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

[Hairy]

kind of on topic, kind of not
 

 

[dasilvarsa]

Got tired of losing My Valve Adaptor.

Now Need to spray It Matt Black

 

 

[Alouette3]

Anyone selling one of these before I go new.... no more learning the hard way!

Edited December 25, 2023 by Alouette3

[RobertWhitehead]

5 hours ago, Alouette3 said:

Anyone selling one of these before I go new.... no more learning the hard way!

I will be bringing in an Airfreight consignment either in December or in January and can just chuck one in the cube for you. The cheapest one I can find is around R370 (landed in SA - this includes, shipping, import and VAT). 

[Alouette3]

Quality on the Chinese ones can be a slight issue. This one is one of the better ones, steel and welded. I'll drop you a message privately.

 

[Mongoose!]

On 11/1/2023 at 3:46 PM, dasilvarsa said:

Got tired of losing My Valve Adaptor.

Now Need to spray It Matt Black... and balance the wheel?

 

🙃

[Chadvdw67]

On 12/25/2023 at 7:51 PM, RobertWhitehead said:

I will be bringing in an Airfreight consignment either in December or in January and can just chuck one in the cube for you. The cheapest one I can find is around R370 (landed in SA - this includes, shipping, import and VAT). 

 

23 hours ago, Alouette3 said:

Quality on the Chinese ones can be a slight issue. This one is one of the better ones, steel and welded. I'll drop you a message privately.

 

@RobertWhitehead, you can put me down for one, either of the 2 options

[ChrisF]

One for the books ..... 

 

Do a proper strip down and rebuild major service .... front tyre has an out of balance weight .... open and see a big ball of sealant.

 

Remove the tyre and pack out the high pressure jet.

 

Tyre over the chopping block and the sealant is removed easy enough.  What the heck, remove the rear tyre and quickly clean it as well.

 

Step back and clean the area around the chopping block with the pressure hose.

 

Few bits of grass from the weed-eater stuck to the sliding door .... while I am at it might as well clean the sliding door..... and the window above it ..... and the gutter and facia above it ....

 

Ooo-damn .... cant have ONE clean gutter ..... next door, window, gutter and facia ....

 

Last section of gutters at the back ....

 

Same along the side of the house ....

 

Just one short gutter at the front, might as well wrap it up.

 

Damn .... the plaster band around the garage door is looking worse for wear .... actually looks very nice now, especially with the paving also cleared of a few bits of moss .....  

 

Actually, few bits of paint came off .... so the plaster band will have to be repainted ....

 

 

 

And the plan was to just top up the sealant ..... 

 

 

En ek moet nog die fiets weer aanmekaar gaan sit .... 

 

[BuffsVintageBikes]

One x trip to Mark's BW coming up soon 😄

[MrJacques]

When you make installing a tube more difficult than it needs to be.

[droo]

15 minutes ago, MrJacques said:

When you make installing a tube more difficult than it needs to be.

Pedros tyre levers. Thank me later.

Also, possibly technique. Make sure the bead sits in the rim bed all the way round before you massage the last bit on.

[MrJacques]

1 hour ago, droo said:

Pedros tyre levers. Thank me later.

Also, possibly technique. Make sure the bead sits in the rim bed all the way round before you massage the last bit on.

Yeah, most likely technique  I can get the tyres on and off by hand without a tube in. I probably didn't have the tube in the best position when I tried to install it.

I have these Crowbar tyre levers which look like they're a copy of the Pedros ones. The tip is thicker than a normal lever, which can make it difficult in some situations, although it may be better for not damaging things.


I see there's a store that sells the Pedros levers locally. I wish they still sold other Pedros products here. I have some of their cleaning (degreasing) and Silicone Polish and they're excellent.

Edited January 16, 2024 by MrJacques

[droo]

1 minute ago, MrJacques said:

Yeah, most likely technique  I can get the tyres on and off by hand without a tube in. I probably didn't have the tube in the best position when I tried to install it.

I have these Crowbar tyre levers which are much stronger, but the lip is a quite thick, which can make it difficult in some situations, although it may be better for not damaging things. Looks like it's a copy of the Pedros ones.


I see there's a store that sells the Pedros levers locally. I wish they still sold other Pedros products here. I have some of their cleaning (degreasing) and Silicone Polish and they're excellent.

Same same. And yes, Pedro's stuff is great. I have the last of the old stock in a box somewhere, I must actually catalogue and flog it.

[MrJacques]

Just now, droo said:

Same same. And yes, Pedro's stuff is great. I have the last of the old stock in a box somewhere, I must actually catalogue and flog it.

Nice, let me know if you find it.

[mazambaan]

Ok, so I have a contribution. Wheel my bike (Ginat eTrance) out at 5h15 or so for around an hour ride and the chain is off the front sprocket so I hurriedly fiddle about and, after a few impatient tries it is on but the gears are now slipping and/ or changing randomly. I get through the ride but put the bike on a stand and start inspecting. Chain is straight, no hard links. Ah, chain guide has lost some internals - pull that off for home made replacement.  Back cluster is dirty and a bit of play so pull that off for a good cleaning, including the free body. Jockey wheels packed with grass; pull them apart and re-grease.

Re-assemble; still erratic, more in some gears than others so re-check all the limit screws and adjustments. Still troubling.

Pull the chain and check it with a ruler or wear and straightness, all good. FINALLY, counting the links I spot one broken side plate on an internal link; must have been from my morning fiddling, amazed it held out. Shimano CN M6100.

Chain already has two quick links so I suspect a visit to the R1 000 shop for a new chain is the order of the day. BUT, whole day gone and a more careful chain inspection would have saved it.

Is 8100 "better" than the 6100?

[Mark_J]

Watch out for sharp rotors when checking if your front wheel is still running true.  
 

*removed the more gruesome pic

 

 

Edited January 31, 2024 by Mark_J