Urgent advice - broken axle on single speed ??

[McrJ64]

I was riding to work this morning on my Langster this morning with the rear wheel on single speed freewheel when there was a loud snap/clunk sound and the rear wheel almost locked up. It had pulled over to the left and was rubbing against the frame on the left (can't remember what you call the bit that comes back from the bottom bracket to the rear dropouts). It stopped itself pretty sharp and fortunately I was near the kerb so nothing ran into the back of me. I realligned the wheel and locked it up really tightly. It slowly slipped over again once, a couple of miles later. I'm thinking the rear axle has snapped so I'm riding it really slowly and trying to avoid potholes. Has anyone similar experience? Is it really unsafe to ride home (7 miles) slowly? Any advice would be welcome - in the next few hours if possible.

 

[tyred]

It sounds like it's not being done up tight enough. Are you using a real spanner?

 

[swee'pea99]

Sounds to me like a snapped axle. It does happen. 'Unsafe'? Well, not that unsafe, I wouldn't have thought, so long as you do keep it slow. Whether you'll make the full 7 miles is another question. You could easily end up stranded miles from anywhere with a badly wounded bike - not a prospect I'd relish. Don't suppose there's any chance of getting your hands on an axle, or even a wheel?

 

[McrJ64]

Thanks for the advice. Any idea what would happen besides the wheel pulling over? I assume it won't collapse completely. I intend to leave work early, before there's too much traffic, when it's still light, and take it easy as you say. I don't mind stopping a couple of times and re-setting the wheel. I don't think the repair or wheel swap will work for me.

 

[fossyant]

You are likely to damage the bearing races and/or cones - so an axel will be a whole hub/wheel.

 

[McrJ64]

You are likely to damage the bearing races and/or cones - so an axel will be a whole hub/wheel.

I think I'll try to get home on it. I'm not bothered about the hub, just about myself. It's the original wheel and has done about 6000 all-weather commuting miles. The rim is worn, the hub feels as if it has gravel in it rather than bearings.

Yes, I do use a proper spanner - a ring spanner of the right size, so it was tightened ok. I reckon it's just wear and corrosion over 2 winters.

Thanks

 

[snailracer]

I can't understand how the axle can hold together if it has actually snapped .

On geared bikes, a snapped axle doesn't fall apart because the quick release holds it together with some force, but that doesn't apply to a SS.

 

[MartinC]

I can't understand how the axle can hold together if it has actually snapped .

On geared bikes, a snapped axle doesn't fall apart because the quick release holds it together with some force, but that doesn't apply to a SS.

The cones will stop the axle halves exiting the sides of the track end. Each half of the axle is still clamped in to some extent by the track nut and the cone. However the whole hub's not very rigid or tightly fixed now so the chain will pull the wheel over to one side.

 

[McrJ64]

The cones will stop the axle halves exiting the sides of the track end. Each half of the axle is still clamped in to some extent by the track nut and the cone. However the whole hub's not very rigid or tightly fixed now so the chain will pull the wheel over to one side.

That makes sense - a clear explanation. I'll ride it home slowly and stop every couple of miles to check it. Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

That makes sense - a clear explanation. I'll ride it home slowly and stop every couple of miles to check it. Thanks.

You should be able to ride home slowly without doing any major damage. It was something that could be a problem with the old six speed blocks, I used to occasionally bend or break axles when I was on a six speed system, I think the longest I did on a broken axle was ten or fifteen miles, Long Itchington to Coventry.

 

[gaz]

I've done a couple of hundred miles on a broke axel before. But as fossyant said. It costs more if you do that.

You are likely to damage the bearing races and/or cones - so an axel will be a whole hub/wheel.

 

[McrJ64]

<br />I've done a couple of hundred miles on a broke axel before. But as fossyant said. It costs more if you do that.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

I got home on the broken axle yesterday but it was only 7 miles. I've swapped onto my best wheel for now and ordered a new best wheel. I think I'll try to fix the old one to use as a 'real emergency only' wheel.

 

[swee'pea99]

Glad you made it! Might be worth looking on ebay for a new one - I got one for a few quid, it's fine.