Monday, August 19, 2013

TRIAX PK 7 Mountain Bike

Hello and Welcome
One day I will remember this season as "The Summer of the Department Store Mountain Bike". It started with the RHINO then the MOTIV now the TRIAX PK 7. This bike needs a new back wheel, a better kickstand and a nicer saddle and some serious rust removal for the chain.

Above: The rear 26' wheel proved to be beyond truing. I have not yet stripped the woman's GIANT Acapulco. But I did salvage the front tire for the Motiv. Which did not affect the future of the GIANT Acapulco as it had miss matched tires anyway. But salvaging one of the wheels has sealed it's fate. It will now be just another parts bike. And that's ok because I really needed another bicycle frame hanging from the garage/shop rafters.

Above: The aforementioned Ladies GIANT Mountain bike. I should have been stealing the 26'tires off the TRIAX to finish this bike. But this is not the bike I am being asked to repair. So it goes...

Above: The FEMCO wheel worked out perfectly:) No need to swap out 7 speed freewheels or do any truing. So that solves the main problem. But the kickstand situation is a little weird. The mounting plate for the kickstand is mounted under the front of the swing arm. The only problem is the mounting plate is not on a level plane with the ground. So when you mount a kickstand on it the stand swings much farther forward than usual. And you could see the result of this set up looking at the grip ends. (I have a plan for those too) But I was sure I had a salvaged rear stay mount kickstand somewhere in the shop.

Above: I could not make the original mounting bracket work. As I remember it was not fitted very well on the parts bike it came off of either. So I cut off the upper part of the sliding bracket with my hacksaw then used a typical bracket for tubing. You should be able to find these at any "real hardware store". I was able to use the original holes in the sliding bracket so no drilling was necessary. This worked out pretty well, as the bike stands up much straighter now.

Above: As is typical for a bike that has been dropped or fallen over several times the handlebar ends had cut through the ends of the grips. A cheap fix is to just cut out the remaining grip-end even with the end of the handlebars. Then just install a normal end plug. Not perfect by any means, but none the less an improvement.

Above: This always goes hand in hand with the damaged handlebar grip ends, the sides of the saddle tore up from the bike falling over or being dropped several times. In this case I suspect the crappy kickstand was the culprit. Don't you just cringe when you see some kid deliberately drop his bike on the pavement? I would never do that to my Candy Blue Schwinn Sting Ray when I was a kid. And God save me if my Dad ever saw me doing that!

Above: Here I have installed the unused comfort sport saddle from the parts bike that was left over from Laura's Trek winter commuter build.

Above: Another typical thing you see on used department store bikes is frayed (unwound deraileur cable ends. Here I just snipped off the worst of it using my Pedro cable cutters. Then I rewound it "as best I could" and crimped on a cable end. I don`t know if the bike is worth all this love, but it just something I like to do. Cost? about 1 penny.

Above: As for the chain, I just sprayed it (in sections) with WD 40 and wiped it down vigorously using a terry cloth rag. The chain rust (surface rust) was not as bad as I originally thought. After it dries I will lube the chain with some White Lightning chain lubricant. As for the rest, it just needed to be wiped down with Armor All Cleaning wipes. I did take some slack out of the rear brake cable and reposition the shoes as well. I think it looks pretty good. For what it is anyway.

Above: The left side of the TRIAX. The red arrow indicates where the kickstand mounting plate is located. If you enlarge the pic you can see how this mountain bikes swing arm sweeps upward at this point. And I should mention, I did install a Greenfield Alloy kickstand and the same thing happened. So the problem definitely was not with the cheesy kickstand, which is what I suspected at first. After a little cleaning I returned the bike to it's owner (who would like to remain anonymous) But she was very pleased and surprised that it came out so nice.

Above: We are finally retiring the 1987 Ford Taurus. It has been in the family since it was new. And for the most part the Taurus has been a good reliable car. But after 26 years it needs more in repairs and maintenance than it is worth. And the gas consumption is unacceptable even though I drive much less than 10 thousand miles per year. We are donating the old Taurus to The Purple Heart of Michigan.

Above: I will now be driving a 2007 Mazda 3, which also has been in the family since new. I have been really enjoying driving the Mazda so far. And I feel better about using much less petro (about 1/2) than the old Taurus. And did I mention the Mazda is a Blast to drive? Zoom Zoom Zoom! It looks like I am going to need a new bike rack for the Mazda. I do not think it would be wise to hook the straps to the Mazada's plastic rear bumper. I think a roof top rack might be the best way to go. This will also give me quick and easy access the trunk (boot). No more "on and off" with the rack every time I want to haul something.

