Levo Gen 3 Snapped rear wheel internal axel

[Tyjay]

Hi
aftersome help/advice

Rear wheel was making horrible sound on Friday when riding
I thought it was the spokes so tightened a couple of slack ish ones
Didn’t do anything

removed the rear wheel and the cassette dropped off so i went to put it back on but Realised that the thru axle that goes through the wheel (not sure what it’s called) that the actual thru axle goes trough had snapped (phew)
How on earth can this snap internally never had this ever before on any wheel
and does the end cap with “top hat“ like part actually come off?

pic attached of snapped part
Iv contacted specialised rider care see what they say

thanks

 

[kawamaha]

All I can say, on my Levo Gen1 (Alloy) I had also a broken axle.
On my Gen 3 I swapped the orginal rims to DT Swiss...

 

[RustyIron]

Aluminum fatigues. It breaks. That axle looks like it has a a few miles on it.

I broke an Industry Nine. They wouldn't warranty it. It wasn't the first time they bent me over the pickle barrel. I bought a replacement because it was the most practical solution.

DT has never let me down. I know that doesnt' help you now, but maybe keep it in mind for next time. Specialized is pretty good, so maybe they'll send you a new axle. If they don't, paying for it won't set you back all that much.

 

[LautSprecher]

Which hub are you running? How many miles yet and when did you buy the bike? 1st hand / 2nd hand?
First steps: key facts.

 

[Plummet]

Yeah it happens. Typically with poor design and lower cost parts. I've broken a few on my mtbs.

Also excessive bottom outs, hard riding and excessive pie comsumption can cause axle breakage.

 

[Tyjay]

Aluminum fatigues. It breaks. That axle looks like it has a a few miles on it.

I broke an Industry Nine. They wouldn't warranty it. It wasn't the first time they bent me over the pickle barrel. I bought a replacement because it was the most practical solution.

DT has never let me down. I know that doesnt' help you now, but maybe keep it in mind for next time. Specialized is pretty good, so maybe they'll send you a new axle. If they don't, paying for it won't set you back all that much.

Axle looks worse than it should as had to put in a vice to remove end caps

All original parts I’m surprised the wheels have lasted as long as they have
They have been ridden to an inch of their life’s tbh

Have a replacement in there as a mate had same wheel with cracked rim so I took his axle and sorted it

Picking up. Hope fortus pro 5 later this week when I can be bothered

 

[irie]

All I can say, on my Levo Gen1 (Alloy) I had also a broken axle.
On my Gen 3 I swapped the orginal rims to DT Swiss...

Can't see what having different rims has to do with breaking axles ...

 

[kawamaha]

Can't see what having different rims has to do with breaking axles ...

Sorry, I am used to say rims (MX) but meant wheels (including hubs)

 

[Tepi]

Hei
apua/neuvoja jälkikäteen

Takapyörästä kuului kamala ääni perjantaina ajettaessa
Luulin, että se oli pinnoissa, joten kiristin pari löysää pinnoitta.
En tehnyt mitään

Irrotin takapyörän ja kasetti putosi pois, joten yritin laittaa sitä takaisin, mutta huomasin, että pyörän läpi kulkeva läpiakseli (en ole varma, mikä sen nimi on), jonka läpi varsinainen läpiakseli menee, oli napsahtanut poikki (huh).
Miten ihmeessä tämä voi napsahtaa sisäisesti kiinni? Ei tätä ole koskaan ennen ollut missään vanteessa.
ja irtoaako "sylinterihatun" kaltainen päätykappale oikeasti?

liitteenä kuva katkenneesta osasta
Olen ottanut yhteyttä erikoistuneeseen ratsastushuoltoon, katsotaan mitä he sanovat

Kiitos
View attachment 159884

 

[Tepi]

Hei
apua/neuvoja jälkikäteen

Takapyörästä kuului kamala ääni perjantaina ajettaessa
Luulin, että se oli pinnoissa, joten kiristin pari löysää pinnoitta.
En tehnyt mitään

Irrotin takapyörän ja kasetti putosi pois, joten yritin laittaa sitä takaisin, mutta huomasin, että pyörän läpi kulkeva läpiakseli (en ole varma, mikä sen nimi on), jonka läpi varsinainen läpiakseli menee, oli napsahtanut poikki (huh).
Miten ihmeessä tämä voi napsahtaa sisäisesti kiinni? Ei tätä ole koskaan ennen ollut missään vanteessa.
ja irtoaako "sylinterihatun" kaltainen päätykappale oikeasti?

liitteenä kuva katkenneesta osasta
Olen ottanut yhteyttä erikoistuneeseen ratsastushuoltoon, katsotaan mitä he sanovat

Kiitos
View attachment 159884

En ole koskaan nähnyt noin karkeaa pintaa akselissa.Ei ole ihme jos se särkyy. Ei mikään osa ole kunnossa ikuisesti.

