Elkog

I just bought a second hand 26in mountain bike for $2 and want to fix it up. Money however is an important object to fixing it. It needs grips, a rear axle, pedals and tires.

I can't afford all the high end parts that are suggested in the treads. Does anyone have any suggestions about low end parts or should I just give up because I should have the pricey parts.

In a quandry
Gary

fredgold52

I have to watch a budget too, so I understand where you're at on this. I have found Amazon.com to be an interesting parts source. I got my Cloud9 seat from there. And they will sort the items by price. I don't know if they will have everything you need, but it could be a place to start.

Tom Stormcrowe

Walmart for the tires and tubes if you are on a budget, and you can get Bell foam grips there as well! Axle and bearings aren't all that expensive either. Do you have a Cassette or freewheel hub?


Here's the approximate cost breakdown
Tire and tubes: About $20-25.00 at Walmart
Grips: <$10.00
Pedals: Also Walmart: About $8.99. Do you have a steel one piece crank or 3 piece coterless? steel will take the smaller sixe shaft, aluminum 3 piece will taker the larger 11/16 in size!
Axle and bearings:$10-12.00 give or take at https://www.bikepartsusa.com/view.asp?f_c=Hub

Elkog

I have a freewheel hub I think, it spins one way and stops when I try to spin it the other way. Also is it necessary to overhaul the freewheel.

Hambone

where do you live?

there are some groups in major cities where you can basically rebuild a bike for free. They teach you how and you spend some time wrenching on bikes they give away/sell and then you can take/buy donated parts (some new/some not) for your own work.

Heck, hook up with a club and you can probably get hand me downs of a lot of decent stuff as other riders upgrade. I've given a bunch of cast offs to ride buddies.

Hambone

Sorry,

...to answer you original question, the cheap stuff is more about weight than quality. You can rebuild a bike on the cheap. It just won't be the lightest thing on the block. Which, if you are here (in the clydesdale section), shouldn't matter too much anyway.

Elkog

Elko, NV Also I've measured my axle and it seems to be 9mmx163mm could that be wrong? I can't find any in that size.

Elkog

Yeah I'm 300 pounds and don't want to pop tires or break down at all

Hambone

I'm well over 300. The first couple of thousand miles I put in as an adult cyclist where on an inexpensvie mountain bike with cheap parts. You are going to break down, that is a fact of riding. It happens to 140 pound guys on $5,000 bikes too.

It'll happen more to you but that is part of paying your dues.

I just remembered, there is a list somewhere on BF of free stuff.

Tom Stormcrowe

OK, the difference in this case is the gear cluster mounting, as to whether it's a free hub cluster or cassette cluster. What kind of Mountain bike is it, that will likely answer my question as to whether you have a cassette or free hub.

By thw way, here's another axle link;
https://www.bikepro.com/products/hubs/hubacces.html

Tom Stormcrowe

Free stuff threads:

FOO: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=256082
Marketplace: Pay it Forward Thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=58822

Garandman

There are a lot of enthusiasts here who spend a lot of money on bikes, but it's not required.

I guess the obvious approach is to find another $2 bike! It's unlikely to be broken the same way! Or look around the neighborhood on trash day for parts.

I'd also post a WTB ad on the local craigslist with your needs. And check out freecycle.org as well! And maybe even leave some ads on the local bulletin boards at grocery stores and the like.

Nashbar has a support code and 10% coupon here. They have ten MTB tires for $10 or less each and the discount would pay most of the shipping.

Elkog

the bike is a tour du monde "filg" it's actually a nice looking bike.