the 'there's no such thing as a stupid question' bike maintenance thread

Paul_Mc1988 · 23-10-2018 7:46pm

dahat wrote:

Sealed bearings, they felt as rough before taking the axle out.

Moisture can sometimes penetrate the seal if it has moved slightly but its unlikely. Is it possible to buy a new bearing. If they are cheap it might be worth a try.

mloc123 · 23-10-2018 8:02pm

Odd one today... Chain jumped off the chainring when I shifted gears on the rear.

Crankset is a 9 speed double but with no front derailleur (running as a 1x), I noticed afterwards that the chain slaps a little on shifting gear... enough to jump off I guess.

New chain, properly sized. Dunno how to avoid the same happening again short of running a derailleur on the front that I won't use.

dahat · 23-10-2018 8:11pm

Paul_Mc1988 wrote: »

Moisture can sometimes penetrate the seal if it has moved slightly but its unlikely. Is it possible to buy a new bearing. If they are cheap it might be worth a try.

I think I'd have to buy a new axle, it's a spare set so no mad urgency to get it. I might see can I get some grease further into the bearing tomorrow.

Wishbone Ash · 23-10-2018 9:15pm

dahat wrote: »

I think I'd have to buy a new axle, it's a spare set so no mad urgency to get it. I might see can I get some grease further into the bearing tomorrow.

In my experience. Look pedals can fail dramatically once they lose their smoothness. It has happened to me on 2 occasions while out on a ride (on one of those occasions, I had to cycle 25k home with one leg

). I now just change them when the smoothness goes.

dahat · 23-10-2018 9:51pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

In my experience. Look pedals can fail dramatically once they lose their smoothness. It has happened to me on 2 occasions while out on a ride (on one of those occasions, I had to cycle 25k home with one leg ). I now just change them when the smoothness goes.

After some Googling that seems to be the case. A new pair of axels would be €45 or so which wouldn't be the worst case senario.

Wishbone Ash · 23-10-2018 10:49pm

dahat wrote: »

After some Googling that seems to be the case. A new pair of axels would be €45 or so which wouldn't be the worst case senario.

Incidentally for me, the left one always seems to go before the right. I'm not sure why, but possibly because I always unclip on the left at junctions, lights etc.

c.p.w.g.w · 17-11-2018 5:19pm

Can anyone recommend something for each of the following;

1-Grease/Lube for pedals & bolts
2-Chain Lube
3-Degreaser for cleaning drivetrain

Cheers in advance

CrowdedHouse · 17-11-2018 5:39pm

For Me:

1 Park Tool Polylube

2 Muc off Dry Ceramic (note I do not intentionally ride in the rain)

3 Halfords BikeHut citrus degreaser

I'm sure there will be different suggestion but I use those.

magicbastarder · 17-11-2018 5:54pm

i find the 'no more dirty bike' stuff you sometimes see in dealz is just fine for cleaning the chain.

Weepsie · 17-11-2018 6:02pm

I like Fenwicks Foaming DeGreaser for chain and cassette. But I use whatever degreaser I have to hand anyway and a brush or cloth.

17-11-2018 6:26pm

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

3 Halfords BikeHut citrus degreaser

+1
I find it surprisingly good and it is cheap.

darconio · 17-11-2018 6:35pm

Don't wait for a black friday deal to change your brake pads...

CrowdedHouse · 17-11-2018 6:35pm

brake

Type 17 · 17-11-2018 6:48pm

darconio wrote: »

Don't wait for a black Friday deal to change your brake pads...

Given the uneven wear between the two pads, you should check whether or not one of the pistons in your calliper is seized...

darconio · 17-11-2018 8:01pm

Type 17 wrote: »

Given the uneven wear between the two pads, you should check whether or not one of the pistons in your calliper is seized...

I followed this guide to clean it up

It looks like I had a "lazy" seal (on top of the damage the "lazy" owner did to the rest of the brake system)

Type 17 · 17-11-2018 8:21pm

Good job, the Park Tool channel is one of the best on YouTube for bike maintenance.

