Halfords Bike Monkeys

Picked up my Kona tonight and low and behold the bottom bracket that was loose when I viewed it is still loose, so I am not amused so the girl in the shop attempts to tighten it without undoing the pinchbolts on the crank. Under my direction she finally undoes it and tightens it up. So I turn the cranks and they are binding, prompting the question is that correct, do they have to bed in. She replies, I certainly hope so.
Not being satisfied I bring it home to inspect it myself and strip the BB to discover that both bearings are just too big (my veriner says they are 25mm when they should be 24mm) causing the massive slop I noticed, to top it off there are no spacers installed so where she wound it up tight all she suceeded in doing was binding both cranks agains't both BB cups.
I have phoned them tonight and they have said they will fix it but will have to order the parts which will take 3-5 working days, for spending £850 in shop I am not impressed. If they had checked it over when the deposit was placed or even PDI'd it correctly they would have noticed and could have let me know and ordered parts.
This could have been downright dangerous if I had ridden it.
What a stupid bunch of cocks. :x
I am trying to find out on BB and crack specs to see what should be there so I can check it over when they eventually get it fixed.
Anyone know anything about Kona's (Kula) and FSA cranks and BB's?

Carl.

:? Oh dear, not good. Did you have to buy at Halfords?

+1 why halfords?!?!

i have always thought that generally most halfords staff suck, not all of them but a fair proportion. i think that alot of people that work there are not interested in bikes or cars etc, to those people they might aswell be selling beans in tescos.

i'm sure there are a few good staff members here and there but the problem is someone getting a job doing something they have no interest in at all so they are not inspired to learn what they need to know to beable to do the job properly. there are of course some that out of self pride are not interested in bikes but like to know that they can go home after a good days work, and i'd rather deal with someone who knows nothing but will try hard than someone who thinks they know everything but makes no effort. the real crap ones are the ones who know nothing AND doesn't care.

general rule for me is avoid halfords if possible, i think they are a metal supermarket

regarding your issue though, take it back, complain and if they can not sort it properly insist that you would rather take it to a specialist shop at their expense, this is something that they can do, i know of a similar situation at the mo regarding a cycle to work warranty issue of a work mate.

Bearing should be correct, they come with the bottom bracket. Not putting spacers in when they should be is just plain careless and write in a formal complaint as well about shoddy workmanship and they for a place that prides itself. Not knowing what to do with a bottom bracket is just very bad employment of people who know nothing about what they are paid to do. Even worse not having them trained up.

complain!

the cranks and bottom bracket would have come pre-installed from the manufacturers.

Some Halfords staff are very knowledgeable, but many of them are only kids and aren't.

Seriously, I'd try to get my money back and get a new bike somewhere else. They have a refund policy.

The BB will want facing, most branches of Halfords don't have the tools.

also did you sign the pdi form?

chris667":13va67i8 said:

The BB will want facing, most branches of Halfords don't have the tools.

Click to expand...

Why will it need facing. It came with the bottom bracket, so it should already be designed for it.

you'd be surprized how many brands don't face the bb then fit external systems at the factory. my felt rxc pro for example a couple of years ago wasn't and that was a 1500 quid bike off the shelf. i only noticed coz i ripped the whole thing appart to refit all the bits i wanted.

it might well be done but it is worth checking.