How far do you go to fix your bike?

[BaGearA]

I'll post a pis of my diy chain whip I made 6 years ago from a leaf spring

 

 

Held up much better than I thought and been my go to when taking off cassettes and single speed cogs

[DR ◣◢]

Scratched in a bargain bin at Solomons and picked up a chain whip for R60 I think.

Sometimes my time is worth more than the money spent on buying the right tool.

[Frosty]

Stans Sealant filler kit: R169 (or thereabouts at Cycle Lab)

 

A 150ml syringe (R18) and a 15cm length of flexible tubing....

I find this more convenient, plus it comes with on a ride.

[JacBrand]

I also shop around.

I have an early American Classic hub. It uses a very odd size bearing. Bike shop quoted me R 1200 to replace the 4 bearings. I bought 8 ceramic bearings off Aliexpress for R350, landed. One of the 8 seem a bit rough, but the rest are smooth. I made up my own DIY bearing press tool to replace the bearings for R 80 (bolt, nuts, washers and some pipe fittings) (the manual refers to using the old bearing and a hammer).

I do own the basic tools (chain wip, cassette tool, bb tool cable cutter)

[Frosty]

Or if you feel creative you can make some of the tools lol. I have a diy headset press as well as a chainwhip and a cup remover i made myself from pvc pipe. They all work great. I somehow always try and figure out a way to do it myself. My press doesn't work for my retarded pressfit Bb though...so when/if i need to press that in again I go ask nicely at a LBS. They usually do it for free. Luckily it has been set and forget up to now.

I helped my BIL fit press-fit bearing, by getting him to buy some threaded bar, nuts and fender washers. Worked [emoji817] and still works almost a year later. Luckily I have the good old external BB.

[Mook]

With the global village being the size of a one horse town, you can pick up anything abroad, BUT you might wait a few months or pay your butt off.

I had to convert a top pull frame setup to operate a bottom pull FD on a 94 Gary Fisher with STI's. Got a mate to machine a pulley wheel and I made a bracket with basic handtools. My gadget works like a charm.

 

I am of the opinion that your level of sentimental attachment to your old steed will see you through every challenge to make things work with what you have.

 

Keep going I say

 

[MORNE]

That bit about making your own chainwhip...intrigued I am...please share?

 

I need to replace the entire drive system on my hardtail, and I am planning on 'diy prjecting' it starting with a hub service, new freehub body and cassette, chain and ring replacement.

Just those parts are pricey, and now to have to buy tools too is a bit costly.

https://youtu.be/v7gW0FtYmOE

 

I used a old chain and a piece of Alu flat bar i had lying around.

Edited November 27, 2020 by morneS555

[Pieter1]

I re-greased my bearings today. I have all the tools now (except something to take out and put in bearings) I have the other tools I need to sort my bike myself. I’ll have to send the shock in tho because of the piggyback.

I buy my spare parts straight from the bike manufacturer.