Okay guys.. help me try to diagnose this problem with a friends bike.
 

I gave him the URL for bike forums, but for one reason or the other hes afraid to post here.




His bike.. well the brand escapes me. Its a few years old, boardline X-Mart bike, but not quite.


Now hes having a problem, whenever hes going over rough/bumpy terrain there is a sort of buzzy vibration hes experiencing other than the thrashing from the trail. Theres a slight sound associate with it, and he says it seems to be originating from near the front derailer.


I'll also add that his chain is pretty slack


Think it could be BB related?

Thanks.

I almost take offense to that -- almost. But yea there is something back there whenever i go over anything remotely turbulent that will buzz and vibrate and it gives me the sickening feeling that my entire rear tire is just going to disconnect from my frame (yes i checked the rear skewer). Im trying to avoid hitting up the LBS because im not in the mood to drop 50 dollars for a tuneup so any suggestions are appreciated.

~levi

rear wheel or is it the BB?

If it's the rear wheel you might need to grease the bearings.

Could be your freewheel or the bearing in your hub. Do you ever find yourself rolling along and you are suddenly forced to pedal?

It could be the cassete thats crashing around but i wouldn't kno how to tell. If it where the bearing in the freehub what would i do to go about remedying it. And i dont particularly remember ever having to suddenly pedal.

If it is the freewheel don't both trying to fix it. Just replace it. This sounds like it is a problem for a mechanic. Without being there I could go through 100 things to check. Sorry

Its no problem, ill probably have to wind up taking it in and stressing the fact that i DONT want it tuned-up -- they want 50 dollars for a tuneup, jasbike gets them for free >=(. Or if im going to keep on having to pump cash into a 400 dollar univega nearly walmart bike, i might just upgrade to a 2k4 rock comp or something.
cheerio
~levi

How many speeds is it (7 right)...I would get a new bike and convert that to a SS myself. :)

I think I know what it is.....

The bike is a piece of junk......so tell him that it cant be fixed. :rolleyes:

hahahaha... thats like the guy at my LBS sayign that after christmas they get all kinds of X-mart bikes in, and parents are confused as to why it costs more to repair the bike than to buy it *rolls eyes*

haha gimme a break man its a hardknock life being poor ~

There's not a cicada hanging onto the downtube?