After less than a year of riding annoying problem with my dahon jack is
getting worse and worse - horrible squeaking and gnawing from
hinge contact area together with some light chipping of the same.
Has anyone ever had a problem like this? My dealer sees no structural
damage but bike is no fun to ride anymore. Is this normal for a $400
bike? Any help or advice is much appreciated !!

Regards

Nenad

I suggest you ask this question on the Dahon forum at www.dahon.com

My suggestion is to check the hinge mechanism carefully for any play. Then get some lube into the hinge moving parts, (not WD-40 which is a solvent). This won't cure the noise.

To fix the noise, use a piece of duct tape and stick it on one of the hinge faces, so that when you close the hinge, the tape is squeezed between the two faces, and will prevent any metal-to-metal contact which is what is causing your noise. Also adjust the hinge closure mech to be optimal - not loose but not too tight or it will break when you close it.

Thanks ,

you were right about WD, no effect at all, but plain old grease lubricant did miracles.
Also it was not just a hinge made noise, but tube joint above the hinge as well.....

thanks again for your advice

Nenad

Thanks ,

you were right about WD, no effect at all, but plain old grease lubricant did miracles.
Also it was not just a hinge made noise, but tube joint above the hinge as well.....
Ah, the re-bar. Yes, that is well known to make noise. Stick a piece of tape on the face of one of the tube joints.

I ordered a 2007 Dahon Jack for my niece to use as a campus bike. I figure it will be a sturdy all-rounder and have the anti-theft folding feature. That was back in mid June. Now, near the end of July, it is still on back order. I am afraid she will be off to college before it gets here. Her college is in Nebraska. Anybody get their 2007 Dahon Jack yet?

Does this mean that the folding mechanism wears out easily? Squeeking implies the frame is flexing, right? That's no good... Is there anything that can be tightened up?

The hinge can't have zero tolerance, so there is always some movement however small. The movement of bare surfaces over each other will usually make noise, so some vinyl tape or something like that will provide a flexible medium to prevent noise. t's not a bad idea to use tape on hinge faces.

And yes it will wear out. Like everything else in the universe, no exceptions. But probably not before you wear out. :)