Strange and Ominous Material Found

[Wetrudgeon]

All:
Had tires mounted and balanced on our '08 Beast three weeks ago. Work done by a reputable dealer/service and all appeared fine. 425 miles later, came in from a short ride yesterday and found this material dangling from one of the "hollows" in the inside of the rear wheel.

These are apparently aluminum shavings (won't react to a magnet). We carried the stuff back to the dealer and the service Mgr said that he believes the stuff is byproduct from when the wheel was manufacured. He says there is no place in the rear wheel/axel/drive hub assembly where the steel and aluminum parts can wear producing such shavings that could find their way into the hollows on the cast wheels. He offered to pull the wheel and double check for any unusual wear on the wheel (at our expense, of course).

We are inclined to accept the service Mgr's explanation that this is not a sign of a potential problem. How say you all?? Any insights or suggestions are welcome.

We trudge on (perplexed).

 

[Gothlander]

It is possibly shavings from when they drilled the valve stem hole.

 

[bcbatman]

I would have the wheel pulled off the bike and have the hub looked at to see if anything fell into the hub at time of service. JMHO

He says there is no place in the rear wheel/axel/drive hub assembly where the steel and aluminum parts can wear producing such shavings that could find their way into the hollows on the cast wheels. He offered to pull the wheel and double check for any unusual wear on the wheel (at our expense, of course).

We are inclined to accept the service Mgr's explanation that this is not a sign of a potential problem. How say you all?? Any insights or suggestions are welcome.

 

[HellFire]

That is definitely machine cuttings, rubbing or scraping would not leave such perfect trimmings behind. I'm inclined to believe it's been there since they were made.

 

[Lester532]

It is possibly shavings from when they drilled the valve stem hole.

I agree with Gothlander. But since i do my own maintenance I would still pull the wheel just for peace of mind.

The fact that it was in the hollow of the spoke and the tight spiral of the debris makes me think it was not cleaned very well after manufacture. But I would still pull the wheel.

 

[RocketandRollit]

In the metalworking industry we call those "chips". Formed by the cutting tool as a part is turned. Unless you rode through a machine shop, I'd guess those were from when the wheel was turned.
Whoever produced them could use my help though; chips are best when they come off like sixes or nines.
Odd they should show up now, but I can assure you if they were produced while riding, you would have heard it.​

 

[Kmutt]

In the metalworking industry we call those "chips". Formed by the cutting tool as a part is turned. Unless you rode through a machine shop, I'd guess those were from when the wheel was turned.
Whoever produced them could use my help though; chips are best when they come off like sixes or nines.
Odd they should show up now, but I can assure you if they were produced while riding, you would have heard it.
​

Agreed.....Those chips can only come from turning metal and using a cutter to create them. Now there is an off chance that when assembling the tire back on the rim, the machine used could have scraped across the outer part of the rim and produced these chips......but if your not losing air and there is no cosmetic damage I would nt worry about.........just my .02

 

[Jackson]

Agreed.....Those chips can only come from turning metal and using a cutter to create them. Now there is an off chance that when assembling the tire back on the rim, the machine used could have scraped across the outer part of the rim and produced these chips......but if your not losing air and there is no cosmetic damage I would nt worry about.........just my .02

I agree with Kmutt about not leaking air. I am of the safe side and would get it checked though. there are only two wheels and I would hate to keep thinking "I should have this checked out" It makes for a more enjoyable ride.

 

[Air Force Mark]

I've never seen the inside of a R3 wheel but its hard to imagine it not being seen when the tire was changed.

 

[nolton]

Whoever produced them could use my help though; chips are best when they come off like sixes or nines.
​

Thats funny. Probably happened on a Friday or Monday.