Mountain Biking - I bought a Mountain Bike!!!!

In another posting I asked advice on a circa 1998 Giant Rincon SE mountain bike that a friend at work was selling. It belonged to her son who never rode it. She originally paid $400 for it at the LBS back in '98 (or thereabouts) and she just wanted to get it out of her garage. She gave it to me for $45! It truly looks like I bought it brand new!

It's an extra large frame and is really a bit big for me, but with the seat lower and forward a little, it feels ok... especially for just riding around the neighborhood and with my two sons.

Question: I took the chain off to clean and lube everything really well, but the crank is "sticky." It kind of turns in a jerky motion. Not really noticable when you ride it, but when you turn it by hand, you can feel it kind of stick, then let loose, then stick, then let loose, etc... One of the pedals is also slightly damaged as though it was hit by a car in the garage or something. Could this have damaged the crank bearings? Or is this something that is suppose to keep the crank from turning freely like my road bike does?

Question 2: If it is damaged, what do I have to do to repair it, and can I do it myself?

Thanks a bunch!

From your description, it looks like the bottom-bracket bearings are binding (the "bottom bracket" is the axle and bearings the cranks rotate on), and that can be caused by a side-impact like being bumped with the car.

It's a remove-and-replace repair, usually, and fairly easy --if you have the special Shimano tool to do it. I think you should take it to a bike shop, and be prepared to Double The Price of the bike if that's what the problem is (ie $45 for a cheap bottom bracket and the swap-out). It could be something else, but let the bike shop person look at the bike and see what they find while you wait.

:)

what does the tool look like? one of these? http://www.performancebike.com/shop/subcategory.cfm?Cat_ID=23&Sub_ID=4200

i would take it to a shop. this way they can help you purchase the correct tool and parts you need. not all bottom brackets and cranks are the same so it would suck to purchase the wrong tools and or parts.

the shop doesn't have to do the work if you want to learn to do it yourself (i comend you for that) but they can tell you what parts you need.

cool! thanks!