As you fit the new pads, etc, ensure that both of the pads/pistons do actually move in and out when you pull the lever (ie: that you have actually fixed the lazy piston/seal).

silverharp · 18-11-2018 4:35pm

a basic cleaning question, is it ok to use a power washer on a bike? its an older bike, not worried about resale value but at the same time if it would cause unnecessary wear and tear or rust anywhere i dont want to accelerate the bike's demise

Type 17 · 18-11-2018 4:43pm

Don't do it - old or new bike, you'll force water into the bearing races, contaminating the grease, making it lose its lubrication properties and rusting the bearings.

Here's a six month-old rear hub that I had to service, when it began to rumble. It's very common...

CramCycle · 18-11-2018 5:11pm

Not sure on the need for a power washer, why not just use a regular garden hose pipe?

silverharp · 18-11-2018 5:49pm

CramCycle wrote: »

Not sure on the need for a power washer, why not just use a regular garden hose pipe?

i was hoping to give the bike a clean and oil up inside, i just wanted to get the grime off quickly outside, a normal hose might work but wouldnt clean the chain of grimy oil?

CramCycle · 18-11-2018 7:05pm

silverharp wrote: »

i was hoping to give the bike a clean and oil up inside, i just wanted to get the grime off quickly outside, a normal hose might work but wouldnt clean the chain of grimy oil?

A power washer might not either, or you'd do damage with the proximity you have to get to it. Wipe with a rag, then use degreaser, hose down, wipe dry and oil up.

Wishbone Ash · 19-11-2018 12:15pm

silverharp wrote: »

..., a normal hose might work but wouldnt clean the chain of grimy oil?

A pressure washer won't clean an oily chain unless you have one of the industrial boiling water/steam ones.

Just take the chain off and clean it separately and don't go near the bike with anything that will force water onto it.

EDit · 24-11-2018 11:38am

Rather than buying a new bike, I’ve decided to upgrade the groupset on my existing one (along with installing some new wheels and other finishing kit). Quite a few bargains online at the moment, but I wouldnt have the experience to change the components myself.

Question is...are most LBS open to having someone roll up with a new groupset, handlebars, etc. that they bought online and they do the actual work (for a fee of course) or do they tend to get pissy if you don’t buy the components through them?

Type 17 · 24-11-2018 12:06pm

They need to be fine with it, otherwise they’ll go the way of the dodo… but give your chosen one a call first, to guage their attitude.

Get them to check what you’ve brought, and confirm that everything will fit your bike, and whether you might need minor parts (cables, spacers, etc), and that they have them in stock, to avoid unnecessary delays.

LollipopJimmy · 24-11-2018 12:31pm

The guys I use are good with that if You want details. Based in Dublin

magicbastarder · 24-11-2018 1:18pm

EDit wrote: »

Rather than buying a new bike, I’ve decided to upgrade the groupset on my existing one (along with installing some new wheels and other finishing kit). Quite a few bargains online at the moment, but I wouldnt have the experience to change the components myself.

i bought a frame from a boardsie, and a groupset in my LBS; the BB was already installed in the frame, but speaking as someone who had never installed a groupset before, it was surprisingly easy. most fiddly bit was cables, and brake/gear adjustment.

Weepsie · 24-11-2018 3:15pm

I'm going to try recable a bike later on for the first time ever. I fully expect to make a mess of it.

cletus · 24-11-2018 3:50pm

The park tools video series is excellent for most jobs on a bike

LollipopJimmy · 24-11-2018 6:52pm

Weepsie wrote: »

I'm going to try recable a bike later on for the first time ever. I fully expect to make a mess of it.

I don't believe it's possible for human to do this, I'm fairly certain bikeshops use some form of secret alien to do it.

Deano12345 · 24-11-2018 10:42pm

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

I don't believe it's possible for human to do this, I'm fairly certain bikeshops use some form of secret alien to do it.

Done mine during the week. Forgot to run string where the old cables were, made me want to cry

the 'there's no such thing as a stupid question' bike maintenance thread

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