Stuff you learn(t) the hard way by being your own mechanic

[anybody seen george?]

Repect to all the LBS mechanics. You have skills. Shout out to you guys. Unsung heroes.

 

Now to the topic:
1. Sram 12sp Power links do not work with KMC 12sp chains. The fit is too tight causing the chain to jump. One hell of a bugger to remove said powerlink. Just get a chain breaker and destroy powerlink and hope it did not crush the roller to bad. Might get you out of a pinch if you are out on a trail, but else use the correct connector. Why are KMC 12sp missing links so damn hard to find?!?! (please DM me if you know who has stock)

2. Always keep the cut off chain when you cut your chain to size. Incase you, 1 either loose a roller when the chain is removed and cleaned or, 2 in case of the above where you crushed the roller. 

3. Reuse old chains to replace the chain on the chain whip. I have found that the default chains that come on whips do not work well on 12sp cassettes. Have acutally found them bending the teeth.

[Red Bird]

Cool thread. Sportsmans Warehouse has some KMC links in speeds 9 to 12. Thanks for the heads up. I have a KMC chain and spare Sram powerlinks...

[MORNE]

1-10: stop over tightening ****....

 

 

I have a torque wrench now.

 

EDIT: this goes in conjunction with the above:

 

- stop using old tools. You'll hate yourself in roughly 2 seconds after you put that rounded tip in that socket head

Edited August 15, 2019 by morneS555

[RocknRolla]

Tyre sealant needs to be reguilarly topped up, not only after a puncture on the trail that doesnt seal resulting in hike-a-bike or phoning "support vehicle" to assist in getting home.

[Matuka]

I had old shimano Sora shifters which were not shifting. The LBS said its better to replace them because most times you cant fix them successfully. Not wanting to spend money I took them home, opened up and watched a youtube vid on how to repair. Boom done and they worked great on a quick practice ride. The next week at the 947 they lasted 20km before failing totally. I rode the rest of the 947 on a single speed very low gear. Not a great day out.

 

Luckily a very kind hubber gifted me his old Sora Shifters and have replaced them and they work great. 

[Matuka]

Whoops double post so deleted.

Edited August 15, 2019 by Matuka

[Red Bird]

One thing I find annoying is how many specialised tools there are and that they’re not all compatible. Why not just one BB tool? Nooo... it has to be one special tool for each different BB. It still beats having to wait 5 to 7 business days for the bike shop to finish the job, even if things take me 5 to 7 business days to figure out and fix

[RocknRolla]

Using the missus' aerosol deodorant to fit grips, could be hazardous to your health, if found out.

[Red Bird]

Using the missus' aerosol deodorant to fit grips, could be hazardous to your health, if found out.

???? I have heard that Spray ‘n Cook also does a superb job

[MORNE]

external BB cups cross thread easier than you think...

[stefmeister]

I usually fix the bike shops' mistakes. Not the other way around, but then again I'm not one of those mechanically challenged folk in the Verimark adverts.

[MORNE]

you can get your saddle perfectly straight by marking the middle at the rear part, then extending a piece of string over the nose to the topcap nut...

 

no more eyeballing that crap ever again

[fanievb]

you can get your saddle perfectly straight by marking the middle at the rear part, then extending a piece of string over the nose to the topcap nut...

 

no more eyeballing that crap ever again

 

any tips for the stem alignment.......

[thisismyotherbike]

any tips for the stem alignment.......

 

Here you go

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm9J2us2gHY

[fanievb]

Here you go

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm9J2us2gHY

 

yea thanks, 

 

1. I have a proper stem

2. eyeballing doesn't work with said proper stem

[bertusras]

Don't do maintenance when you are hungry or frustrated, or even worse, both.