Bicycle Mechanics - Where to find cheap rear dreailleur?

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I bought this cheapy Walmart bike at a pawn shop for 60 bucks a few days ago with the intent of using it as a daily commuter that I don't have to worry about getting stolen. A few days later I was riding it, and all the sudden I heard this crunching sound, followed by the crank locking up. I look back and the rear derailleur was all twisted and bent back. Somehow the little gears in the derailleur had broken, causing the bike to be useless. I had to abandon the bike at a gas station and walk 5 miles home.

The next dayI went to go looking for a replacement derailleur, but all I can seem to find are $60-$300 top-of-the-line ones. I'm not interested in owning a bike with the derailleur being worth more than everything else on the bike. Where can I get a cheaper one? Not even ebay has what I'm looking for. If there was such a thing as a bike junkyard, I could easily get what I want for probably under 10 bucks.

Nashbar usually has the Shimano Deore rear derailleur for around $20, which is about as good as you can get. Try also Pricepoint and Jenson USA.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/RD308A00-Sram+Esp+30.aspx

hmm this seems to be the cheapest I can find. None of the other places carry derailleurs under 50 bucks or so. How can I tell if this will it fit on my bike?

My local bike shop gave me a used one, perfectly functional, when I needed it. Doesn't hurt to ask

$14.50 for a Tourney.
You'd probably need a longer chain though.
http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?c=Derailleur&sc=Complete%20Rear&id=549159510318

You might find a junker bike for less and do a transplant.

EBAY!!!! You'll find all sorts of cheap old stuff.

you might wanna see if there's a bike collective near you.

click the link below, and then check out the directory. often bike collectives will have mountains of old parts...or even donor bikes for you to pull parts off of...

www.bikecollectives.org

Take out the old one, bring it to your LBS and ask them if they have an old used one sitting around with the same thread. Tell LBS u understand it comes with no warranty. Work it with your hands, if the spring feels worky, the pulleys look fair, take it.

Now your existing one looks like broken pulleys, they may be replaceable by themselves if u wanna go that route.

$14.50 for a Tourney.
You'd probably need a longer chain though.
http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?c=Derailleur&sc=Complete%20Rear&id=549159510318

You might find a junker bike for less and do a transplant.

A Tourney is probably what you need because they mount differently than the more expensive ones.

Why do you think that he'll need a longer chain?

Yeah, here's the Tourney with either a hanger option or no:

Tourney (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/RD303A00-Shimano+Tourney+Rd-Tx51+Rear+Derailleur.aspx)

I just got the tourney in the mail today. I got it installed and everything, but I think the chain is too tight, because the gears will not shift. When I move the lever, the derailleur just moves down, but not to the side. It's hard to explain, but I'm almost positive its because the chain is too tight.

Do you all suggest I get a new chain, or can I just add links somehow?

Do you all suggest I get a new chain, or can I just add links somehow?
Buy the chain. You'll have to buy a chain to get the spare links, and even then you might have trouble matching spare links to your existing chain. Our shop sells 8-speed chains (good for 5, 6, & 7 speed cassettes and freewheels, too) for $20--a bargain.

Contact me via BikeForums private message. I have some used derailures and can help you out cheap.