dweenk

Last weekend on a drive-by whim, I bought a Free Spirit ladies bike with a Shimano 3-speed IG hub. The bike was clean (as in not pampered, but well kept). I gave it a test ride and it didn't shift into all gears, but I bought it anyway (it was Cheap).

So I took it home, looked for an oil port for the hub, and found none. Being totally ignorant about Shimano IG hubs, I immediately began messing with the bell crank adjustment on my high $$ bike stand (rope with 2 hooks over the joists).

I got it to shift through a 3 gears on the stand, but it took a little tweaking during the test ride to get it right. So now my choices are:

1. Do I sell it? I can get $50 - $75 in a college town (I could use that on a project).
2. Do I donate it to a homeless shelter? There is one nearby.
3. Do I park it with a "Free Bike" sign on it?

If I knew how to conduct a poll on this forum, I would do it.

auchencrow

I am assuming it's an older Shimano "333" hub. According to Sheldon, these have a reputation for internal complexity, unreliability and fragile components.
I would probably go with option 3. It may screw up again down the road, but no one can complain about the price.

wrk101

If you need the $$, sell for $50, otherwise donate it.

Myself, I count on word of mouth and repeat business, so I avoid Shimano 3 speeds and department store bikes. If I get one for free, I take them straight to the co-op.

Depending on how often you sell bikes, your reputation is worth more than a $50 dud bike.