Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.

I need a gentleman to help me. (PICS)

ibis the being

02:49 / 05.05.07

I know it's a long shot, but maybe if someone looks at these pictures they can tell/guess how this is supposed to work. What you are looking at is the middle of my folding bike. The latch doohickey says "close" on one side... in other parts of the bike, when this is pressed down it locks something in place. That doesn't seem to be the case here, as the thing won't fold all the way in.

There is a spring around the bolt, and the bolt is threaded pretty much all the way down. If the spring compresses all the way in, the bike will *almost* close, but it gets wedged about .5" open. I've toyed with forcing it but I fear the bolt will bend.

I also tried taking off the nut and turning the whole piece around so the latch is outside the fold... this allows it to close but has no locking mechanism to hold it in place.

Saint Keggers

02:56 / 05.05.07

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5Cw1vgIJFQ

does this help?

ibis the being

03:05 / 05.05.07

That is exactly the way mine folds, but I think that one latch is different. Unless it's not put together right... I don't know. I've been at it for 5 hrs off & on and I don't know if I'll be able to sleep tonight, it's driving me bonkers.

iamus

08:55 / 05.05.07

*Muscles into thread*

Awright.

*Click* *Fold*

Done.

Cup of tea then, love?

This Sunday

09:03 / 05.05.07

Are you leaving the latch extended until it's absolutely necessary to push it to? Or is the latch sort of half-activated while swinging the two main sections? Putting together a mechanical deer for someone last year, I fought and fought until I caught onto that, and it worked.

Heres hoping.

Janean Patience

09:36 / 05.05.07

Putting together a mechanical deer for someone last year

If I've ever read a sentence more demanding of further explanation than this, I don't remember it.

This Sunday

09:44 / 05.05.07

Are these a States-only beast? It's a wireframe deer that moves in some interesting way when plugged in, usually placed in a yard to celebrate some holiday or the snow, and in my case, to confuse my cat, who was very young and pretty sure it was going to be her new friend because it's the same size as the dog was. They come in many models, and invariably, the bucks are better constructed, with better colors, firmer wireframing, and more articulation.

Tsuga

10:03 / 05.05.07

This may be right, but it looks wierd where the lever nests when it's closed. You said you're pretty handy, so this may be pointing out the obvious, but I'll say what it looks like. You swing out the silver arm thingy, out of the way to close it. Close it. The arm thingy lever is open or closed, but can screw in or out to tighten or loosen the fit. At least, it looks that way, like on a tire. That little hole is confusing, though, like the hinge pin slides up into it when it's closed?
I don't know if this is any help. Someone will probably come along who knows this shit.
Good luck!

Jack Denfeld

10:25 / 05.05.07

Hahahahahaha, a little off topic, but this thread is one of the reasons I love Barbelith.

Quantum

10:41 / 05.05.07

Are these a States-only beast?

Jesus, no wonder you people need guns if robo-stags are stalking you. I had no idea.

Kirin? Who the heck?

10:41 / 05.05.07

Just a thought, what make is this bike? Perhaps they have a manual on their website (if, indeed, they have one)? I'm assuming the accursed thing came without any instructional materials you can refer to.

ibis the being

15:38 / 05.05.07

Just before bed last night I figured out how the latch is supposed to work - after taking it apart at least 6 times I finally compared it to other latches on the bike and got the concept.

Tsuga, you were right on the money. You were pointing out the obvious, but yes the whole thing does swing out... looking at it, it appeared to be sautered in place but in fact an inner part swiveled and was just tight, and I was being a little too timid about forcing anything.

However... the bolt does not line up with the notch it's supposed to go into. By a significant margin, at least a quarter inch. My SO's stepdad has a crazy amount of tools and will hopefully have something that will resolve this. There is no shame in borrowing a man's tools, I'm sure.

The moral of the story is this is what you get for spending only $100 on a folding bicycle. A crappy product and absurdist customer service, but the brain teaser was thrown in for free.

Mirror

16:11 / 05.05.07

I think I see the problem.

The axle that the binding bolt goes through was inserted the wrong way around - from the photos it looks like it's asymmetric, and should only be inserted one way.

What you'll need to do is unscrew the bolt with the latch and remove it from the axle. Then, take a hammer and a piece of rod and drive the axle out, turn it around, and drive it back in. Then you should be able to replace the bolt.

Make sense?

ibis the being

18:47 / 05.05.07

Yes, that makes sense. Only problem is the top of it - or part of the top of it - is sautered in place... we may be able to get at it from the bottom with the right tools. Bringing it over to father-in-law's tonight, I'll report back.

Mirror

19:28 / 05.05.07

Hmm... if there's a bit of a weld there, it' almost surely for a little cap or some such, because obviously that axle can't be welded in place if it moves freely.

Considered taking it back to the shop?

Mirror

19:31 / 05.05.07

Upon further inspection, is there any chance that the axle can actually slide back and forth a bit and it's just stuck? I could see it being necessary for it to be able to do so in order for that lever to nest correctly in the little box when it's folded.

ibis the being

19:37 / 05.05.07

Good news, I contacted another person who bought this bike from the ebay seller and they got back to me - had the same problem and they said with a little WD-40 and some force they were able to wiggle the bolt downward to fit properly. I'm afraid this seller won't be getting a shining review from me, but I will most likely have some functioning wheels soon!

Mirror

03:30 / 06.05.07

Now you must certainly give us a photo of the cycle all nicely assembled!

Triplets

12:45 / 06.05.07

It's clearly a Transformer. Tell the truth, Ibis: you just asked it nicely and 'some WD40' means 'I bought it a pint'.

ibis the being

20:39 / 06.05.07

Well, I offered a pint but she preferred a shot of whisky.

I can't photograph it now because it's all packed up for my trip. I'm leaving on a 2 month journey working for a celebrity client, out in the boonies with the bike as my sole transportation. Oh and I get to bring the dog after all. I'll be back in July with some wonderful pics!

Triplets

16:14 / 09.05.07

WOO! Hooray for bike, boonie exploration, bucks and bow-wow! Have a great 2 months, IJC.

Add Your Reply