Fixing a Used bike
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Fixing a Used bike
Hi Folks: I am thinking about buying a used Santa Cruz bike that need work. The owner says the bb has play, the rear freehub is noisy (sounds like is really dry, rumbling) and some of the housing could do with replacing. Can anyone give me some thoughts on the cost of parts etc.? Also, What is the BB? Tks!
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
Santa Cruz's are pretty sophisticated mountain bikes so if you don't know what a bottom bracket is you are better off starting with something simpler to learn on.
#4
Listen to me
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Lexus Texas
Posts: 2,788
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Cables & housings are cheap.
Hubs are $$ and generally not servicable.
BBs are $$
If the owner neglected those items enough he/she probably neglected the more sensitive $$ items as well.
Hubs are $$ and generally not servicable.
BBs are $$
If the owner neglected those items enough he/she probably neglected the more sensitive $$ items as well.
#5
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Tks for the quick reply. I would probably do a combo of both trying to save $, but recognizing my limitations (hopefully). I have friend with tools and could help, but I am not a mechanical genius. Tks,
Originally Posted by barba
The BB is the bottom bracket. Do you plan on doing your own work? Do you have the tools?
#6
cyclist/gearhead/cycli...
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: DC / Maryland suburbs
Posts: 4,166
Bikes: Homebuilt tourer/commuter, modified-beyond-recognition 1990 Trek 1100, reasonably stock 2002-ish Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by powers2b
Cables & housings are cheap.
Hubs are $$ and generally not servicable.
BBs are $$
If the owner neglected those items enough he/she probably neglected the more sensitive $$ items as well.
Hubs are $$ and generally not servicable.
BBs are $$
If the owner neglected those items enough he/she probably neglected the more sensitive $$ items as well.
Bottom brackets are not that expensive either. You can get a new square taper cartridge BB from Nashbar for about $15. If the BB is an old cup-and-cone style, rather than a cartridge BB, it may only need some new ball bearings and grease. Again, a messy job requiring a couple special tools, and very similar to overhauling a hub... once you learn one job, you'll have no problem with the other.
joyster, I recommend this book which is a very basic and well illustrated--but very thorough--guide to bike repair and maintenance. Also, Sheldon Brown's web site contains even more and better repair info, but it's nice to have a book laying in front of you when actually working on your bike. You can definitely learn all this stuff at once, but be patient and be aware that it may be a steep learning curve.