Lava Dome newbie, RetroBike Newbie, MTB newbie, forum newb..

[Anthony]

I've think i've just discovered the 'slipping' problem. After a proper, close up inspection of the bike i've noticed the teeth on the crankset are seriously warn.
The teeth have become 'shark fin' shaped instead of triangular, definitely enough for the chain to slip round with force. I guess after 16 years you can expect this type of wear, check out the pics....

They are pretty worn, and need replacing, which isn't cheap unfortunately, unless you find a set of cranks with worn-out tapers or whatever and serviceable rings.

But even rings like that don't guarantee slipping. A worn-out chain does though - if the chain has stretched, it'll fall off any chainset. Just measure a ruler's worth of links - they need to be precisely half an inch each. Once you're say an eighth of an inch over in twelve inches, you're in no no land.

 

[Shreddie]

I've think i've just discovered the 'slipping' problem. After a proper, close up inspection of the bike i've noticed the teeth on the crankset are seriously warn.
The teeth have become 'shark fin' shaped instead of triangular, definitely enough for the chain to slip round with force. I guess after 16 years you can expect this type of wear, check out the pics....

They are pretty worn, and need replacing, which isn't cheap unfortunately, unless you find a set of cranks with worn-out tapers or whatever and serviceable rings.

But even rings like that don't guarantee slipping. A worn-out chain does though - if the chain has stretched, it'll fall off any chainset. Just measure a ruler's worth of links - they need to be precisely half an inch each. Once you're say an eighth of an inch over in twelve inches, you're in no no land.

...so in an ideal world i guess a new crankset, chain and cassette would do the trick?

Do the 3 components bed in? as in if i were to buy just a new crankset and chain would the original cassette effect the performance of the new parts??

And are there any other components that would effect the overall performance and may need replacing just because of an upgrade/replacement of a crankset, chain and/or cassette?

 

[stevemar]

hi--welcome--and another vote for "leave it original"----actually its interesting that it has the "venetian blind" downtube decal on a (i think) a non flutted tube? ---extra points for uniqueness

 

[Anthony]

...so in an ideal world i guess a new crankset, chain and cassette would do the trick?

Do the 3 components bed in? as in if i were to buy just a new crankset and chain would the original cassette effect the performance of the new parts??

And are there any other components that would effect the overall performance and may need replacing just because of an upgrade/replacement of a crankset, chain and/or cassette?

Yes, all three wear together, and if the chain is worn then it would be that which has caused the wear on the rings.

If the chain is worn, you may find that the system would work ok just with a new chain, and this would do just to get you going. However the old cassette and rings would then be causing wear to the new chain, so it would be sensible to replace them as well fairly soon.

What else you do depends on your budget, how much of a DIYer you are etc. If you go to a bike shop, they'll suggest upgrading to 9-speed simply because 7-speed parts are harder to come by and bike shops don't believe in retro. Then you'll be into new shifters, derailleurs and bottom bracket as well, which is not just expense but modern cranksets just look wrong on classic frames. In fact there's nothing wrong with 7-speed whatsoever and it's perfectly possible to keep that system going, either with eBay parts or using Chain Reaction - e.g., http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=6387 Any chain will do, even a 9-speed, but I suppose a 7/8 speed chain would be best.

 

[8lezard]

 

[Anthony]

actually its interesting that it has the "venetian blind" downtube decal on a (i think) a non flutted tube?

I think they all had fluted seat tubes? Early '93 had simple decals, later '93 had the 'Venetian' style.
Mine had 'Venetian' decals and a fluted seat tube.

Note that SteveMar is writing from the USA, where they had a different range of colour schemes and decals for 93 than that we saw over here. I believe they did have the lined decals for part of the year though. I don't know whether the lining effect was inspired by the fluted or ribbed Tange Ultimate Ultrastrong down tube that featured on the Explosif and Hot that year.

I trust Steve won't mind me inserting a picture of his rather splendid 1993 Kona, with lining effect visible but fluting not quite so clear. Hopefully he'll send us some more pictures sometime?

 

[Shreddie]

thanks to everyone for your input, you've been a great help and it's given me lots to think about, some excellent links too.

If i ever decided to sell this bike, apart from eBay, is there anywhere else that you guys use?

 

[Craig Nicholson]

The for sale section here but give me first refusal.

 

[Shreddie]

The for sale section here but give me first refusal.

Ok cool, will do!....

 

[Craig Nicholson]

Wanted to keep mine all original but as I was given just aframe and nothing else, getting original parts was going to be just a little to hard on a decent budget so it's whit enow and in the middle of being built.

Would love an original one though - something about them that appeals....