Not a happy bunny

[gazmercer]

So... I've had my Apollo FS26S for a grand total of 3 weeks, racked up about 120 miles on it commuting. Over the last few days there's been a horrible sound coming from the back of the bike. Then it went away, then it came back.

Today while off work I thought I'd take a look.

Nothing seems to be catching, nothing seems to be rubbing. Took back wheel off and spun it off the bike... There's that noise again. Checked the cones and bearings etc on the side without the gears and they seem fine, there's no grit in there or anything. I can't get the other side off as I cannot remove the gears (freewheel) as I have no tool for it.

I've now put the wheel back on (sounds even worse now) and it's going back to Halfords tomorrow. Hope they can sort it as I'm back in work on Saturday!!!

I'm not a happy bunny!!

 

[fossyant]

Sounds like the freewheel. If the cones felt smooth (ish) then it's not them.

 

[Globalti]

Does it have a conical rubber seal between the axle and the hub on the non-drive side? These can sometimes set up a strange swishing sound at certain speeds. A drop of white grease or chain lube will sort it.

 

[gazmercer]

Does it have a conical rubber seal between the axle and the hub on the non-drive side? These can sometimes set up a strange swishing sound at certain speeds. A drop of white grease or chain lube will sort it.

No, when I took the cone off there's the bearings in a sort of holder and that's it. It's definitely not a swishing sound, it's very crunchy

 

[gazmercer]

Well, I'm a happy bunny again. Took the bike to Halfords and they've sorted it. 2 new brake cables, Bottom bracket and cranks tightened and a new freewheel (gears). The crunchy sound was the bearings had gone. Just needs a test ride now!!

 

[4F]

Bearings and brake cables need replacing after 3 weeks !! Halfords

 

[gazmercer]

Bearings and brake cables need replacing after 3 weeks !! Halfords

Exactly....

 

[gazmercer]

Just an update and a bit of a thread revival.....

I'm even less of a happy bunny.. I've now had the bike for approx 5 weeks. After the initial re-fit of bearings etc, the back wheel has a wobble in it again. Seems like the cones are loose. Gearing/indexing is all over the place one minute it works then it doesn't. Woke up this morning, jumped on the bike, tried to pedal and found the chain was off and nicely jammed between the frame and the gears. Loosened the back wheel off and put the chain back on. I then put it back in the room it belongs in and am relying on the bus for work today.

I'll be visiting Halfords tomorrow and they can have a piece of my mind while I'm there.

I'm getting really p*ssed off with it now!!

 

[Billloudon]

It's Halfords

 

[ACS]

‘Not fit for purpose’ and ‘not of merchantable quality’ are to phrases that may be of use.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

Insist that they take it back. Get a Subway from them instead.

sound advice…

 

[Yellow Fang]

Halfords have two in house brands (or is it three now with Boardman bikes?). Apollo is their very cheap range and Carrera is their better quality range. I've bought an Apollo from them before and it was perfectly reliable, but it was a single speed cruiser without much to go wrong. I eventually decided it was a bit gay, sawed it up and took it to the dump. Their Carrera bikes are worth buying.

 

[Cab]

The apollo range... there's usually so much wrong with them that by the time you've upgraded the defective components you could have bought a much better bike. Ironically I think that some of the apollo bikes for sale second hand are better because they've had some of that done to them.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

The apollo range... there's usually so much wrong with them that by the time you've upgraded the defective components you could have bought a much better bike. Ironically I think that some of the apollo bikes for sale second hand are better because they've had some of that done to them.

mrs alecetc's has had new fork and brake calipers. makes it a much nicer bike to ride. not light, but with slick tyres it runs cleanly. i have had to tighten the bb which, for the milage, was a bit poor though.

 

[swee'pea99]

The apollo range... there's usually so much wrong with them that by the time you've upgraded the defective components you could have bought a much better bike. Ironically I think that some of the apollo bikes for sale second hand are better because they've had some of that done to them.

A good point, and one that applies more generally. I've always bought second hand, carefully, after swapping emails to make sure I'm dealing with decent folk, and I've never (touch wood) had any problems with the bikes I've bought. In my view, unless you're buying top o' the range, you're much better off buying a good second hand machine that's been run in and properly maintained, than new. You not only get twice the bike for your money, you get the assurance that any teething troubles have been sorted out and it's now running smoothly.