biglc0

I feel like I got ripped off. I feel like I bought a $400 bike from Wal - Mart. I bought it from a local bike shop. READ!!

So my problem this time. When I pedal, my left pedal seems wobbly. So I checked out the pedal shaft, and the bolt holding it in was loose. So I tighten. I ride about 2 feet, what do you know, the bolt gets loose again. So what should I do, I've been losing sleep over this. Everytime I ride my bike just breaks down.

roughrider504

Maby try some LocTite? The crank threading could be stripped, happened to me before.

twahl

Take it back for a refund, not an exchange. Visit a bike shop.

ax0n

I'd try to get your cash back, bro. Not an exchange. Money back.

then spend $400 at a bike shop. For real, that will get you an entry-level bike and accessories, and it will last and last and last...

Plus, depending on the shop, you might have a year or even a whole lifetime of free tune-ups and adjustments.

If you can't get a refund, then you can try using blue-colored thread lock on your pedal threads. And make sure it's properly torqued.

$400. I'm not kidding, that's enough to pick up a good amount of accessories (like blinkie lights, a helmet, etc) on top of a Gary Fisher Advance (mtb), Trek 7100 (hybrid), Specialized HardRock Sport (mtb) or Crossroads sport (hybrid). There are a lot of decent bikes in the $300-$400 range.

Kol.klink

Right on

Happend to a buddy (****ty tire bike) wouldnt take it back, (long story) we ended up welding it on because the thread was striped and it was a cheap bike

McDave

Turn it the other way. The left pedal uses left-hand threads.

biglc0

I actually got it from a bike shop. It just FEELS like I got it from Wal-Mart. It's a Trek 4300. 21". I feel like a moron bringing my bike into the shop every week to get it checked out. Should I still try to get a refund and get something else, or just see what the deal is?

Ophidian

What happened was they never tighten the crank bolts and when you rode the bike the cranks became rounded abit so the crank will never fit tight in the bottom bracket again. Take it back. A shop should be better than that.

The good thing about department store bike is bike shops make money of them when they fail 2 weeks after buying them. I've even had a chain sporting goods store pay my shop to fix one of their bikes because they couldn't.

barba

Agreed. It sounds like poor/sloppy set-up on the part of the shop (unless you have been monkeying about with things). Part of the reason to buy from a bike shop is to get a well built and properly adjusted bike. If they did not provide that, you have every right to expect replacement parts, a refund or exchange (and maybe a water bottle or cycling cap for your trouble).

Ricardo

Romans used to say "Nemo auditor alegans propietur turpitudirem"... in plain english it means Nobody can argue his/her own fault in his favor. Why did you spend 400 bucks on a Wal-mart bike? Those 400 can get you a decent bike at a reputable bike shop and eventually, they might throw in some extra goodies...

I think you should have asked here before heading to walmart. Hopefully, they will refund your money. Please let us know the outcome.

Ricardo

barba

Read post 7.

mactheknife68

Read post 1... A lil more carefully.

biglc0

Again, I said it FEELS like I got it from Wal - Mart. I highly doubt Wal-Mart carries a Trek 4300... I guess I'll take it by the shop, see what the say. If they tell me they fix it, and my pedal messes up, I think I might ask for a refund.

Little Darwin

Yeah, whether Walmart or a bike shop, your first step is to give the shop a chance to make it right. You are more likely to get satisfactory repair if you bought it at an LBS rather than the *mart stores... that is part of the reason for buying there.

If the shop is good they should fix it the first time. But there is a chance that they won't see anything and torque it properly and ask you to try it. This could take a second trip. The second trip, if needed, they should definitely do a component replacement.

humble_biker

how did you buy a Trek at Wal-Mart?

seriouslysilly

+1

McDave

Treks at Wal Mart? Is that at that new upscale Wal Mart in Plano, Texas? Time for a road trip!

Adiankur

I have a 4300 and have had a couple problems, but they have all been taken care. Loose bottom bracket, LBS said some dirt could have gotten in while torking it, and rear wheel exploded, Trek replaced it. They have been very good about fixing anything wrong. You shouldnt have a problem, unless you take it in and they see you have been welding things onto the bike.

splytz1

When you say pedal shaft, I assume you mean crank arm. The left (non-drive side) one. As someone mentioned before, the pedal, not the crank, is a left hand thread, lefty-tighty. Make sure you grease the threads on the pedal and tighten the pedal on very tight. Now, assuming the crank arm is coming off the bottom bracket spindle, and it's a square-taper bottom bracket, LIGHTLY grease the taper (there is a raging debate over whether or not to grease the taper, so I just go very light), and tighten the crank onto the spindle - DO grease the fixing bolt. Tighten this very tight.

I wouldn't go through the hassle of getting a new bike until you isolate the problem and find out if it can be solved. When you look at the crank arm, is the square crank fitting rounded or otherwise misshapen? Then check all the relevant threads - are they stripped? Are there little bits of metal in the threads or are they "flattened"? If not, you're probably fine - just need to put some muscle into it.

knewbike

Will you all stop egging him on. He bought it at the LBS and he wants them to make it work or give him a good one. Ya'll are mean.

Retro Grouch 

I'm betting it's the left crankarm that's bad. That's a fairly common problem that should never happen if it's torqued on correctly. The torque spec for that part is 30 to 35 ft/lbs which is a lot to expect if you're just using a 6 inch allen wrench. Since you said tightening it didn't fix the problem I'd assume the square hole in the crankarm has been hosed and it'll never work right again.

I could make a case that it's the factory's fault and I could make a case that it's the LBS fault. So far as you are concerned it doesn't matter. Take it back to where you got it and tell them that you need a warranty crankarm. This happens often enough that they should handle it fairly quickly.

caloso

"Refund?!? Refund?!?"


Hah.

DieselDan

DO NOT FEEL LIKE IT IS A PROBLEM TO BRING A BIKE IN FOR WARRENTY WORK. If the shop makes you feel that way, find another shop. Take it back, tell them your problem. A good shop should prioritize a new purchase warrenty repair.

biglc0

Again, I said it FEELS LIKE I BOUGHT IT FROM WAL MART, I bought it from a BIKE SHOP. READ.

Also, with the crank arm, is it ruined? It looked a little worn out from me pedalling on it so much with it wobbling.

Ophidian

The crank arm is toast. It will need replacing.