Bicycle Mechanics - Crankset on bike came damaged... advice please

I ordered 2 new mtb's from a bike shop. I assembled the first bike and everything was peachy. The 2nd bike however has a bent 48 ring on the crankset. The inner 2 rings are true as far as I can tell but the outer ring looks like it was bent as if someone put their weight on the box right where it was. What do you guys think I should do? I really don't want to deal with the hassle of sending it back. Taking it to a "nearby" LBS isn't an option since the closest is a good 30-40 miles away, thus why I have been learning how to do all the work on my own bike.

The LBS that shipped them to me is such a nice guy and gave me a great deal. Thus, I would be willing to put some effort to fix it rather than drive it 2 hours to drop it off at his shop. So, I was going to ask him to send me the parts and I would fix them myself and send him back the damaged parts. You guys think that's fair? Everything else on the bike seemed ok to me.

So here are the questions I want to ask about the crankset:

Is it possible to take apart the crankset and replace just the outer ring? What is the difficulty of this job?
Should I just ask for a replacement crankset?

Thanks for the patience with my posts guys :) I am learning more with each day :)

I ordered 2 new mtb's from a bike shop. I assembled the first bike and everything was peachy. The 2nd bike however has a bent 48 ring on the crankset. The inner 2 rings are true as far as I can tell but the outer ring looks like it was bent as if someone put their weight on the box right where it was. What do you guys think I should do? I really don't want to deal with the hassle of sending it back. Taking it to a "nearby" LBS isn't an option since the closest is a good 30-40 miles away, thus why I have been learning how to do all the work on my own bike.

The LBS that shipped them to me is such a nice guy and gave me a great deal. Thus, I would be willing to put some effort to fix it rather than drive it 2 hours to drop it off at his shop. So, I was going to ask him to send me the parts and I would fix them myself and send him back the damaged parts. You guys think that's fair? Everything else on the bike seemed ok to me.

So here are the questions I want to ask about the crankset:

Is it possible to take apart the crankset and replace just the outer ring? What is the difficulty of this job?
Should I just ask for a replacement crankset?

Thanks for the patience with my posts guys :) I am learning more with each day :)

Taking apart a crank is easy, assuming it isn't one of those cheapo ones with the rings riveted onto he arms. Just use an allen wrench to remove the chain ring bolts. I would just ask for a replacement ring if there is no other issue.

I'd email the guy you bought it from and describe the situation. I'd be willing to bet he'd send you out a new chainring. If not you can go buy one and install it yourself.

It's literally a 5 minute operation.

Taking apart a crank is easy, assuming it isn't one of those cheapo ones with the rings riveted onto he arms. Just use an allen wrench to remove the chain ring bolts. I would just ask for a replacement ring if there is no other issue.


^^^+1. I think it's very fair to ask for a replacement chainring, and meet the LBS half-way by providing the labour. What brand/model crank do you have? If it is as assumed above, and you have an allen wrench, the job should take about five minutes.

WOW! Thanks for the fast replies guys. These are entry level schwinn ladies mtb's that I bought, hoping to interest my g/f and sister to do something together that's healthy and outdoors. They both seemed excited when I told them of my plans so that's always a plus! :) I will head out in about 30 mins over to my sisters house to look at it and see if I can take it apart. I am hoping it isn't the cheap crankset with the rivets...... will be back with an update asap. Once again, thanks for the patience........ my noob self is learning :) Kind of stoked to fix it myself..... will let me put the books and tools the g/f got me for xmas for my bike to use. :)

If it is of riveted design (thus making the crank and chainrings essentially one piece), you can ask the LBS to send a new right crank assembly. You'd have to remove the crank with a "crank extractor", and install the new one with a socket or hex wrench (Allen style). If you don't have a "crank extractor", perhaps you can make a deal with the LBS (like loan you the extractor and you'll send it back with the old cranks or maybe sell you one for half price).

A g/f that give tools for gifts?! Definitely a keeper!!

I swung by and looked at the bikes and saw that the cranksets are Suntours with the rivets. Looks like I will end up replacing the crankset. I will call the bike shop up tommorow and see what he can do for me. Was looking at the crank pullers and it's a low cost tool so I would just end up ordering one from nashbar. Just gotta read up more on how to change it.
You guys think I should just ask him to cut me a discount on a better crankset, or just stick with the OEM suntours. After all, if the girls get serious about riding, I will buy them better bikes.

Thanks for all the help guys :) Will keep you guys updated :)

What makes you think the cranks are Suntours? Suntour went bankrupt in the early '90s.

Because they say suntour. Checked on schwinns site too.... definately suntour. Perhaps they were bought out and the name used again. Check for yourself... :)

SR Suntour (not the Sun Tour that used to be) makes cranksets and other bits for bikes.

Was looking at the crank pullers and it's a low cost tool so I would just end up ordering one from nashbar. Just gotta read up more on how to change it.
You guys think I should just ask him to cut me a discount on a better crankset, or just stick with the OEM suntours. After all, if the girls get serious about riding, I will buy them better bikes.

Thanks for all the help guys :) Will keep you guys updated :)

Regarding removing cranks, see this link from Park Tool site: http://www.parktool.com/repair/byregion.asp?catid=59&imageField2.x=22&imageField2.y=14

First you'll need to determine if the crank to bottom bracket interface is "square taper", or "ISIS". The end of a "square taper" is square. The end of an "ISIS" is a 10 pointed star shape. You'll need to match the tool to the interface. For exampe, Park offer:

CCP-2 ( fitls square taper only)
CCP-4 ( fits ISIS and Octalink only) - Octalink is Shimano's 8-pointed star interface
CWP-6 (fits square taper, ISIS and Octalink)

There are other tool manufacturers, and I mention Park only because I like their website.

That ring is mild steel. Easily bent back to shape. This happens a lot on these bikes. Just bend it back with pair of channel locks. Takes a little patience to get it straight, but it's still way quicker than removing the old one, sending it back....yada, yada....

This ain't Campy carbon. Just bend it back.

I swung by and looked at the bikes and saw that the cranksets are Suntours with the rivets. Looks like I will end up replacing the crankset. I will call the bike shop up tommorow and see what he can do for me. Was looking at the crank pullers and it's a low cost tool so I would just end up ordering one from nashbar. Just gotta read up more on how to change it.
You guys think I should just ask him to cut me a discount on a better crankset, or just stick with the OEM suntours. After all, if the girls get serious about riding, I will buy them better bikes.

Thanks for all the help guys :) Will keep you guys updated :)
I'm agreeing with BikeWise, just bend it back. If you are insistent on replacing it, which you have every right to be, I'd ask the shop that sold it to provide a replacement and buy the proper removal tool from them and have them ship it with the replacement instead of ordering from Nashbar. Reason being you will have to pay shipping from Nashbar, but if you buy from the bike shop... they're going to be shipping the crank anyhow :)