Maintenance Questions

Burning_Ranger said:

Got some basic questions.

1. I've done a few hundred miles on my new bike and lately the chain will
occasionally drop one down on the rear cassette, is this because of gear
cable stretch?

Most likely. In fact the 200-300 miles mark is a typical point for a new
bike to need adjusting. You can probably just use the barrel adjuster at
the rear derailler itself - turn it anti-clockwise a quarter turn at a
time.

If it's *really* slack it might be worth loosening and retensioning the
cable at the pinch bolt.

http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

Quoted message said:

2. I have some GT85 and some lubrication spray. How do I spray stuff like
the rear deraillur and V-Brake pivots without getting lubricant all over the
rims? Of course I could get a old cloth or something and cover up the tyres
but surely there must be an easier and more precise way?

If you have QR wheels you can just take them off (which help you clean
the rims too). But TBH I abandoned my can of spray lube for just this
reason and just use an old-fashioned dropper now.

Quoted message said:

3. Is there an easier way to apply grease in the nooks and crannys (Finish
Line Teflon Grease tube)? Is there some sort of grease gun/syringe
attachment that can be bought?

Which nooks and crannys are you referring to? I don't apply grease to a
bike as part of normal maintenance; only when removing or replacing
parts like pedals, bottom bracket etc.

Quoted message said:

4. What's the best stuff to use to clean the rims to get rid of the rubber
compound?

Anything that attacks rubber probably isn't too good for the tyres. I
use Muc-Off - a quick spray round; wait a minute; and wash off with
warm water.

--
jc

Remove the -not from email

in message <[email hidden]>, Burning_Ranger

(') said:

Got some basic questions.

1. I've done a few hundred miles on my new bike and lately the chain
will occasionally drop one down on the rear cassette, is this because
of gear cable stretch?

Very likely. The barrel adjusters should allow you enough movement to
get them shifting cleanly again. Some very cheap deraileurs have pivots
which wear out and become sloppy surprisingly quickly, though.

Quoted message said:

2. I have some GT85 and some lubrication spray. How do I spray stuff
like the rear deraillur and V-Brake pivots without getting lubricant
all over the rims? Of course I could get a old cloth or something and
cover up the tyres but surely there must be an easier and more precise
way?

Some lubricant sprays - I though GT85 was one - come with a long
'drinking straw' thing which fits into the aerosol head and allows you
to direct the spray precisely.

Quoted message said:

3. Is there an easier way to apply grease in the nooks and crannys
(Finish Line Teflon Grease tube)? Is there some sort of grease
gun/syringe attachment that can be bought?

You don't need to do that. Bearings and stuff should be regreased when
stripped down for servicing, not at other times. Grease on the outside
of the mechanism only attracts and holds dirt and thus accelerates
wear.

Quoted message said:

4. What's the best stuff to use to clean the rims to get rid of the
rubber compound?

Again, you should not need to do this. If you do need to clean your
rims, use alcohol first and then a fine abrasive stone.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

The trouble with Simon is that he only opens his mouth to change feet.
;; of me, by a 'friend'

Burning_Ranger said:

3. Is there an easier way to apply grease in the nooks and crannys (Finish
Line Teflon Grease tube)? Is there some sort of grease gun/syringe
attachment that can be bought?

As others have said, it's not clear what crannies want greasing.
However, you can get small needle-nozzle grease guns. I have one with
a 100 - 120mm ish long nozzle that's about 4 or 5mm diameter. You
hold the grease reservoir and press a button under the thumb. If you
find one, well worth buying, imo, but not all that easy to locate.

It's like this, but with a long thin nozzle:
http://store.autotoolexpress.com/ast101.html

regards, Ian SMith
--
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|o o|
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Burning_Ranger said:

2. I have some GT85 and some lubrication spray. How do I spray stuff
like the rear deraillur and V-Brake pivots without getting lubricant
all over the rims? Of course I could get a old cloth or something and
cover up the tyres but surely there must be an easier and more
precise way?

You've got to use a cloth unless the product has a straw or dropper. It's
good to wipe the excess off anyway.

Quoted message said:

3. Is there an easier way to apply grease in the nooks and crannys
(Finish Line Teflon Grease tube)? Is there some sort of grease
gun/syringe attachment that can be bought?

Grease is for things like bearings, screw threads, and parts that closely
fit inside other parts or the bike (eg. seatpost in frame). It should
only be applied when servicing the parts properly, which you do by
occasionally taking apart and reassembling unless they have "grease
ports" -- special holes to inject with a grease gun.

Quoted message said:

4. What's the best stuff to use to clean the rims to get rid of the
rubber compound?

Meths (and/or a special cleaning block). But get the worst off first with
a wet cloth (water) first if there's a /lot/ of muck on the rims, which
you might get after riding in heavy rain. In fact, I only find it
necessary after wet rides. Try Kool Stop salmon pads if you get a load of
build up otherwise (or any other braking problems).

Occasionally sanding the pads is another way of improving the brakes.
They can eventually become glazed.

~PB

Pete Biggs wrote:

<SNIP>

Thanks everyone.

--

Burning_Ranger

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