Back Wheel Smoking

[dereardo]

Hi there folks,
I took my bike out yesterday and after a mile of riding, I found that the back wheel was smoking and when I changed gears, if felt as if there was a drop in power and trouble getting up to speed.
The most recent history of this bike is that the time I took it out before that, it seemed like the choke was stuck open or that it was stuck in a high gear and continued to rev uncomfortably high the whole time I was riding it. A friend tinkered (I'm sorry I can't clarify what that means just yet) with it and it seemed fine for one short ride after that, and now there is a smoke fest happening.
I bought it at 12000 miles and now it has almost 19000 miles on it, and I haven't done any major work or had any major problems during those 7000 miles.

Does anyone have a place to start trouble shooting? My intuition is telling me its a clutch thing, but I'm not very mechanically inclined myself.

Thank you kindly,

dawn

[dentheman]

Where exactly was the smoke coming from? The clutch is not going to smoke. The tire is not going to smoke unless something is rubbing against it. By your description I can't think of anything it could be except the rear brake dragging or something rubbing the tire. This would also cause it to feel like it is losing power when shifting. If nothing is rubbing the tire and if you weren't pressing the brake pedal while riding, then the rear brake must be out of adjustment. Has anyone worked on or adjusted the brake cable recently? That is where I would start troubleshooting.

[dereardo]

The smoke was coming from the central metal part of the wheel and the spokes. It was blazing hot and looked bronze when I got off, like it was nearly scorched. The person who worked on it definitely adjusted the clutch cable, but I am unsure about the brake cable.

[dentheman]

If you are not very mechanically inclined it sounds like you need to take it to the shop for a brake problem. It sounds bad enough for me to think it will cost big $$ (possible damage to the brake drum). I can't imagine how that problem would happen unless the brake cable was adjusted way too tight or you were pressing the brake pedal. I am suspicious about the problem showing up after your friend 'tinkered' with the bike. Anyone else have another thought of what this could be?

[dereardo]

hmm, me too. I will turn it over to more capable hands. Thanks for thinking about it.

[dentheman]

Then again, it MIGHT just need new brake shoes and an adjustment, which would certainly cost less. ALSO, since your friend tinkered with the bike, ask the shop to check all cable adjustments just to be safe. ANOTHER SUBJECT: You say there has been no major work done, have the intake and exhaust valve adjustments been checked during the 7000 miles you put on the bike? I'm sorry to keep piling it on.

[blaine]

Then again, it MIGHT just need new brake shoes and an adjustment, which would certainly cost less. ALSO, since your friend tinkered with the bike, ask the shop to check all cable adjustments just to be safe. ANOTHER SUBJECT: You say there has been no major work done, have the intake and exhaust valve adjustments been checked during the 7000 miles you put on the bike? I'm sorry to keep piling it on.

:plus1: Sounds like your friend adjusted the brakes to tight by accident.It needs to be serviced by a shop.
Not a good idea to let anybody "tinker" with your bike if they don't know what their doing.The out come could have been worse.
:roll:

[Easy Rider]

and continued to rev uncomfortably high the whole time I was riding it.

Welcome to the forum.

First, gotta say that continuing to ride the bike when things are "not right" is usually a big mistake. Same with any vehicle. Stuff that can be easily fixed turns into things that are expensive and time consuming.......and dangerous on a bike.

Your "smoke" story sounds like that back brake is stuck partially ON .......or needs an adjustment......or something is rubbing against the back wheel.

Either way, DO NOT CONTIUNE TO RIDE IT until it is fixed. The back wheel could lock up and throw you off. :skull:

[bonehead]

Sounds like stuck brake/over adjusted brakes to me. Smoking red hot, that could take everything out.

[dereardo]

Found the problem: The brake pedal was stuck in the depressed position, then the back brakes fused. yikes.

[alantf]

The brake pedal was stuck in the depressed position,

What caused that? Never known that before, on the GZ. Let us know, so that's something else to watch out for. Only thing I can think of is the plate holding the adjusting screw (under the pedal) being bent out of shape, & the adjusting screw wedging the pedal. After an accident, the plate on my bike was bent, but a big hammer soon put it right with no ill effects. (although it didn't wedge the pedal) :2tup:

[dereardo]

Well, 3 things i think. For one, it was laid down on that side a couple years ago and the whole unit down there is slightly bent. Also, it appears to be missing a bolt, which must be recent, and so the unit holding the foot peg was pivoted forward a bit. And 3rd I think a slight rust on the brake line (Seattle weather, no garage) also contributed.

Basically if I had done a road inspection like I should have, I might have caught the missing bolt, which was probably the biggest culprit.

[Easy Rider]

Basically if I had done a road inspection like I should have, ....

And maybe even more importantly, you need to get "in tune" with your bike so that you will know when something is not quite right.

I can't in my wildest imagination understand how you could have ridden it until the back hub was red hot and smoking without there being a few clues along the way.

You need to STOP and check things out when you have an unusual feeling. The small amount of time you waste when there is nothing really wrong might be more than made up for some day when there IS something drastically wrong. You were just a hair away from a locked rear or a fire that could have caused you serious injury.

[Water Warrior 2]

Well, 3 things i think. For one, it was laid down on that side a couple years ago and the whole unit down there is slightly bent. Also, it appears to be missing a bolt, which must be recent, and so the unit holding the foot peg was pivoted forward a bit. And 3rd I think a slight rust on the brake line (Seattle weather, no garage) also contributed.

