We got our son a Hyper Metro bicycle from walmart for Christmas and I assembled it with no problem. We also go training wheels for it and when I installed them, the issues began. The rear wheel will spin and then eventually just jam and stop spinning suddenly. I can spin it the opposite way and then it will spin the correct way again until it jams again. Almost like it's tightening itself down and then just stops moving. I loosened everything and thought that i had the problem fixed, and i pushed it around the driveway and then the nut on one side just fell off, so it definitely spun on the rod. I'd like to get input and see if it's an easy fix before I go to a bike shop since there aren't any nearby. Any suggestions? Is it fixable? Should i just buy a new rear wheel assembly?
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I suspect this problem was waiting for you, and fitting training wheels only brought it to the surface. Walmart bikes are "BSOs" which is jargon for a really really cheap bike, which are frequently build badly and then assembled badly by the store.– Criggie ♦Mar 20, 2018 at 19:12
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2@Criggie Sure but when training wheels are in the game, the child is usually so small that they'll grow out of a bike quickly. I'd imagine that most people are buying cheap bikes for kids of that age and even something really basic should work as advertised. Though I agree that, at that price point, replacement parts are rarely viable.– David RicherbyMar 20, 2018 at 22:14
1 Answer
Sounds to me like the bearings in the rear wheel are unhappy.
So normally on a kids bike, they use cheaper cup and cone bearings which have a cone nut and a locknut on each side.
Note the lock nuts and cone nuts in the above cutaway are merged into one part.
So the locknut and cone nut should be pressed up against each other and therefore unable to move. I guess that something has caused the locknut and cone nut to be loose against each other, allowing one or both to turn with the wheel.
The Fix you'll need a normal adjustable spanner, and a specialist spanner called a Cone Spanner which is quite thin, and fits the two flats on the side of the cone nut.
Remove the wheel from the bike, and work on its axle directly. Its fiddly, but you want the axle to rotate in your fingers without crunching feeling, but without much detectable slop.
To do so, lock one locknut against one cone by tightening them against each other. Then adjust the cone nut on the other side so it spins right. Lastly hold that cone nut still and tighten the lock nut against it.
Things will subtly move, and your adjust will likely be wrong. So fiddle it until you have the axle rotating freely with no graunch, but with minimal sideways play.
Lastly, remember this is a kids bike that won't do 10 km in its entire life. As long as the wheel turns freely and doesn't self-adjust you'll be okay.
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1I'll give that a try tonight. while i do realize that it won't be ridden for long until it's time for a new one, since it freezes up so quickly, i can just see it happening in the driveway, sending him over the handlebars and making him never want to ride again lol.– JonesyMar 21, 2018 at 17:38
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1I had this exact problem on a kids bike recently. The rear hub was preassembled and overtightened from the factory. The rear wheel wouldn't spin one rotation freely. I only noticed this after i had the wheel off and replaced a flat. I disassembled the hub, regressed the bearings and assembled the hub properly. There is a fine line between too loose and tight with this cheap design. Best part is, I don't think she's ridden it since the repair and since outgrown the bike!– Gary BakMar 26, 2018 at 12:34
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1thanks for all the input, but we ended up buying a new bike. i may still fix this one and send it to the grandparents house or something.– JonesyMay 10, 2018 at 20:49