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]

Originally Posted by 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.

: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]

Originally Posted by dereardo

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.