 

[jgusta]

Hi
aftersome help/advice

Rear wheel was making horrible sound on Friday when riding
I thought it was the spokes so tightened a couple of slack ish ones
Didn’t do anything

removed the rear wheel and the cassette dropped off so i went to put it back on but Realised that the thru axle that goes through the wheel (not sure what it’s called) that the actual thru axle goes trough had snapped (phew)
How on earth can this snap internally never had this ever before on any wheel
and does the end cap with “top hat“ like part actually come off?

pic attached of snapped part
Iv contacted specialised rider care see what they say

thanks
View attachment 159884

Me too this past season (thick Alu walled hub axle), followed by frame thru axle snapped on mellow XC/trail to walk out, followed by air shock fulling snapping off yoke at start of harpacked flow trail..walk out, followed by rear chain stay snapping in half last week.

Absolutely loved the G3 and that bike felt solid, but lots of crazy failures in past year on that. On trails and riding that never felt pushing the bike too hard. Oh, also broke full hub shell radially on DH and totally lost control of rear brake on a steep that sent me to the ground hard. Hub was replaced before other failure occured in past year.

Due to weight of bike, especially if push bike hard at times, think everything needs to be steel, at axles and stanchions at least

 

[jgusta]

 

[jgusta]

 

[jgusta]

 

[jgusta]

View attachment 160332

Last week after landing little ladder drop to smooth transition at local trails that I have done 100’s of times in transition (non DH section of trail). Felt like tire burped badly laterally on landing to find out tires and wheel all good with no loss of air at 28psi

 

[jgusta]

View attachment 160334

Last year on local little loamer DH that send me into ground hard after having zero rear brake control from hub totally separated from rotor. That one scared me since had full pressurization at brake lever, but nothing there. In steep section where have to finesse the rear brake a bit to avoid ramming into tree

 

[Tyjay]

That’s some punishment your bikes had
it’s always the smallest thing that seems to break it

 

[jgusta]

View attachment 160333

This was a big, WTF moment as well about 2 months ago, especially right after long 2,000ft climb to top and went at start of flow trail descent. Nothing catastrophic, just felt like something loose and rattling a bit on bike after it went. Stopped to see shock totally snapped off from yoke right before rear eyelet. Long walk out. Specialized only offered 35% off “crash replacement” for new bare G3 frame (still costing me at least $2k USD, decline meager offer). Sram rep said shock snapped due to heavy sideloading with stanchion wear on one side due to assymetrical yoke/frame design for shock. Sram warranted Levo tuned Vivid Ultimate Air shock. I never bottomed shock once with 28% sag and BO resistance set to mid setting. Yoke bolt torqued to spec (21 NM w/blue loctite to threads) at time of failure

 

[jgusta]

That’s some punishment your bikes had
it’s always the smallest thing that seems to break it

Yep, all well under 2 years of use. 52 year old, 190-200lb fairly conservative rider here to avoid injury, so can continue to ride. Live in PacNW and avoid rocky riding, harsh terrain since hard on heavy ebikes

 

[jgusta]

That’s some punishment your bikes had
it’s always the smallest thing that seems to break it

Likely due to loads over time. I do ride fairly regularly. Almost 7,000 miles, one motor and battery replacement in past 2 years. Bike officially dead now and nothing to revise it

 

[jgusta]

View attachment 160334

Spank HEX ebike hub

 

[Tyjay]

Yesterday bike was making a weird noise nothing new there from the rear
couldn’t find or locate it and it went away
but when sorting* the gears out noticed that the rotor bolts were slack 2 hanging on for dear life
and 2 loose so only 2 were actually tight
pleased I noticed it as hammered the bike again today

 

[jgusta]

