Rear hub Issues and other Problems with clones.

[dsrt4]

In my past scans through the search engine I noticed there where some mentions of a Rear Hub faliure on the Clone bikes. I also noticed a Swing arm Issue. No Detail was ever given (at least in the post's I saw) Were these issues in the past centered around a certain manufactures bike?

I think Lifan is the only company making them now and that is what I have. I haven't noticed any issues with my bike at all for 150+ miles but I figured I would ask. If it's going to happen I would rather get a idea on what to do prevent damage being done to the bike ...Or me.

So, What are the known issues you have had with your Clone? Be specific about what you have happen, what you did to correct it. Please give year and manufacture info as well.

Thanks!

[MSZ]

The problem centers around the rear hub where the sprocket mounts. On a Honda hub, the area where the snap ring installs (Holds on your rear sprocket) has a steel insert. On a number of the chinese hubs, this area is still aluminum and does not have a steel insert. This area has too much stress for aluminum and over time, the aluminum chinese hub will fail in this area. When it fails, you lose your sprocket and could lead to serious injury.

And without the steel insert, all will eventually fail, especially when people install big displacment engines and run their bikes hard.

The aftermarket chinese aluminum swingarms have also failed around some of the weld points causing the swingarms to fail.

Some people won't have any problems, but I've seen enough fail where I would consider this a pretty serious concern. If these were OEM bikes, the hubs would have all been recalled a long time ago.

[TrailRyd3r]

My swing arm bolt was broke a few weeks ago. I noticed it while changing my tires out. I put a grade 8 in there. Hopefully that will never break.

I too have heard about the snap rings, my dad ordered us a few extra just last week. But I have never had any issue with my bike as far as that goes.

My bike is a 2004 Redcat. SkyGo is the manufacturer.

[dsrt4]

It sounds to me that the actual ring landing is failing and not the snap rings.My 2008 Lifan is all aluminum rear hub with no steel insert.What year ct70 wheel would I need to look for to replace this?Are they all the same throughout the years?I keep checking my swing arm and it seems to be ok But for Grins I will be ordering hardend axle and swing arm bolts today.I really had planned on doing this anyway since the bike can now reach speeds in excess of 60mph and I weigh over 200lbs.If anyone else has any input please share. The bikes are out there.... We might as well get them sorted out. And I realize with a few companies making them several years ago some issues aren't going to be showing up on others.This why it is important to make sure to put Brand or actual manufacture in with your post.

[MSZ]

Correct. The ring land fails. All years of CT70 hubs are the same. However, some of the hubs you see for sale are completely worn out and have the brake linings worn past the serviceable limits. Bearings are an easy replacement, but brake linings worn beyond their limits make for very poor brakes.

[dsrt4]

Sorry about the way the last post is all configured. My phone has some issues with posting on the sitem

Do you mean the Drums are wore out beyond spec or just the shoe lining wore out?I also see in a past post Trail Buddy modifys their rear hubs on their Lifan bikes they sell.I wonder what modifactions are done to their hubs to keep them from failing?

[MSZ]

Some Honda CT70 hubs are well over 30 years old and have lived a very hard life. The drum linings are worn out beyond serviceable limits (ID is too big) and even with a new set of brake pads, the brakes still stink. It's hit or miss buying used hubs. For the most part, this isn't the case, but I've seen some worn out hubs in my day.

I can't speak of anything trailbuddy as I either run Honda or High-end Japanese aftermarket parts but have seen a number of the chinese hubs fail at the ringland where the sprockets mount. I've also seen aftermarket chinese swingarms fail at the welds. Most of this is overseas in Europe where these parts have been run longer then they have been here in the good ol USA.

Some may never have problems, others may end up with broken bikes and bones. It's the luck of the draw.

I, for one, won't risk my neck to save a couple of bucks, but I also enjoy building very high-end Honda minis.

This is just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth. Free..

[dsrt4]

I think we all agree on the fact there are some inferior parts on the Chinese bikes.
that's why the thread was started.

This is the bike I have for now so I am trying to make it Safer and more reliable.
The Bikes are out there and there's a lot of guys on the forum that may not know about the few safety issues the bike have.

For me at least the NOS Honda rear hub is on its way to replace mine.

[TrailRyd3r]

I still would like to know about these "High End Japanese Parts" you speak of Pony.

We have never had anything major fail on any of our reproduction bikes, maybe a couple bolts and little stuff here and there, but same thing could happen on a Honda.

It still comes down to chinese parts being inferior to Honda and Japan parts, and to honest it gets really old. I for one will stick with a mix of Honda and Chinese parts, been working great so far and I am saving $$ while doing it.

[MSZ]

Originally Posted by TrailRyd3r

I still would like to know about these "High End Japanese Parts" you speak of Pony.

We have never had anything major fail on any of our reproduction bikes, maybe a couple bolts and little stuff here and there, but same thing could happen on a Honda.

It still comes down to chinese parts being inferior to Honda and Japan parts, and to honest it gets really old. I for one will stick with a mix of Honda and Chinese parts, been working great so far and I am saving $$ while doing it.

What do you want to know about high-end Japanese tuning parts? Would you like to learn about Titanium exhausts? USD forks or conventional forks with cartridge emulators? Triplesquare tubing hand-crafted, made to order Swingarms with roller bearing pivots that will outlast most bikes by 100 years? Adapters to run Brembos, opposing twin piston or 4 piston calipers on your CT running common 220mm or 250mm floating disc rotors? FCR28 Downdraft Carbs that make a bike feel like it's fuel injected? How to fit Rearsets or oil catch tanks with earl's fittings? How to build an engine that doesn't rattle your teeth out at 13,000 rpms and will run 20,000 miles before a rebuild? 20HP engines that will hold together without cracking cases, or exploding gearboxes, cranks or clutches like the GPX and YX engines? LCD speedo clusters with shift lamps and built in tachometers?


Please be more specific and I'll be happy to share a weath of information with you if you start a different topic. It won't be your $cene, but if you are willing to learn, I'll be happy to share.

_________________

In regards to this topic, for the masses, a number of the available chinese parts will be fine for the demographic who just wants to mob around on a bike and keep the costs down. However, some of the parts are prone to failure whether the rider has yet to experience these failures up to this point or not. Myself and others merely point this information out to others so people don't get seriously hurt especially when modifying a machine past the capabilities it's been designed for including big displacement engines.

I honestly do not care if someone builds up and rides a bike that is 100% chinese.

But for people who aren't familiar with the downside of some of these chinese parts, I'm going to point out the known and proven shortcomings so they can make an educated decision on which way they want to go based upon fact.

You can be as sick and tired of hearing this information all you want.

It would greatly sadden me to have 1 member of this forum seriously injured riding on a part that most of the OEM's would have recalled a long time ago if there was any quality control or recall on parts that come from China.