[Closed] Santa Cruz Heckler play in the frame/swing arm only 4 months old!!

collet bolt will probably need a nip up, its like this blur link if its a newer frame.

[img] [/img]

What scruff said.

Undo and remove the collet bolt.
Remove the collet.
Tighten the axle/shaft.
Refit collet and bolt.

Your bearings are lifetime warrantied too, so if they are shot, fire them back to Jungle

yup, as above. you need a bigger allen key to nip up the axle a bit then put the bolt and collet back in

If its worked loose tighten, if not return. When you get a new bike you have a warranty - use the blooddy thing!!

My Butcher did a similar thing it was down to the thread being to long on the main axle the bearing flatened the threads it moved around damaged the bearing , sent them to Jungle they replaced with new modified axle with shorter thread and new bearings, I spoke to them first very helpful guys,was back up at the end of the week.

If its worked loose tighten, if not return

May not have worked loose. It might be a bit of play/wear/bedding in in the bearing.
That's why they're fitted with adjustable bearings. 🙂

No disrespect intended to the advice given here but just take the thing back FFS.

(If you bought it locally, if not refer advice above) 😉

Class comments very helpful guys

I would like to know the problem so I can repair further down the line when warranty runs out as such and any known issues too

I have put a message in to the LBS I got it from too and emailed jungle to see if they know of any issues

Thanks again

As said, lifetime on the bearings anyway, but to save the labour costs from the LBS it's worth knowing how to sort them out yourself. Only thing is you may have to send the worn ones away to get the replacements, whereas an LBS might be able to swap them over then and there.

Have to say, SC frames are well designed to be easily maintainable and the parts barely seem to wear at all. Just a spot of easy maintenance to do.

Check the maintenance section on the SC web site and it tells you exactly what needs to be serviced per model.

yeah thought that I did get the frame from the LBS and know one of the lads as my friend used to work there but I do like to do everything myself or like to be in the know so I can fix it right away

just a disappointed that its happened so soon had a gander this evening its only slight but definite play feels like a tiny knock and not 100% but it does feel like the lower bolt/bush on the shock and not the pivot

same thing happened to me after about 6 months. Took it to the LBS who had a look and told me the bearings were probably shot.

Asked on here and I got same advice as posts above, ie nip it up with an allen key and put some locktite or similar on it. Followed their instructions and it was fine after that...and I'm a ham fisted monkey with any kind of tool in my hand. Saved myself the 50 quid that the shop were quoting me 🙂

Well I wouldnt be spending 50 quid in the bike shop not on top of my new frame thats just wrong on a few levels!

I would have thought they would have sorted you out due to the fact ya buy from them so soon after 6 months is such a short time for something to go wrong

if SC dont help me out or the local bike shop I will be very disappointed in SC I have wanted this frame for the best part of ten years so I built a new bike and retired my trusty old Zaskar

I may look into the heavy duty bushing too

its a massive ball ache though

Geedub

Forget the scare stories about LBS's. You bought something new and it's got some play. My first port of call would always be the retailer before hamfistedly trying to sort out something new.

Head in there speak to the mechanic and see whats going on. Get them to show you if it's just a tighten up etc. If not replace on Warranty.

Most LBS's worth anything will be fine with this and not charge you. It's called after sales support. However fixing anything that you do yourself that makes things worse will not come under aftersales/goodwill fixing.

Yeah that's my first option completely gunna chip down tomorrow but after the warranty period I will be on my own so all advice is good

If you do play with it yourself, be careful of overtightening the collets, one of our other mechanics had an absolute nightmare taking one apart when they'd all been jammed into their split sleeves as there's very little access or purchase to knock them out.

I just do it myself.

It's a two minute job and just routine maintenance.

If you're a bit nervous of it though maybe ask the LBS to show you how to do it. It'll save you a trip out of your way next time.

I aint nervous as such and very capable I build/fix my own bikes, its just new territory as its my first full suss.

Just gunna take it to the bike shop because I am sure I am worthy of after sales support and ask them as they are Cruz dealers and pro DH mechanics but it is time and effort and I do like to be able to do the job myself if it means I dont miss a ride or something like that and of course extra expense I dont need if that was the case

I really appreciate each and everyones input though good folks on ere'

let us know if tightening helped, or it needs new bearings

You'll laugh at yourself when you see how easy it is to do. 😀

Have you looked at the tech section on the Santa Cruz website?

[url] http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Tech-Tuesday-Adjust-the-Pivot-Bearings-on-Any-Santa-Cruz-VPP-Sus.html [/url]

Same bearings and system on the Heckler too.

yeah jamie porter Had a new du bush in that sorted it a little but got home and investigated more and yeah bearings are buggered feel awful and yeah very easy to investigate just new bearings in now just inside beyond the bearin is like a spacer looks as though it's abit rusty

Good link singlespeedstu cheers does anyone know what's inbetween the bearings looks like a small bit of rust is it a spacer like in hope pro 2's

on my 2010 heckler there is no spacer, hence you can adjust it - they are angular contact bearings - you have to get them in the right was round!!

i pushed my heckler through a river once and that finished the pivot bearings off - felt really gritty and horrible.

Well have not had them out its only 4 months old but I have ridden in the peaks in crappy cold weather and they feel like you described basically the bearings are goosed but unsure if they are angular don't think they are

It's a 2012 heckler

Have to say the SC instructions for my Nomad confused me as the written seasonal maintenance guide wasn't all that clear. It just says to check the outer is loose which they weren't and if they're loose to undo and mess about inside. Even then I wasn't sure when they're talking about 'wedge bolts' if they mean the outer bolt you can see.

Took it to the shop and they just took the outer bolt off, removed the washer I think and snugged up the real one to adjust.

As for lbs, helps having an independent local run by guys who ride the trails. Less interested in going for the quick fix that makes them money and more in helping you out. I still prefer to do stuff myself once I know how though.

On my old heckler frame I had 3 set of bearings that lasted about 3 months each. It is disappointing and I could't work out why they weren't lasting. The set that came on the new frame lasted at least a year!

If there is play in the swing arm I reckon its broken bearings. I bought the bearing tools to remove and fit them myself in the end as its just quicker than getting the shop to do it.

Well they are sealed cartridge bearings but they are not waterproof so any kind of moisture thats gets in will destroy them in a short space of time

a good point by the owner of my LBS is that you ride in british weather and in the peaks is the stuff they make grind stones from so all that wet grit will work its way in anywhere if I put the bearings in myself I think I will absolutely coat the area with grease so it covers everything saying that guess they should have been coated in the first place

yeah deadkenny thats with my local bike shop they give sound advice but they kind of have bigger fish to fry really and always super busy unless you go in with a wad of cash and they love you but they are sound and like I said before they are pro mechanics too having said that still like to do everything myself so I know whats going on so if anything goes wrong I can fix it

I am still disappointed as to why they are not lasting

I will buy the bearing tool if its cheap enough may try and go with a heavy duty bearing if it exists because it is an easy fix but also want to get the torque right so will need a torque wrench not sure if I own one of those