Yesterday bike was making a weird noise nothing new there from the rear
couldn’t find or locate it and it went away
but when sorting* the gears out noticed that the rotor bolts were slack 2 hanging on for dear life
and 2 loose so only 2 were actually tight
pleased I noticed it as hammered the bike again today
View attachment 160335

Alu Levo? I never had issues with bolts ever coming loose in my whole bike, Levo Comp Carbo G3, but buddy plagued with loose bolts, especially pivot bolts on his heavy ass XL Kennevo Alu frame. Bike roasted now and he would have to purple loctite everything. He is about 220 lbs and frequents local flat landing dirt jump lines as well that I refuse to ride my ebike on myself. Mostly a BMX hardtail place

 

[Tyjay]

Alu Levo? I never had issues with bolts ever coming loose in my whole bike, Levo Comp Carbo G3, but buddy plagued with loose bolts, especially pivot bolts on his heavy ass XL Kennevo Alu frame. Bike roasted now and he would have to purple loctite everything. He is about 220 lbs and frequents local flat landing dirt jump lines as well that I refuse to ride my ebike on myself. Mostly a BMX hardtail place

Yeah Alu levo Iv never had loose bolts tbh
but the wheel is brand new only put it on Tuesday so I just put it down to that

 

[jgusta]

Yeah Alu levo Iv never had loose bolts tbh
but the wheel is brand new only put it on Tuesday so I just put it down to that

Red loctite those puppies and torque down to spec

 

[16Rally]

Hi
aftersome help/advice

Rear wheel was making horrible sound on Friday when riding
I thought it was the spokes so tightened a couple of slack ish ones
Didn’t do anything

removed the rear wheel and the cassette dropped off so i went to put it back on but Realised that the thru axle that goes through the wheel (not sure what it’s called) that the actual thru axle goes trough had snapped (phew)
How on earth can this snap internally never had this ever before on any wheel
and does the end cap with “top hat“ like part actually come off?

pic attached of snapped part
Iv contacted specialised rider care see what they say

thanks
View attachment 159884

Hi,
Is there a replacement P/N for that internal axle (sleeve) or do I have to replace the complete rear hub, or even worse, the complete wheel assembly?
TIA

 

[Tyjay]

No you can just replace the sleeve
I contacted Specialized they told me to contact my dealer
But I didn’t as it was out of warranty
Part no I’m not sure I just got one from my mates broken wheel and just swapped it over pretty simple

 

[jgusta]

Hi,
Is there a replacement P/N for that internal axle (sleeve) or do I have to replace the complete rear hub, or even worse, the complete wheel assembly?
TIA

I have snapped two rear hub axles and one thru axle now on Levo3. Just went steel hub axle to see if that helps. The FSR Horst link must put a lot of stress on the back end. Snapped my rear stay in half (carbon) about a month ago. Specialized hosed me on full warranty replacement (cost $500). Zero rear shock bottom outs

 

[Bazzer485]

These are a lot of breakages for a gen 3. Ordinarily I would say the bike has been thrashed but I think it might be a warning to all gen 3 owners to always use a torque wrench and red loctite as shown in the user manual. Mine had what looked like. Damaged chainstay so I took it to a dealer and Specialized replaced it under warranty even though its Been ridden more than 1200 miles. I’ve got nothing but good to say about Specialized.

 

[jgusta]

These are a lot of breakages for a gen 3. Ordinarily I would say the bike has been thrashed but I think it might be a warning to all gen 3 owners to always use a torque wrench and red loctite as shown in the user manual. Mine had what looked like. Damaged chainstay so I took it to a dealer and Specialized replaced it under warranty even though its Been ridden more than 1200 miles. I’ve got nothing but good to say about Specialized.

That is good to hear and how it should be. Since my chain stay fully cracked in half, they denied warranty claim stating due to “external impact” and likely had prior cracking. I clean bike after every ride (wipe down at least and saw no evidence of cracking). I am 200 lbs for reference and landed a 3 foot little ladder drop to nice transition. Zero shock bottom outs and everything torqued to spec and bike serviced by shop regular (bearings just replaced not long ago). Feel Spesh frame warranty support quite poor in this regard, especially in comparison with experiences with companies like Trek, Santa Cruz and Banshee in past. For such a big brand, I expected better support as a consumer/rider myself.