Advice required - RETRO RANT

windsorharrier

Dirt Disciple
My life seemed so simple a few weeks ago, was about to get a new bike for about £500 but thought....hmmm maybe I could get one like my old saracen for a fraction of the price. Hey presto find myself here and inspired.

So, the bike I want hasn't turned up for sale yet but in the mean time I get a saracen hardtrax 92/3. It was only cheap and I though I could have a play around whilst learning my way around a bike....after shelling out for a few tools and extra bits I'm ready to give her a clean up but want to change the chainset as its a dodgy one. I thought; should take 10 mins, quick swap. First the threads get taken off (my fault) then the chain set just will not come off (its one piece) so I get so pissed off I knacker the bottom bracket. Eventaully after lots of drilling and drawing the thing comes off by taking the bracket out of the wrong side.. Woo-hoo

But now I've put on the new one the front mech won't reach the large ring. So I've changed the bottom bracket (again) so the chain set is closer to the frame, but still it doens't really reach the big ring...it could do at a crazy angle but just doesn't look like it's supposed to.

What am I going to do?, I have the mech that went with the new chain set but it mounts between the bolts on the frame which is just annoying as I wanted it to be original as possible (even if low spec).

I though this was going to be fun, all I wanted to do was change the chain set which has set off a "chain" reaction of events that are starting to get on my tits. Is this normal or is it because I'm leaning on the job (we all have to start somewhere) I don't want to set myself up for years of frustration.

All I want to do is get the bike back on the road. What can I do?...Am i missing something obvious? I can't work out what the difference is between the chain sets as they look like they are spaced the same!!! ARRGHHH help.
 
If you could put up some pics of both, we'll see what we can do to help :) Could well be something simple, don't fret!
 
If you can give us the make and model of the chainset and maybe a serial number, it might be possible to work out the required BB length from that. :)
 
Got some pics this morning...not sure if they will help?. I have tried 2 bottom bracket axel lengths and neither bring it close enough to the frame... 122 and 73(I think)

The new set is an Alivio, low spec I know but that's so I don't ruin anything expensive!!

Check out the old mashed up old one..lol.

Any advise welcome.
 

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I think if you adjust the front mech limit screw out it should shift ok ;)

Nice job you made of getting the old one off :LOL: :LOL: If you had undone the nuts and ridden it round the block it would probably have fallen off and saved you alot of effort :LOL:
 
I adjusted it up to the max and it was still out, I can't work out why there's a difference between the two sets?

Also tried riding around with the nuts off and didn't budge! I tried everything!!! :LOL: Seriously, you would not believe how hard it was get off even after being drilled right through.
 
windsorharrier":1657ajpf said:
I adjusted it up to the max and it was still out, I can't work out why there's a difference between the two sets?

Also tried riding around with the nuts off and didn't budge! I tried everything!!! :LOL: Seriously, you would not believe how hard it was get off even after being drilled right through.

Had the same, stubborn crank arms... stick it over a open bin full of paper lay on it's side, and give it the beans with a big old hammer :p

loosens the BB some too ;)
 
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