We purchased the Mazda 3 from our son who just purchased the first 2014 Yaris SE (above) in Michigan. "at least that is what we were told". I really like the look of the Yaris SE and I know my son really loves the car. The Mazda is not my "mid life crisis".... I am too old for that :) I had mine when I turned 50 and purchased a 1985 Outlaw V MAX. That was tons of fun too!
Until next time, Please RIDE SAFELY and Remember to Always RESCUE, RESTORE & RECYCLE
Cheers, Hugh

9 comments:

  1. Nice job on the low end bike. I was curious as to where and how much $ for it so I Googled it and came across this recall for cracked frames. http://consumerist.com/2007/03/29/target-bikes-recalled-for-frame-failure/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks John,
      I did check out the info and took it to the owner. Fortunately the model numbers were not a match. I advised her to Google her bikes model number "just in case".
      I returned a BMX to Target once and got about 89.00 for it. You know honestly, I really do not approve of bikes of this quality. But the reality is "many people do buy them" and they often need help sorting out the problems.
      Thanks again. Cheers, Hugh

      Delete
  2. If you run out of cable ends, use a spoke nipple.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hugh,

    I always check to see what's new on your bicycle blog, and what I find is always of interest.

    I've taken your advice and will be adding a Pedro cable cutter to my toolkit soon. I've also already ordered a Park Tool OBW-4, used for centering side-pull brakes. A 10mm cone wrench works, but a dedicated tool would be better.

    I reviewed your Motobecane Nomade restoration project (October, 2011) to determine if a conversion from side-pull to center-pull brakes would be possible on my 1988 Fuji Pulsar. Looking at your Motobecane Nomade pictures, I decided that I will let things remain as they are. The Fuji Pulsar's frame is built "tighter", with a shorter wheelbase, and the caliper arms on vintage brakes, such as Weinmann, would be too long. This is assuming, in addition, that I could find a headset that would allow mounting a hanger for the front brake cable.

    So, I'll just build a wheelset for 700C tires, with Quando hubs, and leave it at that. The smaller diameter tires should allow ample clearance to mount SKS fenders. Even as it is now, the Fuji Pulsar gives a solid ride and is sturdily built. At age 64, a more crash-resistant bicycle is almost a necessity. Carbon fiber frames are not for young children, nor for those collecting Social Security.

    I'm beginning to build-up my Fuji Pulsar photo album on BikeForums.Net, and the album is "public", but I'm not sure if any albums can be viewed without having an Elite Subscription. I was unable to do so as a normal, registered user. Anyway, the $12 for a yearly subscription is money wisely spent and, best of all, my screen is now free of ads when visiting the site.

    I'm hoping to see another Motobecane restoration project come along on your blog one of these days. I'm still searching for a reasonably priced 1970's Moto for my own use. They seem to be much scarcer this year than last.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I`ll have to check out that tool. It`s gotta work better than what I am doing now.
      I am still pleased with my Pedro cable cutters. so far no problems.
      lol... I agree 100% with your views on carbon fiber frames.

      flick r is free and has pretty much unlimited storage. But I do not care for the new layout. But I`ll give it some time before I make a change.

      Hey maybe you can post a few pics of your latest build on the face book page. If not that's cool too.

      I am just lately getting the shop up and running again. I have been distracted with all the home improvement projects we have had going since last fall.

      As far as Motobecanes go.. The college kids and other enthusiasts seem to grab up anything French quickly.

      Good to hear from you, Sorry it took so long to respond.
      Cheers, Hugh

      Delete
  4. I either skipped my mid-life crisis completely or I am so immersed in it that I don't realize it is happening. More likely I just went straight from middle age to second childhood.

    I am continually dismayed by how the kids in my life treat their bicycles. They just don't get it. These wonderful machines...mine are treated like expensive thoroughbreds. Mostly.

    Now I want a 29r. Steel. Rigid.

    Thanks, Hugh!
    tj

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think maybe things come too easy to some kids these days. Or maybe nobody ever took the time to teach them how to treat and maintain the machines in their lives. I suspect it is a little of both.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello,
    Guru Fit
    It was the perfect blog with great information on Bicycle Fit Guru. So, keep writing.
    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete

 
Cycling Blog Directory