Problems with a Raleigh Tundra

[Geoff]

Apols for the newbie post ... but I've got a major problem. Just over a
year ago I was bought a Raleigh Tundra (cheap gents "mountain bike") - for
my 60th birthday! Well, I had to take it straight back to the shop
(Halfords in the UK) because the forks were twisted before I'd even ridden
it. They replaced them under warranty without hassle.

Then, after only a few weeks of very light usage, the pedal crank became
loose ... took it back again, and after quite an argument they fixed it
under warranty. I only do about 20 miles per week, but they said the
bearings were shot and needed replacing. But after that I didn't use it
much until this spring - whereupon the pedal crank again became wobbly.
Took it back, and they said it was my fault for not maintaining it
properly - but the Raleigh book says the pedal crank is not user
serviceable! They told me how to tighten it up with a hammer and a
screwdriver ... which I've needed to do at weekly intervals until there's no
adjustment left. And from the cracking noises I believe the bearings are
again shot.

My suspicion is that the crank itself has always been out of true, but I've
no way of proving it. I can't get the pedals off to strip it down myself,
and I know Halfords will charge me for any work they do now (and lie abot
the cause - they told me it wasn't designed to do 100 miles in a month!

Any suggestions? Is this a known problem with Raleighs, or bikes in
general? Never had it with my old one.

[Leo Lichtman]

"Geoff" <nospam@notme.com> wrote in message
news:Z2sri.5856$S91.88@newsfe7-win.ntli.net...
> Apols for the newbie post ... but I've got a major problem. Just over a
> year ago I was bought a Raleigh Tundra (cheap gents "mountain bike") - for
> my 60th birthday! Well, I had to take it straight back to the shop
> (Halfords in the UK) because the forks were twisted before I'd even ridden
> it. They replaced them under warranty without hassle.
>
> Then, after only a few weeks of very light usage, the pedal crank became
> loose ... took it back again, and after quite an argument they fixed it
> under warranty. I only do about 20 miles per week, but they said the
> bearings were shot and needed replacing. But after that I didn't use it
> much until this spring - whereupon the pedal crank again became wobbly.
> Took it back, and they said it was my fault for not maintaining it
> properly - but the Raleigh book says the pedal crank is not user
> serviceable! They told me how to tighten it up with a hammer and a
> screwdriver ... which I've needed to do at weekly intervals until there's
> no adjustment left. And from the cracking noises I believe the bearings
> are again shot.
>
> My suspicion is that the crank itself has always been out of true, but
> I've no way of proving it. I can't get the pedals off to strip it down
> myself, and I know Halfords will charge me for any work they do now (and
> lie abot the cause -(clip) they told me it wasn't designed to do 100 miles
> in a month! (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
How is 100 miles a month harder on a bike than 100 miles a year? I'm not in
the UK, and not familiar with Halfords, but I wouldn't set foot in their
store again. I hate liars, and I hate incompetents and I hate crooks.

>
> Any suggestions? Is this a known problem with Raleighs, or bikes in
> general? Never had it with my old one.

[me]

On Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:42:33 +0000, Geoff wrote:

> Apols for the newbie post ... but I've got a major problem. Just over a
> year ago I was bought a Raleigh Tundra (cheap gents "mountain bike") - for
> my 60th birthday! Well, I had to take it straight back to the shop
> (Halfords in the UK) because the forks were twisted before I'd even ridden
> it. They replaced them under warranty without hassle.
>
> Then, after only a few weeks of very light usage, the pedal crank became
> loose ... took it back again, and after quite an argument they fixed it
> under warranty. I only do about 20 miles per week, but they said the
> bearings were shot and needed replacing. But after that I didn't use it
> much until this spring - whereupon the pedal crank again became wobbly.
> Took it back, and they said it was my fault for not maintaining it
> properly - but the Raleigh book says the pedal crank is not user
> serviceable! They told me how to tighten it up with a hammer and a
> screwdriver ... which I've needed to do at weekly intervals until there's no
> adjustment left. And from the cracking noises I believe the bearings are
> again shot.
>
> My suspicion is that the crank itself has always been out of true, but I've
> no way of proving it. I can't get the pedals off to strip it down myself,
> and I know Halfords will charge me for any work they do now (and lie abot
> the cause - they told me it wasn't designed to do 100 miles in a month!
>
> Any suggestions? Is this a known problem with Raleighs, or bikes in
> general? Never had it with my old one.

Sounds like a really cheap BB (bottom bracket) bearing set.
You could go back and scream enough to get them to repair it
but it sounds like it was a POS to start with. See if you can
find an LBS ( local bike store ) to sell you a compatible
Cartridge BB ( sealed ) Should be able to get one for 20 quid.
Maybe have someone that knows bikes to look it over and tell
you wether it is worth carrying on with. The truth is, most
department store bikes, and Halfords definitely qualifies
for that description are rubbish. You are much better getting
someone who knows bikes to find you a used bike of better quality.
maybe on Craigslist? If you have no-one available, when you find
one, post the details here, or on bikeforums.net and ask if it is
worth the money.

Had a quick look for details on the Tundra, looks like the frame
is worth keeping on with. See if you can get a new BB fitted.
A new rear derailleur may be in your future too. Look closely at
the frame around the BB, if you followed their advice on adjustments
its possible you may have cracked the Aluminum frame. In which
case, its toast.

[Jim Flom]

"Geoff" <nospam@notme.com> wrote in message
news:Z2sri.5856$S91.88@newsfe7-win.ntli.net...
> Apols for the newbie post ... but I've got a major problem. Just over a
> year ago I was bought a Raleigh Tundra (cheap gents "mountain bike") - for
> my 60th birthday! Well, I had to take it straight back to the shop
> (Halfords in the UK) because the forks were twisted before I'd even ridden
> it. They replaced them under warranty without hassle.
>
> Then, after only a few weeks of very light usage, the pedal crank became
> loose ... took it back again, and after quite an argument they fixed it
> under warranty. I only do about 20 miles per week, but they said the
> bearings were shot and needed replacing. But after that I didn't use it
> much until this spring - whereupon the pedal crank again became wobbly.
> Took it back, and they said it was my fault for not maintaining it
> properly - but the Raleigh book says the pedal crank is not user
> serviceable! They told me how to tighten it up with a hammer and a
> screwdriver ... which I've needed to do at weekly intervals until there's
> no adjustment left. And from the cracking noises I believe the bearings
> are again shot.
>
> My suspicion is that the crank itself has always been out of true, but
> I've no way of proving it. I can't get the pedals off to strip it down
> myself, and I know Halfords will charge me for any work they do now (and
> lie abot the cause - they told me it wasn't designed to do 100 miles in a
> month!
>
> Any suggestions? Is this a known problem with Raleighs, or bikes in
> general? Never had it with my old one.

You'll get better and more thorough answers to this and all your maintenance
related questions in rec.bicycles.tech. They're happy to serve you.

[Steph]

Thanks for your helpful comments. I spoke to a local shop, and they said
they stopped selling Raleigh a few years back, as the build quality was so
poor they couldn't afford to support all the returns :(