Mtn bike issues

[Malladine]

They were certainly not high quality but before i go an spend hundreds on a new one I thought i'd check to see if anyone else has experienced this and has found a bike that is immune.

Where the pedal is connected to the frame it sort of strips off, like stripping a screw head. Difficult to describe, but when it starts there's nothing I can do to stop it or fix it. Gets worse everytime until it falls off.

Does this make any sense?

Oh and it's the left pedal - not the chain side.

 

[mordantmonkey]

buy better pedals? what cranks do you have?

wait..strips where it is connected to the frame? elaborate

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
buy better pedals? what cranks do you have?

Oh man i'm in way over my head already Don't know what cranks are
The pedals were stock, both times. I figured replacing the pedals wouldn't work as the frame side is stripped as well as the pedal socket.

And strips like the actual bolt connecting the pedal to the frame is stripped as in rounded where it should be hexagonal or whatever.

 

[Modeps]

:camera:'s?

 

[mordantmonkey]

how old is the crank case? maybe the crank case is seizing up and causing you to strip out the threads in the cranks? but that wouldn't explain the pedals stripping. is this a really old bike that hasn't had much maintenance?

 

[Malladine]

Well these bikes are in the UK and AZ rusting, in NH now. So no pics, my inadequate descriptive abilities are all I have to offer

 

[Malladine]

The bikes weren't particularly old - 3-4yrs tops. Or is that old for a bike?

Maintenance was less than it should have been for sure, but I did oil the chain! :beer:

 

[Kelemvor]

:camera:s would help show what you're talking about.

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
:camera:s would help show what you're talking about.

Indeed

I guess the fact that nobody really understands yet is a good sign that it was a fluke and if I buy a decent bike I have nothing to worry about...

That said, monkey appears to know somewhat. What maintenance would you suggest to avoid returning to perambulatory purgatory?

 

[mordantmonkey]

just to clarify the pedal is just the part that your foot touches. the crank is the bar and drive gear. on eather side these cranks attach to the crank case the part inside the frame housing bearings and what not.

 

[mordantmonkey]

well depends on how much damage you've done. and what kind of set up you have. older bikes have bearings that ride in cups. newer ones just have a cartridge that you replace.

 

[Malladine]

Ah, it's the crank -> frame part that i'm referring to. Thanks for clearing that up

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
well depends on how much damage you've done. and what kind of set up you have. older bikes have bearings that ride in cups. newer ones just have a cartridge that you replace.

Ah so they so wear out as i've attempted to describe?

 

[mordantmonkey]

Originally posted by: Malladine

Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
well depends on how much damage you've done. and what kind of set up you have. older bikes have bearings that ride in cups. newer ones just have a cartridge that you replace.

Ah so they so wear out as i've attempted to describe?

no that would be unusual. would be the result of major rusting + bike not being used for a long time.
as far as repair goes... the cheaper the bike the less likely it will be able to be repaired.

what brand of bike is it?

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: mordantmonkey

Originally posted by: Malladine

Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
well depends on how much damage you've done. and what kind of set up you have. older bikes have bearings that ride in cups. newer ones just have a cartridge that you replace.

Ah so they so wear out as i've attempted to describe?

no that would be unusual. would be the result of major rusting + bike not being used for a long time.
as far as repair goes... the cheaper the bike the less likely it will be able to be repaired.

what brand of bike is it?

You got me. Can I basically rest assured that if I purchase a decent brand I should never have to worry about this happening, no matter how many giant hills I ride up?

What brands do you recommend btw?

 

[Blieb]

sorry to thread crap, but there's too many monkeys jumping on the bed!

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: Blieb
sorry to thread crap, but there's too many monkeys jumping on the bed!

lol it was giving me a headache actually

I claim the monkey damnit!

 

[mordantmonkey]

Originally posted by: Malladine
What brands do you recommend btw?

depends. how much do you wnat to spend? how much do you ride? can you get it maintenanced/do it yourself?

giant, specialized, gary fisher, kona are top notch but probably too expensive for your tastes.
you can find some decent schwinns, mongooses, maybe even a trek or two for <$200.

if you aren't gin crazy off road then you can look at the lighter framed "cruiser bikes. their prices can be more reasonable than the "true" mountain bikes.

if you don't want to spend more than $100 then you can buy walmart specials, but they aren't worth it IMO. better to hunt for a good brand at a thrift shop, or buy an OK bike at a thrift shop and get it maintenanced.

 

[40Hands]

Originally posted by: Blieb
sorry to thread crap, but there's too many monkeys jumping on the bed!

We got a freekin' comedian in the house!

 

[ThisIsMatt]

I've worn out the crank bearing/housing on a cheap bike before, but the actual crank never broke. How freakin big are you, 600 pounds?!

 

[Malladine]

I can see myself spending $150-$250. Though cruiser might be the way to go. They are capable of lighter off road and smooth on road riding? Schwinn, Mongoose, Trek. OK!

 

[Koing]

I had a Huffy bike and nothing happened to it in the 8yrs I had it for. It was not looked after well also as I was about 8 or 9

My bike purchased 2.5yrs ago is holding up seriously well. I oil everything on it about 4 - 6 weeks and clean the crap off it. Spins like a charm

I'm sure a bike of decent build would be fine.

Koing

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt
I've worn out the crank bearing/housing on a cheap bike before, but the actual crank never broke. How freakin big are you, 600 pounds?!

hehe, nah, 180 but, for lack of a better word, I crank like hell on my bikes going uphill

 

[mordantmonkey]

just find a bike shop in your area. look at what they have. cruiser bike look like halfway between a road bike and a mountain bike. they were made for light off road and onroad use. $150-$250 should be able to get you pretty decent bike. one bike shop around here hardly carries anything less than $500. so if they don't have what you want, try another store.

 

[mordantmonkey]

Originally posted by: Malladine

Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt
I've worn out the crank bearing/housing on a cheap bike before, but the actual crank never broke. How freakin big are you, 600 pounds?!

hehe, nah, 180 but, for lack of a better word, I crank like hell on my bikes going uphill

if you mean move the bike from side to side they call it honking in the UK. i can't remember what we call it here, which is weird cause i've never been to britian!