Currie Tricruiser axle failure warning

[etriker]

2 days ago my Tricruiser axle broke.

I have broke ribs and ankle.

Took a real hard hit to the head but had a helmet on.

Glad to be alive.

Got home and googled Tricruiser broke axle.

http://www.google.com/search?q=tricruis ... ox&ie=&oe=

Called Currie and they are going to take care of it.

Be warned because it happened fast, out of the blue.

I did not know about the recall until after the wreck.

[TylerDurden]

Yikes.

Thanks for the info.

[ddk]

Hope you heal soon!
Good job not dying

it's an engineering flaw for sure. (as if much of this crap is actually 'engineered')
I indirectly drive the rear axle of my tricycles via a jackshaft/hub because I had doubts about a 5/8" or 15mm axle's ability to take the stresses directly.
Apparently some can't as seen by this recall.

[etriker]

Hope you heal soon!
Good job not dying

it's an engineering flaw for sure. (as if much of this crap is actually 'engineered')
I indirectly drive the rear axle of my tricycles via a jackshaft/hub because I had doubts about a 5/8" or 15mm axle's ability to take the stresses directly.
Apparently some can't as seen by this recall.

Thanks !

I will show pictures of the replacement axle when I get it and see what changes they made.

[Sancho's Horse]

Where did it break on the axle?

I have a worksman, and I was going to replace the existing axle/wheels. I was thinking about using some 1 inch keyed axle stock which I have, and having it machined to accomodate their wheels. It sounds like it was from the force of the mid-drive, so, this is a go. I checked out the 1 inch freewheel options once before, but I will go back and review before ordering the extra pillow block bearings.

Sorry to hear about your injuries, but thanks for posting. Timely, I was just sorting through my concerns over the axle diameter issue. Best of recovery.

[ddk]

...I have a worksman, and I was going to replace the existing axle/wheels. I was thinking about using some 1 inch keyed axle stock which I have, and having it machined to accomodate their wheels. It sounds like it was from the force of the mid-drive, so, this is a go. I checked out the 1 inch freewheel options once before, but I will go back and review before ordering the extra pillow block bearings. ...

any axle from 5/8" to 3/4" will easily handle 5 horsepower over an unsupported length of a tricycle with a full axle if the applied force is properly supported. It's just that the tricycle tube axles aren't always made from the strongest materials or use adequate sealed bearings.
A 1" axle can handle lots lots more power.
What size axle does your Worksman have fitted? -as some of them come with 1" axles, 3/4" axles, 5/8" axles and that import thingy with a 15mm if I remember correctly (probably not)
The unsupported area between bearings, the number and type of bearings used all make a difference in the load/force handling capability of an axle, as is the material the axle is made of. (one of my more cornfuzing sentences too be sure)

I'm old skool engineering type relying mainly on "brute force" and "over spec'd" by very large margins if my personal rear end's liable to get damaged. I mainly take issue with the 15mm axles that have become the 'norm' on most the import trikes from Taiwan. I've done all sorts of silly stuff with a 5/8" axle but generally very close to the bearing supports

[etriker]

Where did it break on the axle?

I have a worksman, and I was going to replace the existing axle/wheels. I was thinking about using some 1 inch keyed axle stock which I have, and having it machined to accomodate their wheels. It sounds like it was from the force of the mid-drive, so, this is a go. I checked out the 1 inch freewheel options once before, but I will go back and review before ordering the extra pillow block bearings.

Sorry to hear about your injuries, but thanks for posting. Timely, I was just sorting through my concerns over the axle diameter issue. Best of recovery.

Thanks

It broke on the not driven side where the threads start. I am about 165lbs.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x218 ... NP0022.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x218 ... NP0024.jpg

[Punx0r]

It's probably not the size, but the junk steel it's made from that's the problem...

Hope you heal up soon

[etriker]

It's probably not the size, but the junk steel it's made from that's the problem...

Hope you heal up soon

Thanks

That is what I am thinking too. Junk steel.

[etriker]

Currie took care of me today.

They were first class when something went wrong.

[docnjoj]

If you are allowed to give details of your settlement please do. My trike runs on 12 mm front axles which are actually grade 5 bolts. No problems in 3+years of riding it.
otherDoc

[etriker]

Replaced the rear end of the trike today and rode out !

17 days 3 hours without riding ! That was tough !

Longest time without a ride since 2007.

Currie really came through for me and helped get this etriker back on the road !

[Lessss]

Had a little incident on the way home









barrel role and the other wheel taco'd and my LED light got smashed. Minor bump to the helmet ( not even a scratch on it ). It happened While I was in a turn.

This is a model SN number outside the recall.