Ive seen posts like this b4 on here....Startin to worry me too...i got a shitload of spokes and so far so good from what ive heard...

Think that Surly made a claim through Frasers on a Street Bob he had back in 06.... got a feeling they switched to stainless.. but there may have been some funds exchanged

i got the same thing on my 08 dyna , should be getting my new front wheel this week under warrenty

Hey Steve, how close to the coast do you live?? I am only 1km inland and the air here must be saturated with salt. The front wheel spokes rusted within 4 weeks of new in 2003 and had never been wet. Apparently, HD spokes were improved a couple of years later. I just got my wheel re-spoked with stainless steel ones. Some of them still went a bit rusty but took a hell of a lot longer time for this to happen. 

Can't beat high quality chrome wheels like the Thunderstars. A few wipes and they're spotless!!! Much easier and quicker than laced rims!!

cheers

kiteman

I'm surprised that it's as bad that far inland as the summer seabreeze often doesn't get that far. You'll probably also find that the worst rusting is on the "leading" face of the front wheel spokes. In other words, it's the spoke cutting its way through the crappy polluted air at axle level that is the worst affected. Probably cost say $250 to get the wheel re-spoked with stainless. Worth trying warranty though........you never know..... ....

 

Living in Tassie we are not far from the ocean where ever we go. I went in the garage to check my 8 month old softail standard and there is no rust present as yet (done 12K and not cleaned that much). My previous softail started rusting where the trees clamped to the forks after only 12 months. My Heritage before that had a problem with rusting wheel rims but it was nearly 10 years old.
I read somewhere that the EPA in America has got to the chroming process (the chemicals used) and the quality is not what it used to be.

Sorry Steve, I didn't mean to mislead you. If you find that HD don't help you out with replacing wheels/spokes then having them re-spoked at your expense is the next best thing. You would need to check out the non-dealer outlets like SuperCycles etc for a price.

I think there are a couple of other regular HD service/rebuild places around Perth that could do the job at a fair price. Ask on this forum and check the Sunday classifieds too. If no luck then give me a call on 9387-5676 weekdaytime.

 

 

I had the choice of free harley spokes or pay for stainless and they pay for fitting. It was $250 for SS and I went that way.

cheers
Surly