Specialized Hotrock 20 refurb.

[I like Skol]

I have a superb condition GT Stomper 20" available. It's been used and abused by my 2 sons but ALL the items you are having trouble with have been regularly serviced (including the forks just a couple of months ago). The front wheel needs a puncture fixing and it is then ready to rumble.

BB was replaced with a UN55
chain and freewheel about 12 months ago
wheel hubs have been stripped at least once
Headset was serviced most recently at the same as the forks.

My kids bikes work like clockwork

http://s288.photobucket.com/user/sprintagogo/media/015_zps94b215ea.mp4.html

 

[Cycleops]

You have found out that to salvage a bike that has suffered a fair bit of neglect is more expensive that you thought, and it's usually the case. Always better to buy something thats had a bit of use but looked after( like I like Skol) is offering. Sorry to sound wise after the event but you might be better off to cut your losses.

 

[MikeW-71]

Personally, if I'd gone and seen the bike with him, I'd have walked away from it, it was obvious it had been neglected. He had loads of time to find something decent whether it was secondhand or new, he really shouldn't have bought the first thing he went to see. But it's here now and we are going to make the best of it.

Situation report:

• The fork works, its seals are OK and it's clean inside, so we can remove the cosmetic rust above the travel limit and put some paint on to seal the metal. Steerer is fine.
• New pair of wheels on order - £40
• New bearings for headset - £5 or less
• New derailleur on order - £12

Everything else is good and can be cleaned up. I'll see if I can strip and service the shifter to be sure, but other than cleaning, the rest works fine.

I want to get this bike to the same standard that I would accept if it was me riding it. The wheels should be true and run smooth, headset has no play and turns smooth and the gears work properly. I'm not going to accept it running no better than the piece of Halfords s**t he's riding now. After all, if it's not easier to ride then he won't enjoy it, and he won't want to ride it.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Everything else is good and can be cleaned up. I'll see if I can strip and service the shifter to be sure, but other than cleaning, the rest works fine.

I have a funny feeling those Revoshift gripshifters aren't designed to be stripped and serviced. Nevertheless this might be of some help.

 

[Crackle]

20 and 24 inch wheels often aren't good and go out of true quickly. Just be prepared to tweak them every now and again.

 

[MikeW-71]

More progress

A good few hours work and we have stripped and cleaned all the brakes including the levers, paint touched up, scuffs tidied up and all re-fitted.

Handlebars removed, sanded down and are being re-painted, stem tidied up and paint touched up.

Just the shifter to clean and then it's all ready to be re-fitted to the bars. New headset bearings are going in and fork will be re-fitted tonight. It's starting to look good!

The new wheels that are coming are aluminium rather than the standard steel ones, so should reduce some weight.

 

[MikeW-71]

Forks back on, bars refitted and controls mounted ready for new grips and then placed properly.

 

[young Ed]

shaping up nicely
i can't really see in above photos but you don't appear to have touched the fork rust?
Cheers Ed

 

[MikeW-71]

The worst of the fork rust has been removed and painted over, the rest has been smoothed and we'll leave it at that as it's not affecting the operation of the fork.

 

[young Ed]

well if the forks work then i guess it's alright
at his age he will be on another bike with in a year or 2 i expect!
Cheers Ed

 

[MikeW-71]

These arrived today




Aluminium rims and some nice feeling hubs with a couple more spokes than the standard wheels, so after the tyres were re-fitted and the gears properly fettled, we are done with the mechanics. Just some touch-up paint to do and hope we see a big smile in a few months time




We're pretty pleased with how it has turned out.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Well done!

 

[young Ed]

very nice result!
look like a solid pair of wheels you got there, if you don't mind me asking how much were they and where did you get them?
free hub or wheel?
Cheers Ed

 

[MikeW-71]

Local LBS got them for us, £19 for the front £21 for the rear, we transferred the original freewheel onto them since it was absolutely fine.

 

[young Ed]

Local LBS got them for us, £19 for the front £21 for the rear, we transferred the original freewheel onto them since it was absolutely fine.

I want your lbs mine would charge probably 100 or 150£ for them
I know I should use them but due to them charging 10 times as much anywhere else I would rather go to hellfrauds!
Cheers Ed