bike_forum_geek

Hey Bike Forum peeps, I work at a non-profit bike shop. We received a donated Btwin foldable bike with a bent rim. Decathalon won't replace the wheel and they don't sell replacements.

The 75 mm hub is non-standard. No one seems to be able to order a replacement wheel. I need a 20 inch wheel with 75 mm hub width, 406 bead diameter, exterior rim width 1 inch.

I'm told we can build a wheel, but this is a 28 hole rim, also non-standard.

Any ideas where I can order wheel or rim with the above specs?

This is for a front wheel.

TIA

Bill Kapaun

You can't economically save every bike.
Even if cutting off and rewelding the existing dropouts were possible, it raises liability issues you're best off not to take on.
Sometimes you have to know when to punt.

cxwrench

^This^. I have no problem telling people it's either too difficult or not worth it to fix their 'project'.

bboy314

Have you looked for a replacement rim? Maybe through a BMX supplier? I believe the Sun CR18 used to come in this configuration, haven’t checked in awhile though.

Hondo6

If the wheel with the bent rim is disc brake and the hub and spokes are salvageable, this rim might work. It's available in 20" 28H, but is disc brake only. Rim is about 1" external width. It's from China and may take a while to arrive. Not particularly cheap, but the few others I found are about the same price and are also from China; this one's representative.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/195249931414

Also found this 20" 28H wheel with a 70mm hub. It's for a stroller/jogger, no idea if it's strong enough for bike use or not. Dunno the rim external width, and also dunno if the rim would be suitable for clinchers or rim brakes. I'd be leery of using it on a bike.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/143673459221

I have not done business with nor do I have any commercial interest in either vendor.

This vendor does seem to have the Sun Ringle CR-18 referenced above available. I have done business with this vendor; they seem reliable. I have no commercial interest in the vendor.

https://www.ebay.com/p/5012039443?iid=374136270038

BSD isn't given in any of those listings. You'd need to contact them to see if they're 406, but many BMX rims are. No clue about the stroller/jogger wheel.

bike_forum_geek

Thanks all. Unclear whether it's worth time/effort to save this bike. The Sun Ringle seems the choice if we're to build a wheel. But, a wheel build is likely to be outsourced. I'll check with our team. Thanks again.

base2 

Off the cuff, it sounds like the front wheel from a Dahon or a Brompton. Dahon has a 9mm axle, Brampton has an 8mm axle.

When I re-did my Dahon, I picked up a Shutter Precision Brompton dynamo. Then I obtained a length of 3/8inch stainless steel brake line from an auto parts store. I cut 2 short sections off the line to be collars & pressed them onto the exposed Brompton-sized axle nubs with the tiniest bit of JB Weld. The effect is a the proper 9/9.5mm-ish axle diameter a Dahon fork drop out expects. (Going from memory, here.)

I wouldn't do the above hack if cup/cone bearings were to be used. Shutter Precision dynamos use non-serviceable cartridge bearings & are regarded to be just about disposable, so it's no big loss should a replacement be necessary in the far future.

Alternatively, going the other way, I would expect you could file the Bromptons dropouts to accept a Dahon wheel. You might amend your search along these lines.

Velocity makes 406 Dyad rims in just about any drilling you could want.

Also, I may have a full Dahon wheelset or suitable front at my Co-Op. bike_forum_geek PM if you hit a dead end.

tFUnK

I've seen a few 74/130 406 wheelsets on AliExpress.

bike_forum_geek

Thank you, I only need a front wheel with rim brakes.

JoeTBM 

Agreed, you can't save every bike, sometimes they are more work then they are worth. We rebuild about 2,000 a year in our non-profit shop and strip/recycle about another 100-150 that are either too far gone or not worth it.

BTW @bike_forum_geek, where is the non-profit shop at?

bike_forum_geek

Hey Joe! I volunteer at BikeConcord https://www.facebook.com/bikeconcord/ , if you're in the SF Bay Area on a Thursday stop by and help us wrench I like the Bike Men Flagler website, it gave me ideas. Yea, we stripped one of the cracked frame donated fold-ables, I'm trying to save the other. If I can't find a replacement wheel I may learn to build a wheel. Checking youtube.....

JoeTBM 

Let me see if I can check on a wheel for you, I might have a foldable in the shop that we were going to scrap anyway (foldables are not big here and I already have more then I care to). Glad you liked the website, we are also on Facebook as well https://www.facebook.com/TheBikeMenOfFlaglerCounty/

BikeConcord appears to more of a bike co-op type operation, something I want to do when we get more space. We are more of a charity bike shop supporting many local groups & organizations, Haven't been to SF Bay in many years, not in the immediate plans, I really don't like plane travel anymore. PM me your telephone number and I will give you a call with the result of our wheel search.

bike_forum_geek

Thanks all. We're going to build a wheel. Thanks for the Sun CR18 tip, much appreciated.

base2 

Ok. I'll consider the matter closed. If you need anything else, you know where to find me.
Base2