Anyone know how to weld?

[teko.livejournal.com]

One of my housemates has a very unusual repair project that he's stymied on: an old arcade game that you play by pedaling an exercise-bike-type thing. One of the pedals is loose, making the game unplayable. A previous owner seems to have tried to 'weld' it in place with JB Weld, but that didn't work. A bike repairperson friend tells me that the crank arm is broken and that I need a used crank arm and cotter to fix it. The other option is to weld the sucker into place, which may hold, I'm not sure.



Not having repaired a bike before, I'm seeing if anyone here can either help or just weld.... or knows anyone who can. I can't exactly move the game, so they'd have to come over to help.

Comments

[usernamenumber.livejournal.com]

You might try reaching someone at Artisan's Asylum (http://artisansasylum.com) about that. You or your friend could even take a class to learn how to do it yourself there.

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

Getting a used crank and cotter and installing same is pretty straightforward.

[teko.livejournal.com]

Good to know; can you point me towards some resources where I can learn how?

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

Broadway bicycle school is a good place to look for a used crank.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cotters.html will teach you what you need to know.

[teko.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that's helpful. Given that the crank & cotter in question is covered in solid JB Weld and the link you posted says "Recalcitrant crank cotters are among the most challenging bicycle repair problems," I'm still not sure if I'm up for it, but I'll check Broadway for used cranks.

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

Well, since you don't care about keeping the old one, it is actually much easier. Apply some heat, and break out the sissy sledge and cold chisel.

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

There's a MAPP/oxy torch in the basement, along with a cold chisel and assorted punches. You should be able to find them among my tools. I'm really sorry that I didn't get this taken care of while I was home on leave. :(

As it's not a standard crank spindle, you're not going to want to remove the whole thing. Pull it out once you have the arms off, then pop it in my big blue vise and use the angle-grinder to cut off the treaded parts. Then here's where the new crank comes in: cut *that* and weld it on such that the propcycle crank spindle now has something more standard for affixing the crank arms.

I need to replace the crank on my yellow fixed-gear when I get back from Afghanistan, so you can go ahead and use that crankset as well as the pedals.

Good luck, take pictures, and let me know how it goes!

[greyling.livejournal.com]

I have both a used crank arm and compatible cotter pin, and the ability to weld. Let me know what you need!

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

wow, you're awesome!

[teko.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, wow. I'll be in touch pronto!

[turil.livejournal.com]

I hope you get it working, it's an utterly gorgeous looking game! I'd love for it to be updated with modern graphics, and be in my local gym (or library, since there isn't actually a gym anywhere around me now).

[teko.livejournal.com]

It's a wacky sort of Miyazaki-esque game where you fly around and pop balloons on your aerial bike; ones in good repair have a fan in front that blows on you when you dive, and it's a beautiful effect.