Help with replacing chainset for an old Viking
 

I've just bought an old Viking touring/racer, but one of the pedals has knackered the crank arm on the gear side (the pedal is hanging on but won't screw either in or out). I've been told as it's gear side I'll probably need to replace the chainset. However the bike place I took it to had no suitable cranks.
It needs a square tapered chainset, suitable for a 10 speed.

Looking around I found this http://www.wiggle.co.uk/miche-young-...=products#more

However I'm not sure how to be certain it'll be compatible. So, if anyone can tell me what specs I need to check and how to check them, or any other advice about finding suitable parts, or any advice in general it'd be greatly appreciated.

Can you show us a photo of the damaged crank? The odds are pretty fair that someone on the forum will have one. Also ebay is a good place to look for older (used) bike parts.

Yeah I'll try to get a picture up soon as. Till then it's a SR-Sakae Ringyo Apex crank, if that helps anyone.

Which reminds me! If you're not familiar with the website www.velobase.com, you might want to take a look at it. I found this photo there:

http://velobase.com/CompImages/Crank...EA9CA3D15.jpeg

Is that what you have?

I'm pretty sure I have one of those in my parts bin, or something like it. But I sense you're in a different part of the world than I, so shipping it would not make much sense.

Yeah I was looking at that after finding it through google. I think mine is this one:http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...m=115&AbsPos=4

I'm in Manchester, UK, so postage would probably be a pain. If it is the right one, and you're up for it I'd be willing to pay for the convenience of not having to trawl the internet for something closer.

edit: don't think the image is working, here's the link http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...m=115&AbsPos=4

Aw, come on. The internet is your friend!

Look on ebay uk, see what turns up... such as:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SR-Chainset-52...item35b39333ff

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sugino-Maxy-fo...item35b38cdcd6

I'm away for the summer; can't check what I have until late August. You'll probably want to find something before then, no?

Yeah I'll hopefully have something by then. I'm just not too sure about all the specs I need to look out for. How specific does the chainset need to be?
After spending today trawling forums I ended up quite confused and not too confident about just buying a new set - a lot of the stuff I've read seems to suggest I'll need something quite specific, but I'm not sure if that's just because those posts are relating to people who are looking to upgrade and improve. I'm just looking to make the bike rideable again.

Yes, those are good questions. For compatibility, there are not too many variables you have to worry about. I presume your old set has 40 or 42 tooth and 52 tooth chain rings, am I right? If so, if you get another chainset with a 52 tooth larger ring, then you won't have to move the front derailleur up or down, and you won't have to change the length of the chain. If you got one with a smaller front ring --48 teeth, for example-- you would have to move the front derailleur down, and you might want to shorten the chain a bit.

The square taper comes in two variants, and it is possible to get the wrong one. This mystifies me a bit, so I won't go into it.

Both chainsets and pedals come in either French or English threads. You probably have English (9/16").

If your chainset was exactly like the one in the photo above, then I'm pretty confident that Sugino Maxy chainset on ebay would be a perfect fit.

If yours has removable chain rings, like the one in the link you provided, then you also have to worry about the bolt circle diameter, BCD, unless your new chainset includes chain rings (as is common).

You're right, mine is 40/52. The chain rings I think are fixed, but I'm not too sure. I may well just gamble on the Sugino Maxy you linked me to. I'm sure I'll be able to sell it on or use it otherwise if it doesn't work.

Thanks for all this, you've been a great help. I'll post back if I need more help, though hopefully I won't need to.

:thumb:

Yeah, let us know. Good luck!

Photos please! We need to see some fine handiwork from Wolverhampton! A Viking is definitely on my list of bikes to acquire.

Here's the photos of the crank, hopefully helpful. One of them shows the problem: the pedal has destroyed the thread inside the crank, and can no longer be properly screwed in or even removed.

There's also one of the full bike just for fun. Not great photos though I'm afraid. I lack a camera so it's clumsily done with my laptop...

Just to let anyone who's interested know, the guy I bought the bike from found a spare and sent it on, so it's all sorted. The bike's a lovely ride.

Thanks for all your help anyhow, nice to know the support and know how is there if I need it.

Hugh Thornton lives in Cheshire. He is building a web site for Viking bikes.

Contact him for any further pointers or help.

http://classicvikingcycles.com/