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My local bike shop did, amongst other things, a rear hub service on my trail bike back in March. They broke part of the hub (one of the end caps but still fitted it back to the bike) and haven't been able to get a replacement. I took photos of the damage and they acknowledged this on the day I picked it up as I only noticed once I got home, not what I was expecting to be fair! On top of this, the freehub/cassette moves several mm side to side even though the lock ring is nice and tight.
In short I'm far from happy with the standard of work. They've been very good with offering to resolve it yet can't get the new part and now I'm having further problems with it. It's a Crank Bros hub on a 26" wheel so you can't just go and get a spare part like you might for say a Hope hub. If it were one of those I'd have serviced it myself.
So I'm wondering what my options are really. I've contacted them in a reasonable manner saying I'm still having problems and would like it resolved once and for all. No reply as yet so not sure where this will go.
Why not just ask for a new wheel?
They don't make them anymore unfortunately. Crank Bros Iodine 3's in 26".
They must repair it to put you back in the position you were before hand.
I guess they are waiting for the boss to make a decision - how long since you contacted them? I'd be putting it in writing clearly and consisely with a timeline of events and asking them to sort it out. If they don't agree to do so in a short timeline it would be a "letter before action" which is the first step in small claims
I've pretty much done all that, last contact was this morning and granted they would need some time to formulate a response so I'm waiting to hear what they say. It's annoying but mistakes happen, all I want is for it to be fixed without further hassle/cost.
The play in the cassette means I can't ride it through fear of it failing on me.
Early generation Crankbros wheels used a thin Blue plastic spacer on the freehub to remove play in the cassette.
Perhaps they lost this while cleaning things up?
Crankbros will have spare parts, I know it's not up to you to resolve, but that might be your best solution
does sound like a missing spacer
One solution would be that they loan you a rear wheel while sorting it out.
The thing about Crank Bros is, I contacted them, they say talk to Extra UK, their distributors in the UK. They don't deal direct but give you a list of their dealers (of which the LBS isn't one). I contact dealer who doesn't want to know.
Has felt like I'm banging my head against a brick wall. My preference is for the LBS to sort now as I've already wasted a lot of time and effort and I think it should be up to them anyway.
This has definitely made me suck up the weight penalty and buy wheels with hope hubs.
Why do you need the same wheel?
If you still want the rim, get the LBS to supply a replacement hub of equivalent quality and rebuild the wheel. Otherwise they need to sort you out a replacement rear wheel.
If I had a pair of Crank Bros wheels I wouldn't accept a non-CB replcament for one of them.
I'd write to Extra and ask if they could supply you part numbers of the bit(s) you require, if you were unhappy with the service provided by one of their dealers inform them of this i'm sure they would be grateful of the feedback.
If you get details of the replacement parts required take that info to the shop that damaged the wheel and discuss your options - either they source you the parts through an Extra dealer of their choice or you source them and they reimburse you parts + any shipping expenses.
Whilst i agree none of the above should really be your responsibility it may be the quickest way to getting your wheel working properly.
There aren't really any equivalent hubs though, CB spokes and pattern are unique. And any other wheel will look a total mismatch.
Tricky. Asked them if they have insurance against malpractice and if they could make a claim so that it finances the cost of a new wheel (minus the excess).
You need a face to face with the owner and firmly but courteously ask him for an outcome to get your back to "normal".
If no luck then small claim court.
If you're struggling for spare parts, I've got an Iodine 2 hub in the spares box after i smashed the rim and gave up trying to get my LBS to order a replacement through extra.
Same as the 3 internally, but with a steel freehub. It's the later generation, more reliable version and the bearings are still running smooth.
Would be happy to post on so it gets put to some use.
That's an incredibly generous offer from andyb39, but does his hub also have the blue spacer?
Could you swap just that to see if it solves the problem and if it does then get serious about getting a new replacement? You'd then have two working hubs between you.
If not you could go down the path of gettting the LBS to rebuild your rim and spokes on his hub.
No spacers externally on my hub. The 2nd generation changed to using a freehub design similar to Shimano hubs.
Alternatively, I'm not sure what they're like to deal with as a shop, but these guys list a lot of the spare parts for crank brothers hubs:
https://activesport.co/epages/80c85f8f-7a95-4b1c-9c30-e64b314f3f2e.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=590764&ViewAction=ViewFaceted&FacetValue_CategoryID=590764&FacetValue_Manufacturer=Crank+Brothers
I probably have a blue spacer somewhere.. finding it might be a challenge as it's pretty much invisible.
Have you been on Crankbros USA site as they do have plenty of service parts available. The corporate USA division are really good, they often have open service tents at big events and you pop in and get whatever you need sorting.
What end cap and what cassette are you running?
Lesson learnt. Never ever let a bike shop near your bike.
Fix it yourself and see above.
It's a Crank Bros hub
There's the problem.
And yes, they have/had blue spacers for the cassette. They're only thin flexible plastic things which you can bodge really. Was never keen on them as they seem to cause wobble anyway.
If it's not fitting right though you can have the freehub lockring threads strip off if it's an alloy freehub (as I found). Back in the day they sorted it out with a replacement freehub quick, but distributor is different now and 26" CB is dead.
Personally I'd ask for a replacement that isn't CB. From experience with wheels generally, I now go with something very standard, reputable and known tough, not bling and uses standard parts. Hope or DT hub on DT or Stans rims for example. Regular spokes, not straight pull.
Can't you just use a different spacer? Mavic make one, as do Shimano.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mavic-cassette-spacer/rp-prod25399
https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/shimano-7-speed-spacer
I appreciate this doesn't solve the end cap issue, I recall they were changeable though. I just hope someone comes along with a spare.
Cheers for the helpful replies, very much appreciated and I think I'll probably be in touch on that one Andy. Mine's the 2nd gen Iodine 3 so very similar. The rear is QR axle and the end cap is shaped a bit like a top hat, it was returned to me minus the part which covers the bearing(s) leaving them totally exposed. Quite a work of genius to break it, put it back on the bike and then hope I wouldn't notice, hence why I usually do all I can to avoid bike shops as none around me are trustworthy.
To be fair to the wheels, they've been great and I've given them a bit of a hammering over the years. Several trips all over the country and they've always been reliable. Yes I know C.B. have a reputation but my experiences have been good, hence wanting to stick with what I have and not have a mismatch.
Also my other main bike has DT Swiss 240 hubs, normal spokes on Stans rims. I totally agree with having proven & easily serviceable/replaceable parts. Like I said though, so far the C.B. wheels have been very, very good.
Don't buy parts from Activesport it is the trading name for Mark Antony bikes.
The issues you have experienced with your local bike shop will be nothing compared to that shyster.
Activesport = Mark Anthony. But I guess if they have stock of the part....
Anyhow, might also be worth calling 2Pure, the previous distributors. Not sure whether or not their spares would have gone to Extra, or to a third party, but nothing to lose by speaking to them.
Painey I have sent you a direct message on here. Take a look.
Rich, PM has been sent back and to you as well Andy. Cheers Guys!