Phoenix_V Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 We have a small Chinese folding bike on the boat. The frame folds in the middle with 2 hinges. One of the hinge pins has broken, I suspect related to it being rusted solid rather than over enthusiastic use. We have drilled it out and will replace with a bolt. I would like ths to be as strong as possible (obviously) should I use a stainless or a high tensile bolt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stegra Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Why not a high tensile stainless steel bolt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 (edited) We have a small Chinese folding bike on the boat. The frame folds in the middle with 2 hinges. One of the hinge pins has broken, I suspect related to it being rusted solid rather than over enthusiastic use. We have drilled it out and will replace with a bolt. I would like ths to be as strong as possible (obviously) should I use a stainless or a high tensile bolt? Long shank high tensile and keep it greased. Stainless steel has its uses but its not as tolerant under stress as mild or high tensile steel, It can suffer fatigue under certain uses. Edited January 12, 2017 by bizzard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roggie Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Take it to a bike shop.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWM Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 Take it to a bike shop.... TThis is the way to go, my missus had a nasty accident when a 'repaired' bolt failed, leading to the bike folding up whilst going down hill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 (edited) A prisoner has escaped from the metalworking shop of a local jail. When the warder opened the security door, the prisoner made a bolt for it. I'll get me cycle clips. Edited January 13, 2017 by Athy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix_V Posted January 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 TThis is the way to go, my missus had a nasty accident when a 'repaired' bolt failed, leading to the bike folding up whilst going down hill. Not quite sure what you think they are going to do that I can't? Long shank high tensile and keep it greased. Stainless steel has its uses but its not as tolerant under stress as mild or high tensile steel, It can suffer fatigue under certain uses. Thanks Bizzard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWM Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 Not quite sure what you think they are going to do that I can't? Thanks Bizzard No judgment on you, just agreeing with an earlier post suggesting the same. Won't trouble you again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 Long shank high tensile and keep it greased. Stainless steel has its uses but its not as tolerant under stress as mild or high tensile steel, It can suffer fatigue under certain uses. Sounds about right to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 Not quite sure what you think they are going to do that I can't? He might have a NVQ in something and say we can only fit manufacturers original parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Schweizer Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 I suspect that anything you fit will be better quality than the original one fitted to a cheap Chinese bike. Personally I would drive a new pin made of mild steel into the existing hole, but if you cannot find any steel of the correct diameter a standard shanked bolt secured with a locking nut. (Actually, I would probably make a new pin, but that is me!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalky Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 Get a proper bike shop to look at it and be guided by them. I spent an hour in theatre with a plastic surgeon, 2 days in hospital, a week off work and have 8 hours that I can't account for when the carbon forks failed on my road bike in November. Any frame failure can have dangerous consequences, I was lucky, some cyclists have ended up paralysed or worse. If the bike shop says scrap it and get a new one then do it - it could save you a free ride in an ambulance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 Just avoid John Wayne... https://youtu.be/XnPUe80oBZw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 (edited) I found the best tool for my cheap Chinese folding bike was an angle grinder with a good cutting disc, chopped it up into parts and took them down the dump. From new had the following failure Headset poor quality making for loose front forks, unreparable Crankset fell out, very poor quality Pedals ground Front wheel rim split when tyre pumped up, rim quality was akin to that used in tin cans Seat would not stay in place due to poor quality tube, poor quality quick release bolt, bolt hole flanges bent in rather than tighten up Tyres were rubbish When stripped down frame tube inner were rusted due to poor quality steel General everything else was of poor quality and I believe dangerous All this within the first 6 months Never felt comfortable or safe on it as always expecting something else to fail As I said above took great joy in chopping it into bits and removing it from the market altogther I do hope that yours is not as bad as mine was In the end bought a better quality bike second hand. Edited to add It did have a nice paint job though Edited January 14, 2017 by reg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cereal