Basically if I had done a road inspection like I should have, I might have caught the missing bolt, which was probably the biggest culprit.
I would suggest spending some quality time with your bike. Take off the tank and seat to start. Check for loose or missing nuts, bolts or fittings on the entire bike. If something should not move make sure it won't move. If something should move make sure it moves freely and lube it as needed. Get to know the bike. A little TLC goes a long way on a bike. You got questions? Ask us, we've been there done that in most cases.
Keep in mind a bike is not like a car. Bikes in general require more time doing checks, adjustments and kind words.

[alantf]

And when you get the brake pedal set up again, check under it, & make sure that the adjusting bolt is actually touching the under side of the brake pedal. Both times my bike went down, the plate holding the adjusting bolt got bent out of shape, & had to be hammered back. :2tup:

[dereardo]

Well, after taking off the back wheel and opening things up, its looking good. Just need to replace the break shoes and TLC the lines and pedal. Fortunately I was barely away from home when it started feeling out of sorts, so it l must have got it off the road before anything worse happened. I guess I thought they were fused because the back wheel was not moving at first, but that wasn't the case fortunately.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions and reminders to not be dangerous.

[Water Warrior 2]

Use some emery cloth on the brake drum to remove any glazing. Used to do that after soaking our dirt bikes in rivers etc. Brake shoes were a different story. They would loose ALL ability to slow the bike. A light sand blasting to get the grung off and they were just like new. In your case of trying to cook the shoes the prudent solution is new shoes.

[blaine]

Be very careful of the brake dust when you are working around the drum or shoes as the dust may contain asbestos,that can be hazardous to your health.Better yet, use a face mask for your safety and health.

:) :yes:

[alantf]

the dust may contain asbestos,that can be hazardous to your health.Better yet, use a face mask for your safety and health.



NOT JUST ANY OLD FACE MASK! Use one specially designed for asbestos! :2tup:

[blaine]

the dust may contain asbestos,that can be hazardous to your health.Better yet, use a face mask for your safety and health. :skull:



NOT JUST ANY OLD FACE MASK! Use one specially designed for asbestos! :2tup:

Most people will not go to that degree of safety.My point was just be aware of the danger and be careful around the dust as a lot of people would not realize the hazards.I brought this up because in his situation with the brakes stuck on, there would be much more dust in and around the drum and shoes than normal.More so if he will be deglazing the drum or shoes.
:rawk: :)

[alantf]

NOT JUST ANY OLD FACE MASK! Use one specially designed for asbestos! :2tup:[/quote]

Most people will not go to that degree of safety.[/quote]

If you want safety from ASBESTOS, be aware that normal facemasks will give you NO PROTECTION. As for the people who "will not go to that degree of safety" FOOLISH is not strong enough a word. Asbestos dust is a KILLER! :skull:

Edit:- I seem to have got my quotes within quotes mixed up - but you get my point.

[Easy Rider]

[ Asbestos dust is a KILLER! :skull:

While this is an interesting and potentially useful discussion........I thought that asbestos in brake pads was outlawed years ago, in the US at least. Not true ????

[blaine]

[ Asbestos dust is a KILLER! :skull:

While this is an interesting and potentially useful discussion........I thought that asbestos in brake pads was outlawed years ago, in the US at least. Not true ????


That is true of O.E.M. pads & shoes, that why they are prone to squealing because they contain ceramic.
A lot of after market pads,& shoes still contain asbestos,especially the cheaper brands.

:) :roll:

[Water Warrior 2]

Protect yourself from any kind of brake dust. It is really bad for the function of your lungs.

[mrlmd1]

Get yourself a big or strong electric fan and position it so it blows any kind of dust or vapors away from you while you are working. Got for anything,not just brake dust.

[New GZ250]

From Wikipedia:

Brake linings or pads have not used asbestos since 2003, having been replaced by aramid. So some of have and others don't.

[Easy Rider]

Get yourself a big or strong electric fan and position it so it blows any kind of dust or vapors away from you while you are working. Got for anything,not just brake dust.

While that theory is good, I've had it backfire.

You need to positon the fan so that it blows ACROSS you and the work from the side and NOT from your back. When the air comes from the back, a "backwash" sometimes is created that stuck the "stuff" right up into your face.

This advice applies to dumping the ashes out of your charcoal grill too !!!!

[Easy Rider]

From Wikipedia:

Brake linings or pads have not used asbestos since 2003, having been replaced by aramid. So some of have and others don't.

That's what I thought.
Several big companies have been hurt bad by asbestos damage suits.
Federal Mogul even went bust; I had stock. :cry:

Still better to be safe than sorry.
Super fine particles of anything can be dangerous.

[dereardo]

Heh,

Well for my safety and everyones peace of mine, I will pull out my hazmat suit and respirator that i had to wear in medical school cadaver lab. I will look like a marshmallow, but at least I'll be safe. Thanks again folks.

dawn

[bonehead]

Have'nt been on the forum for a couple of weeks. Good to see nothing has changed. :lol:

[patrick_777]

Have'nt been on the forum for a couple of weeks. Good to see nothing has changed. :lol:

Ditto. Except without the "good" part.