Tandem Wheel Question

[ratina]

The guy I sold the Green Schwinn Twinn too had another rusty tandem he wanted to fix up for someone. He bought mine instead and was going to give me the old one, but now the person he gave the first one to wants a second for her other kids. Its pretty ratty. Anyways, my question is, the back rim was swapped out for an old Sears rim. Now I don't know how off brands were, but Schwinns had the heavy gauge spokes. This bike still has the original front rim but the tires shot. Anyways, my question is, will regular bike rims support the weight of 2 riders on a tandem? I know younger kids are going to be riding it, but I'd like it to be safe regardless. I don't really see a problem, just thought I'd ask and see what your guys opinions are.

 

[maddogrider]

I put a single wall rim with light gage spokes on a tandem it only made 2 short rides before it was bent so bad it was rubbing the frame.

 

[ratina]

Ouch.

Anyone else? Did offbrand tandems have regular gauge spokes?

 

[theVULTURE]

HUFFY makes this one. got it for free from my chief @ work. i read your post and went out to the garage to have a look at the spokes...... they don't look any more heavy duty than anything else i have. BUT, you raise a very good question :?
this bike is actually going to be my next RAT BUILD (i'll post my progress in the BUILD section)
these spokes don't look any "heavier" than normal....... i hope they will support me and the wife this summer :lol: ------- :shock:

 

[Schwinnspastic]

I don't know about off brands but my 82 Schwinn tandem rools on s6 rims with heavy gauge spokes.

 

[bikesntrikes]

Not sure about Schwinns, but I have a Rollfast tandem and just acquired a rat Huffy tandem. The Rollfast has what look to be heavy duty spokes, while the Huffy appears to have regular spokes. However, not sure if the wheels on the Huffy are original to the bike.

 

[CCR]

$240 at walmart for a kaluna lua tandem, no beefy spokes on them.

 

[ratina]

Thanks for all the help guys.

I know the guy wants to fix this bike on the cheap, and I bet its near impossible to find a rear s-7 with heavy gauge spokes, and im sure its $$$.

I bet a regular s-7 would be stronger than an offbrand rim at least since there tubular right?

 

[CCR]

the s-7s are stronger than the single wall rims, but im sure the beefy spokes were for the extra weight, like how the heavy duti and cycle trucks were made for hauling, strong wheels and beefy spokes, same with the worksman bikes, beefy spokes and strong wheels.

with regular spokes i would think it would just need trued up more often and may not handle abuse too well. if its just a coaster brake single speed, i wouldnt hesitate to try any old wheel on it, but i wouldnt expect it to be trouble free down the road either

 

[ratina]

Yes the tandem is a single speed coaster.

I suppose I'll throw a set of rims on there and ride it hard and see what happens