workshop wisdom

[kosmonooit]

Using force is generally a mistake

[Face Plant]

if the problem cant be fixed with a hammer you have an electrical problem

[ichnusa]

Using force is generally a mistake

 

haha! yes, been there... like turning the BB the wrong direction

 

"righty tighty, lefty loosey"

 

BB: "right is wrong, left is right" (ie right is anticlockwise tightening)

 

Pedals: "right is right and left is wrong"

[Christopher Brunsdon]

If you can, get some spare bearings (if you use ball bearings), one always eludes you!

I use a telescopic aerial thing that has a magnet at the end, cost about R30 and was the best thing I ever bought on the cheap!

 

My next thing to purchase. Could have saved me a 1L of paraffin last week while cleaning my chain. I accidently threw in the missing links into the bottle and had to throw the paraffin out (into the braai) to retrieve it as I did not have a spare container.

 

So my piece of wisdom is when working with recyclable cleaning agents, always work with a spare container.

 

My next piece of wisdom is that the cheapest cleaning liquid is the most effective. I tried it all from R100 citrus cleaners in a tin till sunlight and cheap old paraffin came out the best.

[chris_w_65]

My next thing to purchase. Could have saved me a 1L of paraffin last week while cleaning my chain. I accidently threw in the missing links into the bottle and had to throw the paraffin out (into the braai) to retrieve it as I did not have a spare container.

 

So my piece of wisdom is when working with recyclable cleaning agents, always work with a spare container.

 

My next piece of wisdom is that the cheapest cleaning liquid is the most effective. I tried it all from R100 citrus cleaners in a tin till sunlight and cheap old paraffin came out the best.

 

Have you tried Prepsol? Bit pricey if you buy the 500ml bottles at R20.00 a pop but quite cheap if you buy 5L for just under R100.00. I spray my cassette and chain ring with it and use it in my Park Tool chain cleaner and you could probably eat of my drivetrain and the cleaning is low effort.

[Minion]

Have you tried Prepsol? Bit pricey if you buy the 500ml bottles at R20.00 a pop but quite cheap if you buy 5L for just under R100.00. I spray my cassette and chain ring with it and use it in my Park Tool chain cleaner and you could probably eat of my drivetrain and the cleaning is low effort.

I love Prepsol. It's really effective and also low effort. Spray it on, let it sit for a bit and most of the grease and dirt just washes away when you spray it off.

It's also pretty environmentally friendly - I can wash my bike on the lawn and not worry about killing the grass.

 

Downside is it's also really good at removing grease from places where you want it e.g. bearings, so just watch those.

[chris_w_65]

I love Prepsol. It's really effective and also low effort. Spray it on, let it sit for a bit and most of the grease and dirt just washes away when you spray it off.

It's also pretty environmentally friendly - I can wash my bike on the lawn and not worry about killing the grass.

 

Downside is it's also really good at removing grease from places where you want it e.g. bearings, so just watch those.

 

I have had my rear hub/freehub apart a couple of times lately, all bearings are fine and so is the freehub. I don't spray the bike with a solid jet of water, more of a spray/shower.

[Minion]

I have had my rear hub/freehub apart a couple of times lately, all bearings are fine and so is the freehub. I don't spray the bike with a solid jet of water, more of a spray/shower.

Me too. I've fust found a couple of times that the Prepsol seaps through the bearings seals and chows the grease. Not a problem if you disassemble and check occasionally, but could be trouble if you never check your bike in that detail.

[chris_w_65]

Me too. I've fust found a couple of times that the Prepsol seaps through the bearings seals and chows the grease. Not a problem if you disassemble and check occasionally, but could be trouble if you never check your bike in that detail.

 

 

I clean/lube/service every Sunday. I tell you, this workshop stand I bought makes it a pleasure. Also it probably takes me half the time now with working on a steady bike that won't fall over

[Cassie]

My next thing to purchase. Could have saved me a 1L of paraffin last week while cleaning my chain. I accidently threw in the missing links into the bottle and had to throw the paraffin out (into the braai) to retrieve it as I did not have a spare container.

 

So my piece of wisdom is when working with recyclable cleaning agents, always work with a spare container.

 

My next piece of wisdom is that the cheapest cleaning liquid is the most effective. I tried it all from R100 citrus cleaners in a tin till sunlight and cheap old paraffin came out the best.

 

@Chris,

 

I KNEW you'd see light someday!!

I've been using the same 1L of parraffin for more than a year!! Clean - recycle - decant the settled gunck into a spare contained - you loose almost no solvent and 1L can last you very long!

[Delgado]

Never check the set on L and H screws with use of your levers but by pulling on exposed cables running the length of the downtubes. Indexing is a separate matter.

[chris_w_65]

Never check the set on L and H screws with use of your levers but by pulling on exposed cables running the length of the downtubes. Indexing is a separate matter.

 

And make sure there is some slack in the cable

[Java001]

Have you tried Prepsol? Bit pricey if you buy the 500ml bottles at R20.00 a pop but quite cheap if you buy 5L for just under R100.00. I spray my cassette and chain ring with it and use it in my Park Tool chain cleaner and you could probably eat of my drivetrain and the cleaning is low effort.

 

+1 Prepsol. Paraffin is a great cleaner, but due to its chemical composition ALWAYS leaves a slight oily film behind. This creates more fling off with wet or dry lubes as the oiliness prevents the lube from settling/"bonding" on chains and cassettes.

On motorbikes chains, water soluble products e.g. Prepsol, Kleengreen or isopropyl alcohol based cleaners ( same stuff that were used by electronic repair shops to clean video machine heads) have gained popularity as it forms a better base for lubes to be applied to.

[Delgado]

And make sure there is some slack in the cable

Dead right!!....as too much tension could mean that the derailleur is not resting properly on the L screw! Edited March 23, 2011 by Delgado

[The expat cyclist]

If you can't fix it with a cable tie, it is broken and needs to be replaced.

 

lefty loosy, righty tighty.

 

When removing your peddals - BACKOFF! (Spanner goes towards the back wheel for removal.)

 

You are only allowed to force anything if it is done on the toilet.

 

If you don't know - ASK (FIND OUT!)

 

Stupidity costs time AND money.

[gongmech]

Measure three times, cut once.

 

Measure 3 times, mark properly and cut omce.

 

I made that mistake b4, measured well, many times, accidently made 2 marks and cut my steerer too short.