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

[Fred van Vlaanderen]

28 minutes ago, Skylark said:

It should work considering the chain pin width and link length has to be the same seeing they are both specc'd as 12 speed parts and likewise there's no material difference I am aware of between chains branded road or mtb. I've used KMC links on many different chain brands incl Shitmano directional chains. The packaging pic on that Takealot listing does also state "Compatibility : KMC & SRAM 12 speed chains" so I think you'll be good but maybe someone else can chime in to confirm that 100%.

Thanks. Fitted it and it seems to fit okay, but I don't want to be silly and ruin a brand new chain and or cassette, so being extra careful.  

[MTBRIDER1234]

On 2/28/2023 at 11:33 AM, Migual said:

Yeah if you can buy the tools they are worth every penny. You won’t believe how many bike shops don’t even use torque wrenches when working. Absolute amateurs!!!! They think they can “feel” what good enough. And when they crack your R80,000 carbon frame who pays for that; the customer.

Do you want me to laugh now or later?

I have worked on hundreds of bikes and never damages a single one. I absolutely use a torque wrench when needed, but most of us are mechanically inclined enough to not need it for every single bolt on the bike. 

Maybe 1 out of 10,000 bikes that get worked on are over torqued, which results in the cracking of a frame. And bike shops have something called insurance, which will cover that. I refuse to believe they will force the customer to pay.

But considering you are so skilled, why don't you go round the country training these mechanics, because after all, they are only "absolute amateurs" and most of them have no idea how to work on bikes. 

Some shops are guilty of bad workplace practices, but don't paint all bike shops with the same brush. The vast majority are good people earning a living.

[TheoG]

Not so much something I learnt, but rather something I want to learn .... 

I ordered a replacement Garbaruk cage for my Sram GX AXS derailleur and is looking for an instructional video to remove and replace the cage with the new one.

So far my searches on the inter web turned out nada .... .

Can any one please point me in the right direction?

[thebob]

If it ain't broken, don't fix it!

I still struggle with that one.

[The Ouzo]

Learn to do the basics.

My mate bought a new to him bike a few months back, after riding it for a bit he decided he wanted some easier gearing. In typical fashion for my mate he left it to the last minute, took it to a bike shop and got them to do the work. Credit to him, he did a good few rides before heading down to PE for 70.3.

When I chatted to him after the event he mentioned the gears were jumping and he was not happy.

Once we got together in Cape Town I spent 5 minutes with the bike, adjusted the cable tension and it was pretty spot on when stationary. We then took a ride where we stopped once to make some slight changes and from there on it was 100%.

[The Ouzo]

3 minutes ago, thebob said:

If it ain't broken, don't fix it!

I still struggle with that one.

most of us do

[MrJacques]

43 minutes ago, TheoG said:

Not so much something I learnt, but rather something I want to learn .... 

I ordered a replacement Garbaruk cage for my Sram GX AXS derailleur and is looking for an instructional video to remove and replace the cage with the new one.

So far my searches on the inter web turned out nada .... .

Can any one please point me in the right direction?

Not AXS specific, I think, but might help:

Installing Garbaruk RD cage on SRAM rear mech | Garbaruk Online Store

 

Edited March 16, 2023 by MrJacques

[TheoG]

Just now, MrJacques said:

Installing Garbaruk RD cage on SRAM rear mech | Garbaruk Online Store

 

 

Thanks, I saw that.  Its for the Force (RD) so not sure its exactly the same as for the GX AXS?

[droo]

24 minutes ago, TheoG said:

Thanks, I saw that.  Its for the Force (RD) so not sure its exactly the same as for the GX AXS?

Same for most RDs really. Remove the stop, release spring tension, remove fixing bolt, remove cage. Installation is the same in reverse.

[M L]

On 8/23/2022 at 9:51 AM, thebob said:

A positive story from my side. My GX Eagle derailleur clutch went pap. Looked all over the web and confirmed the clutch cannot be serviced or repaired, which is pretty piss poor IMO. So I took the plunge and ordered up an SLX rear derailleur. Fitted everything up on Friday afternoon, got the limit screws set, b-tension and cable tension without much fuss. GX Eagle shifter, GX Eagle cassette (10-52) and an X01 chain which should not work, if the people from the brands are to believed. Turns out everything works smoothAF. First ride on the Saturday and I am back to riding a stealthy bike with no chainslap and lovely smooth shifts!

Running almost exactly the same setup. Works very lekker 👍.

Edited March 16, 2023 by M L

[MrJacques]

Shimano and SRAM used to have different pull ratios, but I think they are now the same / similar enough for 12x that you can mix and match like that without issues.

[MrJacques]

Stuff I knew, but didn't really do:

Get a decent chain checker (e.g. Parktool cc-4) or accurate ruler and keep an eye on your chain wear and replace the chain before it's too far gone or the cassette and chainring(s) will probably be as well.

Use a decent chain lube on a clean chain. A more expensive chain apparently also lasts longer and could cost less in the long run.

 

 

Edited March 23, 2023 by MrJacques

[AkwA]

3 minutes ago, MrJacques said:

Stuff I knew, but didn't really do:

Get a decent chain checker (e.g. Parktool cc-4) or accurate ruler and keep an eye on your chain wear and replace the chain before it's too far gone or the cassette and chainring(s) will probably be as well.

Use a decent chain lube on a clean chain. A more expensive chain apparently also lasts longer and could cost less in the long run.

 

 

Also not worth running light chains like the KMC SL, I pretty much only run chains designed for ebikes, last much longer

[ChrisF]

Just now, AkwA said:

Also not worth running light chains like the KMC SL, I pretty much only run chains designed for ebikes, last much longer

 

Worth adding KMC has a very decent e-bike specific chain in their line-up.

 

Actually still short supply on 11-speed ebike chains.  And more often than not, only the 116 link, i.e. too short ....

[MrJacques]

21 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

Worth adding KMC has a very decent e-bike specific chain in their line-up.

 

Actually still short supply on 11-speed ebike chains.  And more often than not, only the 116 link, i.e. too short ....

I was looking at their normal X12 chain and I see the X12E version is twice the price. I wonder if it would last more than twice as long on a normal bike?

[ChrisF]

19 minutes ago, MrJacques said:

I was looking at their normal X12 chain and I see the X12E version is twice the price. I wonder if it would last more than twice as long on a normal bike?

 

Close on 5 000 km now on the ebike, and still under 0,5 wear.

 

About 4 000 km on the roadie, and still no wear to measure.

 

 

PS - using the KMC 11 speed ebike chain an 11 speed setup. 

Edited March 23, 2023 by ChrisF