Author Topic: How often does a Dahon/Tern style latch need adjusting?  (Read 2363 times)

How often does a Dahon/Tern style latch need adjusting?
« on: 09 January, 2021, 02:42:16 pm »
For those of you who ride Dahons or Terns or their various clones.

I have recently had to loctite the latch on the Montana, which seems to resemble very closely a Dahon latch (to the extent that the spares kits I have seen are probably straight swops). Don't all scream but the Loctite used was the strong stuff (what I had, but also which I have had the habit of using for a few decades after a career repairing demoition machines). I can always take the latch off to warm it up if I need to!

The reason for needing to do this was the result of carrying the bike around folded up in the boot of the company vehicle (the folder serves to allow me to pick up and return said vehicle without third party assistance). The vibration screwed up the latch and when I needed to unfold and go home I couldn't close it! Dark, no tools, catastrophic situation! Saved by the "couteau swiss" which I habitually carry (but chance that the tip of the blade turned the limit screw which requires a 2mm allen key - sorry male hexagonal key  ??? ).

Which poses the question - how often does this latch need adjusting? Mine has been adjusted several times but that may well be due to carrying it in the carboot. This was the first time that I have left it in the boot more than the 15mins to get home and it was in there two days!

Re: How often does a Dahon/Tern style latch need adjusting?
« Reply #1 on: 09 January, 2021, 03:40:39 pm »
Is it like this one?

https://www.ternbicycles.com/uk/bikes/tech/242404

I’ve adjusted mine very slightly once in about a year (one notch).

The Andros stem, 3 or 4 times:

https://www.ternbicycles.com/uk/bikes/tech/242404#163660

Re: How often does a Dahon/Tern style latch need adjusting?
« Reply #2 on: 09 January, 2021, 09:42:48 pm »
Is it like this one?

https://www.ternbicycles.com/uk/bikes/tech/242404

I’ve adjusted mine very slightly once in about a year (one notch).

The Andros stem, 3 or 4 times:

https://www.ternbicycles.com/uk/bikes/tech/242404#163660

Not identical but the design is a pretty good copy. I will have to post some photos - it might be a chinese copy of the taiwanese design. I would guess that, material quality apart, the same conditions would apply to mine. Once or twice a year would be what I was expecting. My folder doesn't do a lot of miles but it does spend a lot of time being folded and unfolded.