tiller Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 I found the best tool for my cheap Chinese folding bike was an angle grinder with a good cutting disc, chopped it up into parts and took them down the dump. From new had the following failure Headset poor quality making for loose front forks, unreparable Crankset fell out, very poor quality Pedals ground Front wheel rim split when tyre pumped up, rim quality was akin to that used in tin cans Seat would not stay in place due to poor quality tube, poor quality quick release bolt, bolt hole flanges bent in rather than tighten up Tyres were rubbish When stripped down frame tube inner were rusted due to poor quality steel General everything else was of poor quality and I believe dangerous All this within the first 6 months Never felt comfortable or safe on it as always expecting something else to fail As I said above took great joy in chopping it into bits and removing it from the market altogther I do hope that yours is not as bad as mine was In the end bought a better quality bike second hand. Edited to add It did have a nice paint job though Had similar problems with an expensive Chinese Electric Bike Found the same solution as you! CT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 Had similar problems with an expensive Chinese Electric Bike Found the same solution as you! CT Funnyly enough mine was an electric as well but only cost £400, bought it to test whether I wanted an electric bike or not, now a convert. At least I managed to strip the electrical components off including a Z £200 battery so not to far out of pocket. I now only buy good second hand bikes with low usage, find they are often bought with good intentions are used once or twice, sit in the shed for a couple of years and then end up on Gumtree, suits me fine a good 3 or 4 year old bike cost about the same as a new rubbish bike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 15, 2017 Report Share Posted January 15, 2017 I'll stick with me Raleigh Chopper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rasputin Posted January 15, 2017 Report Share Posted January 15, 2017 (edited) My Chinese folder has been great, though it is aluminium and I have changed the rear wheel to a Nexus 4 speed hub gear, and given it a Brooks saddle .Folds v small and I do loads of miles on it, payed £20 for it second hand. I could do with loosing a couple of inches though, or so the wife says Edited January 15, 2017 by rasputin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrdil Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Chinese is a generic term that can be China or Taiwan and the quality of either countries products can be good or bad. I have had a Dahon for awhile and never had any issues with it. Hard to imagine a good bolt failing on the hinge so I am with the fix it crowd. Now something else may fail if the bicycle has been abused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chubby Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 (edited) I would also put myself in the " buy second hand but buy quality " camp . I have a Dahon Espresso . Full size bike with 26 " wheels , folds up and goes in the engine room at the back of a 58 ft trad nicely . Around £750 new . I paid £170 on ebay & it had sat in a spare room for 4 years when i bought it . Though expensive i expect Bromptons are very high quality and second hand they still sell for several - as in £500 plus . Im not well off - far from it but a Chinese cheapy is something i d never buy as I couldn't trust it knowing that every single moving part , each of which is important, has been produced for the lowest price possible and its quality & dependability are questionable Second hand , but quality is the way forward i think cheers Edited January 16, 2017 by chubby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 Chinese is a generic term that can be China or Taiwan and the quality of either countries products can be good or bad. I have had a Dahon for awhile and never had any issues with it. Hard to imagine a good bolt failing on the hinge so I am with the fix it crowd. Now something else may fail if the bicycle has been abused. I have to agree, although I appear in my previous post to be knocking all cheap Chinese goods as being poor quality that is far from the truth two examples come to mind of excellent low cost cost Chinese goods come to mind 1 I have 3 Cree tourches all excellent and low priced 2 My 3 Tracer MPPT controller would recommend them to anybody The problem is that until you purchase the goods there is no way of knowing what you will be getting. It must be very frustrating for any manufacturer, Chinese or otherwise who makes an effort to then be undercut by highly polished pieces of, in some cases dangerous, goods. The nice thing about bikes is that they are to some a bit of a fashion item so a good selection of good second hand bikes is generally available. Please don't tell anybody about that though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix_V Posted January 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 I agree you get what you pay for and when this gets replaced it will be something better, but I am pretty sure the pin failed because it had rusted in place and snapped when we tried to fold the bike it certainly didnt fail in use so on that basis thought it worth replacing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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