Lightning spider failure - crank ok?
07-23-23, 01:15 PM
#1
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Lightning spider failure - crank ok?
I recently posted regarding what was thought to be a bottom bracket issue but was discovered to be a loose spider lockring. We thought this was all resolved and the bike rode beautifully during the ~200 mile seattle to portland ride. We did a ~40 mile "spirited" group ride yesterday with not issues. Today, 16 miles into another group ride the spider completely failed. I have emailed Tim at lighning photos but it appears they are closed for the next several weeks. I plan to call Calfee tomorrow to see if they have a 110bcd spider in stock but am concerned that the key on the crank arm may be damaged. Any comments based on the attached photos?
07-23-23, 07:14 PM
#2
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Only thing I have to add is Lightning was helpful to us in replacing a broken crank arm. It may take a bit of time, but in our experience they Will ultimately take care of you.
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07-23-23, 07:15 PM
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Also fwiw, I have a Lightning 130 bcd spider I could part with if it helps
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
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07-24-23, 11:12 AM
#4
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I cannot answer your question directly, but I do have a few comments FWIW.
If the spline on the crank is steel and the spider is aluminum, steel is much harder than aluminum and is likely that all the damage would be to the softer metal (i.e. the aluminum spider). If the spline and spider are of similar hardness, then there could be damage to both.
Your team had to apply some serious torque for that spider to disintegrate like it did. Awesome job!
. If the spider is aluminum, the spline steel, and your team created the condition for the spider to fail, it will likely happen again. We destroyed 4 cassettes, breaking the aluminum spider that held the largest 3 cogs and fit over the free-hub by breaking the spider in a weak thin spot during hard acceleration. All 4 cassettes were identical and failed in the exact same way. We also suffered identical failures pulling a spoke through a rear hub on two identical hubs during hard braking while descending. The point here is unless the conditions that caused your failure are unique and unlikely to occur again, you may suffer a similar failure in the future if using the same crank/spider.
I'm interested in hearing what Lightning says.
Good luck and ride safe!
If the spline on the crank is steel and the spider is aluminum, steel is much harder than aluminum and is likely that all the damage would be to the softer metal (i.e. the aluminum spider). If the spline and spider are of similar hardness, then there could be damage to both.
Your team had to apply some serious torque for that spider to disintegrate like it did. Awesome job!
. If the spider is aluminum, the spline steel, and your team created the condition for the spider to fail, it will likely happen again. We destroyed 4 cassettes, breaking the aluminum spider that held the largest 3 cogs and fit over the free-hub by breaking the spider in a weak thin spot during hard acceleration. All 4 cassettes were identical and failed in the exact same way. We also suffered identical failures pulling a spoke through a rear hub on two identical hubs during hard braking while descending. The point here is unless the conditions that caused your failure are unique and unlikely to occur again, you may suffer a similar failure in the future if using the same crank/spider.I'm interested in hearing what Lightning says.
Good luck and ride safe!
07-24-23, 01:01 PM
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07-24-23, 01:04 PM
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I had done a search and saw your post on that so i am hopeful. I figure if the arm is $300 plus a post covid inflation adjustment that would be acceptable 😃. Also hoping since ours is the stoker driveside they may have one since it is not necessarily tandem specific.
07-24-23, 01:10 PM
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I cannot answer your question directly, but I do have a few comments FWIW.
If the spline on the crank is steel and the spider is aluminum, steel is much harder than aluminum and is likely that all the damage would be to the softer metal (i.e. the aluminum spider). If the spline and spider are of similar hardness, then there could be damage to both.
Your team had to apply some serious torque for that spider to disintegrate like it did. Awesome job!. If the spider is aluminum, the spline steel, and your team created the condition for the spider to fail, it will likely happen again. We destroyed 4 cassettes, breaking the aluminum spider that held the largest 3 cogs and fit over the free-hub by breaking the spider in a weak thin spot during hard acceleration. All 4 cassettes were identical and failed in the exact same way. We also suffered identical failures pulling a spoke through a rear hub on two identical hubs during hard braking while descending. The point here is unless the conditions that caused your failure are unique and unlikely to occur again, you may suffer a similar failure in the future if using the same crank/spider.
I'm interested in hearing what Lightning says.
Good luck and ride safe!
If the spline on the crank is steel and the spider is aluminum, steel is much harder than aluminum and is likely that all the damage would be to the softer metal (i.e. the aluminum spider). If the spline and spider are of similar hardness, then there could be damage to both.
Your team had to apply some serious torque for that spider to disintegrate like it did. Awesome job!
. If the spider is aluminum, the spline steel, and your team created the condition for the spider to fail, it will likely happen again. We destroyed 4 cassettes, breaking the aluminum spider that held the largest 3 cogs and fit over the free-hub by breaking the spider in a weak thin spot during hard acceleration. All 4 cassettes were identical and failed in the exact same way. We also suffered identical failures pulling a spoke through a rear hub on two identical hubs during hard braking while descending. The point here is unless the conditions that caused your failure are unique and unlikely to occur again, you may suffer a similar failure in the future if using the same crank/spider.I'm interested in hearing what Lightning says.
Good luck and ride safe!
Both the spline on the crank and the spider appear to be aluminum. We only went ~100ft or so with it physically skipping.
Your cassette problems sound very familiar, at my previous weight I used to keep a spare xt cassette for my tandem as we would shear the aluminum carrier at least once a year
08-12-23, 09:52 AM
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Quick update, I recieived a response back from Tim that the crank arm looks fine. He mentioned that the 110bcd spider was essentially a lightweight single bike part and that some teams do eventually crack it. He mentioned a heavier duty tandem specific version in development that should be available within a year so I'll keep an eye on this one and hopefully the new version is available before this one detonates.
New spider and tool has arrived, installed and tested. The spider keyed perfectly to the crank arm with no slop. ~60 mile , 6900ft ride tomorrow so here's hoping for the best lol.
New spider and tool has arrived, installed and tested. The spider keyed perfectly to the crank arm with no slop. ~60 mile , 6900ft ride tomorrow so here's hoping for the best lol.
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