Originally Posted by
cyccommute
While the wheel in question may have been able to be repaired with just a cone wrench, I have seen Helmart wheels and bottom bracket bearings that have been ground to dust. Typically someone with come into my co-op with a wobbly wheel or wobbly crank and once we start taking things apart we find that there are no bearings left.
I have to wonder how long the bike's been in operation with no maintenance, or how many years left out in the rain, to reduce bearing balls to dust.
It's such an easy fix though, at that point or any time previously. Order a $25 wheel and bolt it on. It's an upgrade!
Replacing or repairing the BB may or may not be an easy cheap fix.
Some of the other things I've seen from Helmart bikes are the threads for the pedals eroded out of steel cranks that should have been able to withstand a close nuclear blast. I've seen spindles on cranks that have been twisted off...not sheared but twisted...and the rider was a 120 lb woman. I can't tell you how many spokes I've replaced on Helmart bikes.
I hate to be an old guy who's nostalgic for old Big Box Store bikes but the ones being made now are plain and simply bad. You might as well just take the $150 out of your pocket and burn it. You'd get more use out of it that way.
Maybe we need a list of what to look out for in a Big Box Store bike.
For my part, if I see a 1-piece crank, or cottered crank I'll pass. I want a "normal" square taper 3-piece crank, so I can use a $15 cartridge to replace the BB some day.
If I see front shocks at all I'm wary of it. I don't know a lot about MTB shocks but I do know that those are pretty bad.
Getting over the handlebar and rocking, any play in the headset give it a pass.
Steel rims I'd probably pass.