,

I finally was able to solve the problem in my case. At first I described the problem in a German Brompton-forum, where I got the hint, that the "ears", which are part of the frame and carry two of the eazyWheels, are often bent during transport. This is generally connected with hair cracks of the lacquer. It is not possible to repair this without replacing the whole rear part of the frame. However, luckily this was not the fact in my case.

In my case I could see the rear left eazyWheel, which is mounted on the rack not to be straight. So I took 2 lining discs and for each of them I fined down one half of it to be thinner than the other half. These lining discs I attached to the screw (which holds the eazyWheel) on both sides of the rack's "ear" on which the eazyWheel is mounted. When turning the lining discs so that the screw turns to the wanted direction, this resulted in a perfect straight line, when rolling the folded Brompton.

I hope, this can help you and I hope, my English to be good enough for you to understand what I mean (I am not sure if the technical vocabulary like "lining discs" is correct and understandable). But if something is unclear, don`t hesitate to ask me.

With kind regards,

Gerald.

 

[annedonnelly]

Hi Georgios,

I finally was able to solve the problem in my case. At first I described the problem in a German Brompton-forum, where I got the hint, that the "ears", which are part of the frame and carry two of the eazyWheels, are often bent during transport. This is generally connected with hair cracks of the lacquer. It is not possible to repair this without replacing the whole rear part of the frame. However, luckily this was not the fact in my case.

In my case I could see the rear left eazyWheel, which is mounted on the rack not to be straight. So I took 2 lining discs and for each of them I fined down one half of it to be thinner than the other half. These lining discs I attached to the screw (which holds the eazyWheel) on both sides of the rack's "ear" on which the eazyWheel is mounted. When turning the lining discs so that the screw turns to the wanted direction, this resulted in a perfect straight line, when rolling the folded Brompton.

I hope, this can help you and I hope, my English to be good enough for you to understand what I mean (I am not sure if the technical vocabulary like "lining discs" is correct and understandable). But if something is unclear, don`t hesitate to ask me.

With kind regards,

Gerald.

Hi Gerald, I think when you say "lining disk" you probably mean a "washer" - something like these? And you've filed the edge off them so they now lie flat when they didn't before.

 

[GeraldH]

Yes, I ment "washers", where I said "Lining discs" and I filed the edge of them so the screw, which holds the eazyWheel is now inclined a bit in comparison to its former position. I am attaching a photo of it. However on the photo you can only guess the filed edges, it is nearly not visible, that the two added washers are thinner on one side than on the other one.

 

[mhayes]

Hi all,

I bought yesterday my rear rack and easy wheels set. They were installed at the bike store that I bought them.

However, when I fold and roll it, it's not following a straight line but turns rightwards.
From the bike store they told me that this is the way it rolls by design. Is that correct?

Do any of you have the same issue? Do your bikes with rear rack and easy wheels on roll in straight line or not?

Thanks a lot

P.S I bought them mainly in order to be able to roll it easy when folded, so it's a little annoying to spend £100 and not be able to go straight

I am having the same problem; when folded, the bike pulls to the left when rolling on the easy wheels.
After inspecting the easy wheels that are mounted on the rack, it seems there are two washers between the rack and one of the wheels, but three washers between the rack and the other wheel.
I am not sure if this is causing the problem; I want to show it to the guys in the shop; if it turns out to be the problem then they can report it back to the UK.
Will post results asap.
-mark

 

[GeraldH]

I don`t believe that the number of washers influences the problem. But the washers give the possibility to partly reduce their thickness so that the direction of the axle turns slightly to the right direction.

 

[mhayes]

I don`t believe that the number of washers influences the problem. But the washers give the possibility to partly reduce their thickness so that the direction of the axle turns slightly to the right direction.

Problem fixed:
From the factory, one of the EZ wheels is mounted on the outer edge of the rack, and the other wheel is mounted on the inner edge of the rack.
I had the guys at the shop move the wheel that is mounted on the inner edge to the outer edge.
The folded bike rolls much better now, ie, much straighter than before.
And the folded bike is more stable now that the wheels are bit further apart.
Fold not affected.
-mark