your bike develops a "glitch" while you're going over it the night before a big ride. Well, tonight
was just such a night for me. After getting all the nesessities together, you know, things like
tubes (2), patch kit, multi tool w/ built in chain tool,spoke tool, extra power link, tire levers,
etc...(which, by the way fits neatly in a liter Crown Royal bag!) Bag full of Imperial Storm Trooper
gear...blah, blah, blah..you get the idea/
Any how, I had washed the bike earlier today, getting it all spiffy and lubed up properly, when I
notice a slight rub in the rear when spinning the wheel. Hmmm, brake pad scrub. Best do a little
adjusting. So I'm trying to diagnose the problem when I notice the tension adjustment screw on the
right side of the brake has a little play in it where it screws into the
slips right out of the cam!! "Not good" says I, considering it's 19:15, and the LBS closed 15 mins
ago. Hell they'd probably be hard pressed to come up with a single cam anyway (anybody know where I
can get them?)on short notice. Damn, I'm screwed! Gotta hit the bricks at 0700 in order to be at the
Thomson factory by 1000! This sux!
You'd think the gods have had their laugh by now, but no. Turns out the #6 screw itself was fine,
threads still straight and intact. it couldn't be a quick fix, nothing as easy as a quick ride to
Wally-world to p/u another screw, no my friends, the cam itself was stripped. I'm assuming there was
just to much tension on the return spring and the little cam couldn't hold it any longer. Either
way, I'm boned. And no tap & die set to be found! (Hell I'd of settled for a 9/64 thread chaser or
"ease-out"😉
So as I'm sitting there, wondering which way to turn, my 7 y.o (who's totally immersed in my tool
box 🙂 says "hey dad, why don't you squirt some of this glue looking stuff on it?" "wha..?" It was
the good ol' red tube Of Permatex Thread lock! " Hey, you may be onto something there boy" So I
scrounged up a #8 self drilling screw, loaded that sucker up with the red goop, and proceeded to
drill that puppy into the soft metaled cam. Damn, this actually might work! I place the pin of the
cam into the stay on the frame quickly, then I ran the #8 in to where I thought it would live,
(because after it set, that's where it was going to be sitting!) I let it dry for a few while I
enjoyed a frosty beverage (Grolsch Amber Ale if anybody was wondering). Then I hooked up the cable,
got it set right, and walla! It held. Woo Hoo! Unfortunatly any adjustments after this installation
will have to be made from the left side, but Avids are pretty easy to dial in, so I shoud be o.k. My
son had already gone to bed at this point, so I couldn't congratulate him properly 🙁 But I'll hook
him up as soon as I get back from the ride!! (Sounds like a little Dairy Queen is in order!)
So, here's to last minute snaffu's that help keep us on our toes!
Peace,
Dave (Tips the glass toward ya'!)
P.S. I intend to snap some photos at Thomson tommorrow if anyones interested. I'll post em' as soon
as I can. I especially want to see the "other post manufacturers" products destruction. Should
be interesting.