Dahon Classic Parts Anywhere????
 

I picked up a Dahon Classic that appears to be a Quaker State oil promo of some type. It came with Quaker State wheel covers and is Quaker State green and the frame is in excellent shape. Unfortunately it was ridden with the crank parts loose and now has slop between the left crank and the folding right crank where the folding bracket for the right side attached to the axle of the crank with a flat that is now rounded off.

My question is twofold: Does anyone know of a place that has any parts for these old bikes (my SA hub is dated 88-3); and if not, is the bottom bracket housing standard and can I replace the cranks with a one piece crank or something else**********?? The locating hole in the sprocket is wallowed out to oval from being ridden loose and will need to be replaced but this looks like a standard part.

Any help is appreciated.

Louie in Florida

PS Big Dahon dealer in Orlando has no clue and does not even know what a Dahon Classic is. they just sell new ones.................................

That is normal for Dahon... the bikes basically become obsolete, disposable items after a few years. Dahon then expect you to go to the store and buy a new one.
Some of us have gotten wise to this and go and buy bikes with far better parts back-up and customer service... Brompton is an excellent example, a lot of dealers have spare parts in stock or can get them to you within a few days. Some dealers list every single part and you could build a complete new bike this way. Brompton still supplies parts for the older models and they take good care of their customers.


PS, you can accuse me of Dahon-bashing, but no one can deny that what I say is true!

Do what many folks who restore cars do: Buy a second one to act as a "parts bike".

There seem to be plenty of them around on Craigslist and e-bay... A lady across the street from me has two.

You hit the nail on the head. ;-)

+1 for the craigslist idea.

I presume that you are a collector and not somebody that just want good folding bike for cheap.

Kam

Let me just bash back a little ..... you can get parts for your bike cause they are still using stuff from the sixties today ......obsolete brakes for example... must be cheap ....must have bought huge pile of that stuff as they are still using it today ....

What have you helped the original poster with your comments I wonder ? Nothing absolutely NOTHING ....

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Old Dahons from the first generations are indeed becoming collector items. And like old cars or Motorcycles the spare parts are tricky to find. That makes the real collector happy as some of the other bikes get discarded after 30 plus years of dutyful service and his bike becomes more rarer ( expensive) and more collectible. If it would be easy everyone could do it.... Same as with any old Schwinn or any other bike you need to keep digging.... I think your cranks use cotter pins and those are the ones which got ovalized .... I sure that these are somewhat regular and should be available.... go and check over at Dahon forum as well, they are a couple of real knowledgeable folks who know a lot about the old bikes.

All the best and have fun restoring the bike

Thor

Dahons are excellent bicycles-if you understand their limitations. Most regular bike parts like the brake levers, tires (in the right size of course), saddles, and the like can be used with the Dahons. My own 2 have parts from many sources besides Dahon I have placed on them over the years. The place of obsolescence occurs-and problems-occurs after the model makes it's debut and time pases-is the main proprietary parts of the frame, stem, handlebars, and seat post folding levers and latches. These cannot be substituted or exchanged with similar parts even from different years within Dahon's own model lime. I do know and agree that I have to order these special parts from a machine shop when the time comes if the bikes are still in my possession. I have done restoration with clothing, even bikes in the past. I prefer to either do complete reproductions or have brand new items rather than trying to "Mickey Mouse" my way through life. I no longer repair even clothing since my time could be better spent creating more durable quality things-like the Cat Bed I just completed tonight for one of the older cats. I recycled an old plastic container for the base of the cushion. The cushion was made with brand new remnant (small bits) of fabric from the remnant bin at the local fabric store. I stuffed it myself with nice hand fluffed poly stuffing. I do the same even with old Dahon bikes. New parts always if I can possibly can find them. Machine shop if not.

for your reference
 

for your reference. I know there a big group of people in Taiwan and Japan joint this "older 3 speed Dahon club".
1. http://bigapple.idv.tw/phpBB2/read.php?tid-25624.html
2. http://bikeways.com.tw/forumdisplay.php?fid=160
3. http://metro.moe-nifty.com/blog/old_dahon/index.html

sorry these website are all in Chinese or Japanese but look at those images will also give you some indications! some of them modify their older 3 speed Dahon pretty sweet! ! !

Thanks to all for the answers. I am not a colletor and am not going to "restore" this bike. I bought it because i thought it was neat and was advertised as recently tuned and ready to ride.
Such was not the case. Over at the Dahon forum, I was told of the dismal state of parts for the older bikes. Since I was not restoring, I was tempted to replace the crank with a newer one
piece that would be strong but I would lose the fold of the crank on that side. So, I had it welded, which fixed it and saved the fold capability on the right side crank. I cold forged the
wallowed out sprocket hole back to fitting and put it back together. I may go to a smaller front sprocket to lower the overall gearing as it is still too high for the hills I have to deal with
and for my biking ability.

The kitty bed is nice, but my 4 Basset Hounds (Louie, George, Meg, and Maggie) were not that impressed with it other than a place to store snackies, which is of course, is what you do with it,
Isn't it? From a hound's perspective anyway...... (only kidding, my guys would not hurt a cat,,,,,,,,,, they would just track it, and then look at me and say: "there it is dad! But look out!
Looks mean to us........")