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View Full Version : Damaged Crank - can it be repaired or just replaced.



plaitar
09-27-07, 05:42 PM
I am sad and very mad tonight as I think about the damage to the crank on my relatively new Strong GT ebike.

Since getting it in mid-July I have been able to ride to work all but about 4 or 5 days...not bad for a guy who hasn't ridden a bike in 20 years.

But about mid-way on my commute there is a bad intersection. Rough surface, storm sewer grates right at the edge of the intersection that are 3 or 4 inches below the road surface, awkward angles to the road, hills and aggressive drivers going to fast on their way home.

Tonight I got sandwiched in by a car who thought it was better to go to fast, find out there wasn't enough room for him, me and the approaching car, which forced me to have to head straight for the sub-road level sewer grate. Not wanting to hit it head on I tried to move between the grate and the curb and managed to navigate the front wheel between but then my right-hand pedal caught the edge of the curb, crushing part of it and twisting the right-hand crank slightly out and back.

Luckily I didn't flip and between pedaling with my heel (less of a twisting motion) and the motor I managed to get home. I am hoping it is only the crank and pedal that need replacing.

Question is, on the Strong GT bike (or any bike) can the crank either:
a) attempt to be staightened,
b) be replace by any other crank or must it be the same one direct from the manufacturer?

I had hoped to ride to work well into the winter months but I am concerned that getting a OEM replacement part through Canadian Tire>Strong Canada>China might take until next spring! There doesn't appear to be a way to order parts directly form Strong.

I would sooner replace both cranks and pedals then need to wait to long.

Any suggestions?

~Phil

cerewa
09-27-07, 06:12 PM
I looked at the strong canada website. It appears that pretty much all of the components except the electric stuff are standard bicycle components. If it were my e-bike I would try to bend the crankarm back, but a bike shop should be able to replace your cranks. I think it's a one-piece crankset (the right and left arms and the axle connecting them are one piece) which is unusual on bike-shop bikes and common on low-quality Canadian Tire bikes... bike shop employees may insult you for buying such a bike but they also know how to replace its cranks.

karma
09-28-07, 12:36 AM
i did the same thing to my izip from crappy tire. i found it faster to go to the local bike store and pick out my own parts. way better ride now.

Endless_BiGH
09-28-07, 09:51 AM
yeah my mentality is if u wear out a part or brake it upgrade it to the optimum (strength, or lightness)

plaitar
09-28-07, 10:17 AM
Well, Canadian Tire is looking into it for me. The employees are helpful but did say 2-3 weeks, which I translate into 4-6 weeks.

If as several of you have suggested that the parts can be replaced by a local bike shop I think I will take the bike over tonight and check it out.

I think I can put up with the potential sneers of my Canadian Tire special by the cycle elite...it was what I could afford and serves me well...and I am to far up in age to care anymore. ;)

Thanks for the input from everyone.

JeanCoutu
09-29-07, 12:21 PM
Somewhat related, John S. Allen knows what's up:
http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/index.htm