General Cycling Discussion - RECALL: Huffy cranks falling off

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08028.html

The bicycle crank can unexpectedly come off, causing the rider to lose control, fall and suffer serious injuries.

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Sold at: Kmart stores nationwide from May 2007 through July 2007 for between $80 and $100.

When I was a young lad, my cranks broke on my Huffy. The cranks were connected to the chainrings by a little piece of metal that snapped. No pedaling, no brakes, very scary.

Prob'ly got lead in the paint, too...

Huffy has received two reports of the crank coming off, resulting in one injury.

Two reports and only one injury. That an excellent reason for mass hysteria.

I know for a fact that Dura Ace cranks will fall off if you remove the bolt and forget to put it back on.

IIRC there are actually two separate recalls involved. But all of them would be unnecessary if the bikes had been properly assembled by an LBS! FWIW I was looking a couple of bikes locked up at the light pole at my local Woofle House. One was an older Huffy Ocala (5 speed cruiser with Astabula style cranks) the other was Walmart's latest and greatest Next bike. The cranks on it are a 3 piece and look awfully fragile to me. I also saw a Next 3 speed with the one piece crank and it was half thickness of the old Wald Astabulas that I am used to seeing. I realize that in some cases improved metal alloys and closer tolerance engineering have allowed parts to become smaller in cross section, however in the case of the really inexpensive bikes I suspect it is nothing more than another cost cutting measure, with the hopes that if it breaks no one gets hurt and they can crank out a few hundred thousand more and save $1 a unit:(

Aaron:)

"Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled bicycles immediately and contact Huffy Corp. to receive instructions on tightening the crank."

Well, duh. I'd much prefer to mail the bike to Huffy and have them mail me back one with tighter cranks.

omigosh, Huffy bikes have quality issues?? Who woulda thought?

You mean Huffy makes some bikes on which the cranks =don't= fall off?

same thing happened on my son's first 2 "next" bikes from wally world.

for his 3rd, i spent the extra money and got him a trek jet 20.

There is nothing wrong with Huffy cranks- It is the rest of the bike that falls away from them.

So I'm guessing Huffy sources their cranks from FSA then.

If the gorilla that assemble them out tighten the cranks like every LBS assembler should.