Hi Guys,
The brakes have very little to do with the new edition Whizzer coaster brake rear wheel issues. The actual problem occurs because of starting the motor. The most pressure on the spokes & spoke flanges is present when the wheel is used in the procees of turning the motor over to start.
This is a very serious issue as someone could easily be hurt when the wheel goes "limp".
Although some may manage to get more mileage from the wheel than others, the odds are in the 98% failure rate.
Every one of my personal collection of new edition Whizzers with the coaster brake have FAILED [not some, but all of them]! Let me say this again...........All of them failed. I have at least 30 broken hubs laying on the shelf. When the first one failed, I thought it was a rare event, and replaced it with another identical hub, after replacing several more I noticed a pattern. After about 30 I concluded it was a real problem and exchanged the remaining hubs with vintage Bendix & New Departure units. After my supply of vintage hubs was depleted, I started using Hi-Stop hubs.
This is a real safety issue, and I hope no one is hurt thinking these wheels are OK because a few managed to get a few thousand miles on them.
Have fun,