fcwegnm0b said:*Because of the great Northeast weather, everything is covered in
snow. Can any of the water damage my uni? I want to ride, but I don't
want to do anything to my KH Trials... is there any preventative
maintenance I can do to avoid permanent damage?
Dave. *
Go play in the snow. It's fun. But a little preventative maintenance
is also in order to keep the unicycle running good for summer and next
season.
The two problems are rust combined with the snow and water washing away
any grease in the bearings, pedals, and other places.
When you ride in the snow, water will get everywhere. It will get
inside the frame. It will get inside the pedals. It will get inside
the cranks (if they're hollow). It will get inside the seat tube.
If you've got a steel frame you're going to want to spray WD-40 or some
other rust preventative inside the frame, inside the hollow cranks, and
inside other hollow areas. WD-40 will work, but isn't the best product
for this. There are better products available for this (ask your bike
shop) if you want to get serious about it. Take the frame off and look
for vent holes where you can spray the WD-40 inside the frame tubes.
Take the cranks off and the pedals off. Look for vent holes in the
cranks where you can spray the WD-40. Spray WD-40 down the neck of the
frame.
Don't use WD-40 as a lubricant. It's not a lubricant like grease or
oil. Its purpose is to treat rust and protect against rust. If you
need lubrication then use something else than WD-40.
When reassembling the unicycle make sure that all bare metal areas are
covered with waterproof grease or anti-seize. Make sure all threads
have grease, anti-seize, or Loctite on them. All areas with metal to
metal contact should get grease or anti-seize where they contact.
Put anti-seize on the splines and everywhere on the axle that is
exposed, including the area under the spacers. Put anti-seize on the
retaining bolt threads and the pinch bolt threads. Put it all back
together. Put a layer of waterproof bicycle grease all over the
bearing, including on the seal.
Put grease or Loctite on the bolt threads that tighten the bearing
caps.
Put grease on the pedal threads when you put the pedals back on the
cranks.
Put grease or anti-seize on the bolt threads for the seatpost clamp.
Put some grease under the seatpost clamp where it contacts the frame.
Put some grease on the seatpost where it slides into the frame.
Check the bolts under the seat. They should probably get Loctited. Put
grease on washers that are under the seat.
Then after the Winter riding is done you do it all over again to get it
ready for Summer riding. 🙂
After riding in the snow you're going to have to overhaul the pedals.
Snow and water will get inside the pedal and wash away all of the
grease. If you have sealed pedals this just means taking the pedal body
off the spindle, putting a little grease on the spindle and on the
bushing, checking to see if the sealed bearing needs replacing, then
putting it back together. If you have unsealed pedals you'll take it
all apart and regrease the ball bearings, regrease the spindle, and put
it all back together. If you have an unsealed pedal it is a good idea
to take it apart inside a shoe box so you don't loose any of the little
ball bearings.
You're still going to get rust on bolt threads and other areas even
though they're greased. You can use a wire brush and WD-40 to remove
the rust after the Winter riding is over.
When rinsing off the unicycle after a ride don't use a high pressure
spray. A high pressure spray will wash away more grease and will get
water into areas where you don't want it. Then use an old towel to dry
it off.
When it's time to get the unicycle cleaned up for Summer you may have to
replace the bearings on the hub. Snow and water will work their way
into the bearing and wash away all the grease. The seals on sealed
bearings aren't designed to seal out water and snow completely.
It's a bit of work, but easier than maintaining a bike.
Have fun in the snow.
--
john_childs - Guinness Mojo
john_childs (at) hotmail (dot) com
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