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

[DieselnDust]

never fit a chain just before bed time then ride the next morning  wondering where that annoying rattling is coming from. Post ride you discover that you thrreaded the chain on the outside of the derailleur cage over the anti chain ejection tab and have now destroyed said tab and chain....

[Danger Dassie]

regarding putting grips on. hair spray sprayed into the grip works really well

Still one of the best workshop hacks. Simple and straight forward task that too many people try complicate into some kind of dark art form.

[The Ouzo]

Still one of the best workshop hacks. Simple and straight forward task that too many people try complicate into some kind of dark art form.

any hacks for getting grips off ?

[DieselnDust]

any hacks for getting grips off ?

 

 

hacksaw blade

Edited August 15, 2019 by DieselnDust

[The Ouzo]

hacksaw blade

and if you dont want to destroy the grip ?

 

The one or 2 that I've changed I've had success in just pulling on them, but I can imagine that I've been lucky

[fanievb]

Keep your tools clean.

[TarThrasher]

Don't do late night maintenance. Bad idea

 

Also unless you have money or time to send your bike to the shop, don't mess with the brakes

[DieselnDust]

and if you dont want to destroy the grip ?

 

The one or 2 that I've changed I've had success in just pulling on them, but I can imagine that I've been lucky

 

 

Hot water squirt under the grip is what I do. But generally i only remove the grips when I intend to fit new ones

[Danger Dassie]

any hacks for getting grips off ?

 

If you dont have access to an air compressor. A ziptie or plastic sleeve with a squirt of water.

 

[Dadbod Racing]

ive even spent time looking for tools while still holding said tool in other hand

 

LMAO 

 

Like my wife's friend, they talking to each other on the phone, the friend is packing up her **** and all of a sudden starts shouting... Someones stolen my phone I can't find it anywhere... the wife is shouting it's in your hand it's in your hand!

 

Didn't have to work abs at gym that day... I had my work out right there! 

[Super Sywurm]

I have fitted my last 2 pairs of grips easily by using the cable tie method. Worked perfectly. No spray or compressor required. Just make sure that the rough side of the tie faces towards the bar and pull the tie out slowly.

 

Spookpis (a.k.a. Q20) works for me.

 

Edit:  But I want to try the cable tie way...

Edited August 15, 2019 by Super Sywurm

[anybody seen george?]

Before i switched to lock on grips I used windowlene or Isopropyl Alcohol Cleaner or Methylated spirits

Still one of the best workshop hacks. Simple and straight forward task that too many people try complicate into some kind of dark art form.

Edited August 15, 2019 by anybody seen george?

[Eddy Gordo]

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

Get something like this. It covers 4 different types of BB

 

http://www.selfharmorganisation.org.uk/images/cate_13/640/BIKE-HAND-4-sizes-Bottom-Bracket-Wrench-Bicycle-Installation-Removal-Spanner-Mountain-Bike-Bicycle-Repair-Tools-Steel-mog2.jpg

 

I have one and its extremely handy

Edited August 15, 2019 by Eddy Gordo

[V18]

Learnt the hard way to remove brake pads from calipers when doing bleeding. Also. Wear gloves or super clean you hands when installing discs/new pads. Some drive train nastiness can contaminate the scene.

Sometimes sanding/burning/isopropyl simply won't do.

[RocknRolla]

You speak of zip ties? it's something I always find when looking for something else, but can never find when looking for some...

 

This actually relates to a lot of other things in the Garage as well. I'm trying to think of a word or phrase to coin for such item's

 

Perhaps "A-ha! Tools" or "A-ha Screws: etc...

[Pure Savage]

Thought I was a master mechanic with my torque wrench till one day I undid all the grimy looking bolts, gave them a polish and a dab of grease and put them back. 

 

Checked the torque setting, and went to tighten it. Started to think, hmmmm this taking longer than usual then *snap*.

 

Obviously as the bolt was greased it did not torque up enough to set the torque wrench off. 

 

Luckily because I had greased it I could unwind the snapped off bolt.