I am worried about my frame hinge....
 

Mr Foldy is a Dahon MU P8. He isn't a year old yet and has done around 2000 miles. I have never looked at the frame hinge, until it developed a ticking, clicking noise. It took a while to isolate it, but its definitely coming from the hinge area, even in free wheel. I posted below about tightening it, but without risking going too tight, it hasn't helped much.
The internet has some horror stories, but not much in the way of help.

I had a good look at the hinge and the clamp, there is nothing obvious in terms of wear. In fact it looks good as new. If I put the frame together but don't clamp, there is up and down movement. Clamping does make the frame feel completely solid in all directions and it always has done.

I'm going to thoroughly clean the clamp when its open, I usually clean the bike fully assembled. And I might have to think about my LBS.

Do I have a problem? Or just an irritation? I love my folder, but I could live without this worry!

Feel better now? :innocent: i cant see a problem.. from here..

Have you tried oiling it? (Lesson learned this week, first oil, then check if the trouble persists). What happened to the noise?

its not unusal to have a little play when opened ... I dont think u have anything to worry

The hinge of an aluminum fold-in-half frame has a bit of play in it, does it? Looks can be deceiving... things aren't always as rosy as they seem... use earplugs until the hinge wears to the point that you feel the frame shifting and it becomes annoying. Then look for another bike. Sorry but I'm not a fan of fold-in-half aluminum frames since there isn't an easy or cost-effective (if you don't have machining skillz) fix for them when they wear out.


-Harbinger of Bad News






Unless you can generate, with your arms, the torque that the weight of your body and the force of your legs on the crank in opposition to your arms on the 'bars can generate on the hinge, you never really can "bench test" for frame issues.

Hey BNB, its never great to hear bad news, but I do accept folders are a compromise. However, I'm not ready to give up on my Mu just yet. I know that I haven't torqued the latch. However I remember how tight it was to fasten when I got it, the LBS assured me they did check the various torques on set up.

The frame is guarenteed by Dahon for 5 years, and I'm still in year 1 - just.

I am sure that despite my initial anaylsis, the noise is from the front stem and definitely not the hinge. I'm not tempting fate of course.

I need 20" wheels for my commute and I need a decent spec of bike. That's firmly aluminium folding frame territory I'm afraid.

My original post was a bit of a vent, I am more relaxed about my ticking bike at the moment. All I need is a free evening to set about the headset!

[QUOTE=BassNotBass;15773060]The hinge of an aluminum fold-in-half frame has a bit of play in it, does it? Looks can be deceiving... things aren't always as rosy as they seem... use earplugs until the hinge wears to the point that you feel the frame shifting and it becomes annoying. Then look for another bike. Sorry but I'm not a fan of fold-in-half aluminum frames since there isn't an easy or cost-effective (if you don't have machining skillz) fix for them when they wear out.

And how long do you expect a folding aluminium frame "live"? Its related to how many times you fold and unfold or only the fatigue of the aluminium?

The noise could be coming from the seat post where it clamps up. Back in 2008 I bought a brand new MU SL and within a few months the wear on the frame hinge got so bad that you could place your hand under the frame, lift up and see the handlebars and seat post move away from each other, this was despite careful adjustment of the hinge clamp. The bike was replaced under warrantee and knowing what to look for I noticed the same happening again within a month or so... second bike was replaced with a 2009 model which was found to have a nasty chip out of the frame hinge... I was not prepared to accept a bike in that condition so sent it back a and got a refund.... I "cured" the problem by buying a B-spoke S-type Brompton.... four years on and the Brompton has been fantastic, no squeaks, rattles, frame wear.... best thing I ever did was to buy the Brompton... shouldn't have wasted time with Dahon, should have bought the Brompton in the first place.