Explorer folding mountain bike problem

whywontyoulisten

I've just bought an "Explorer" folding mountain bike off Ebay, and I'm having trouble with it before I've even left the garage!



I wasn't expecting much...It was pretty cheap, and I only bought it for commuting/getting on trains (taking a folder on the trail would be asking for trouble!), but there seems to be an inherent problem with the unusual frame design.

The "squashed" geometry isn't a million miles away from full suspension designs, but in this case the bike is rigid-framed. The problem is this: because of the low angle, the chain hits the seat stay when the highest (smallest cog) gear is selected. I've tried moving the wheel up and down the drop-outs, to no avail. Is there anything else I should try, or have I bought a dud?

I've been working long shifts so have only just got around to setting the bastard thing up, and have missed the seller's 7 day return policy, so I'm probably stuck with it...although maybe something else applies since it's clearly faulty?

A warning to anyone else: the "Explorer" frame design also comes in a silver front-suspension model made by SeaSure.

Grrr. :evil:

nicklouse

so which cog on the front is it in when this happens?

whywontyoulisten

nicklouse wrote:

so which cog on the front is it in when this happens?

The largest one...so yes the chain is furthest over at this point, but that's how you're supposed to use the gears, right? Otherwise you end up twisting the chain. There's only about a mm of clearance even when on the middle chainring. :?

nicklouse

not much you can do then other than just not use the small cog.

whywontyoulisten

nicklouse wrote:

not much you can do then other than just not use the small cog.

But that's my favourite gear!

nicklouse

well then you could look at changing the cassette for a bigger small cog and at the same time replace the chain rings to compensate for the lower gearing.