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#1
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What to do to 'maintain' my Bicycle?
Can someone point me to a website that has directions (and pictures)
on how to "tune up" a bicycle? I am not a serious rider like most of you. I have a 12 speed Panasonic that I bought like 16 years ago. I use it to ride around the neighborhood, I never oiled it, or done any type of maintenance. Never had a problem with it, I actually don't even shift the gears, I just ride it by the water to enjoy the weather, nothing serious. But I have not ridden the bicycle for 2 years. I want to start again, but since I haven't ridden it for 2 years, do I need to do some type of tune up? I called a bicycle place asked them, they said a tune up is $70, but they wouldn't tell me what is involved. My brakes are fine (Im riding slowly by the water anyway, heck, I can stop by putting my foot down!) The only thing I think I need to do is oil it (since I never done it before) and also change the wrap around the handle bar. Right now its a sponge-like material and it hurts the palm of my hand when I lean on it. Is there a website that can show me step by step where to oil, etc. Thanks |
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#3
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What to do to 'maintain' my Bicycle?
On 2008-04-10, wrote:
Can someone point me to a website that has directions (and pictures) on how to "tune up" a bicycle? I am not a serious rider like most of you. I have a 12 speed Panasonic that I bought like 16 years ago. I use it to ride around the neighborhood, I never oiled it, or done any type of maintenance. Never had a problem with it, I actually don't even shift the gears, I just ride it by the water to enjoy the weather, nothing serious. But I have not ridden the bicycle for 2 years. I want to start again, but since I haven't ridden it for 2 years, do I need to do some type of tune up? Just pump up the tyres and oil the chain. If you're feeling adventurous, pick it up and spin the wheels round by hand. Check they spin freely and don't make a grinding noise or anything. If they do you might want to clean them out and replace the grease, but you need special spanners for that. I called a bicycle place asked them, they said a tune up is $70, but they wouldn't tell me what is involved. They might be thinking of regreasing all the bearings. Otherwise they probably just check it over and adjust the gears. Maybe they true the wheels if they need them. My brakes are fine (Im riding slowly by the water anyway, heck, I can stop by putting my foot down!) The only thing I think I need to do is oil it (since I never done it before) and also change the wrap around the handle bar. Right now its a sponge-like material and it hurts the palm of my hand when I lean on it. Is there a website that can show me step by step where to oil, etc. http://www.sheldonbrown.com. Accept no substitutes. You just put the oil on the chain. More details: http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html. Nothing else usually needs oiling, although put a bit here and there if things like derailleurs and brake calipers are actually stuck and look like they need it. |
#4
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What to do to 'maintain' my Bicycle?
Click on a bike part at this Park Tool site, and you'll get some idea
of what can be done: *http://www.parktool.com/repair/bikemap.asp Thanks for the link. I took a look at cleaning the chain, looks complicated! I thought I would just put a few drops of WD-40 on the chain and thats it. It's easy to pump the tires up. I just took a look at the bike, and even though I have not touched it in 2 years, the tires are not cracked. They are totally worn/bare, but thats fine with me, since Im not doing any serious riding. Replacing a rusted chain or control cable is a little harder. The chain does not look rusted. Replacing axle, bottom bracket, or headset bearings is harder. Would I need to do that? If padded tape on a handlebar isn't enough, try a pair of gloves with palm pads. I dont have tape, I have a sponge like material on the handle bars. Im thinking of replacing that with the padded tape. |
#5
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What to do to 'maintain' my Bicycle?
I want to start again, but since I haven't ridden it for 2 years, do I
need to do some type of tune up? Just pump up the tyres and oil the chain. Cool. If you're feeling adventurous, pick it up and spin the wheels round by hand. Check they spin freely and don't make a grinding noise or anything. If they do you might want to clean them out and replace the grease, but you need special spanners for that. I probably wont do that. Even if they make a grinding noise, all that would do is slow the bicycle down, make me work a little more to pedal (I assume)...I have no problems with that. I called a bicycle place asked them, they said a tune up is $70, but they wouldn't tell me what is involved. They might be thinking of regreasing all the bearings. Otherwise they probably just check it over and adjust the gears. Maybe they true the wheels if they need them. What bearings? You mean the tires? (like what you just described above) Adjust the gears? I dont need that, I shift the gears like once over a ride (when I go up the hill on the way home) http://www.sheldonbrown.com. Accept no substitutes. Nice site. You just put the oil on the chain. More details:http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html. Can't I just: 1. Have someone lift the bike by the seat (so the rear wheel is off the ground) 2. Turn the pedal and hold a napkin against the chain (to get rid of the oil thats there) 3. Then turn the pedal again, and put a few drops of WD-40 on the chain Wouldnt that work? Although the part on the rear wheel that the chain connects to (the place where the chain 'shifts') looks a bit grimy (but then again, it has ALWAYS looked grimy). Is that the derailer? I probably need to clean that also somehow. or maybe not. Nothing else usually needs oiling, although put a bit here and there if things like derailleurs and brake calipers are actually stuck and look like they need it. Cool. Thanks |
#6
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What to do to 'maintain' my Bicycle?
wrote:
Click on a bike part at this Park Tool site, and you'll get some idea of what can be done: http://www.parktool.com/repair/bikemap.asp Thanks for the link. I took a look at cleaning the chain, looks complicated! I thought I would just put a few drops of WD-40 on the chain and thats it. I'm sure that if there's any regular readers of the automotive groups that I frequent here, they'll recognize that I'm trying to restrain myself from ranting here... WD-40 is NOT a lubricant! I can't stress that enough! It's a mixture of (a little) very light oil and (a lot of) solvent. It's great for its intended purpose, which is displacing water from parts that aren't supposed to be wet but are. It's also a halfway decent solvent when you really ought to disassemble something for proper cleaning but can't for whatever reason. It's a lousy lube. It seems like it works well at first, but any lubricating properties that it has will be gone in a week or so. In short, WD-40 is a quality product that has a place on any handyman or mechanic's shelf, but it has been overhyped by its manufacturer and recommended for many uses for which it's not suited. It's perfect for drying out the distributor cap on your old Triumph - that's what it's made for. As a solvent, it's great, especially if you're trying to clean a painted surface where more aggressive solvents could cause damage. As a penetrating oil, it sucks - use PB Blaster, Kroil, Wuerth Rost Off instead. As a lubricant, it also sucks - use a simple oil can or spray grease. Use the right tool for the job! IMHO if your chain is really crapped up, *cleaning* it with WD-40 might not be a bad place to start, but if mine really needed cleaning that bad I might be tempted to remove it and clean it in something like a can of carb dip instead. Then let dry, and lube it with something intended for the purpose; either simple motor oil or by boiling it in grease. Or you could just do what many people do and simply lube it with an oil can loaded with plain old motor oil or ATF and simply keep on riding. It's easy to pump the tires up. I just took a look at the bike, and even though I have not touched it in 2 years, the tires are not cracked. They are totally worn/bare, but thats fine with me, since Im not doing any serious riding. No tread is OK, in fact is perfectly fine as long as you're not going off-road. If the tires are actually showing cords, however, it's time for replacement. Replacing a rusted chain or control cable is a little harder. The chain does not look rusted. Replacing axle, bottom bracket, or headset bearings is harder. Would I need to do that? Not unless you have problems. If padded tape on a handlebar isn't enough, try a pair of gloves with palm pads. I dont have tape, I have a sponge like material on the handle bars. Im thinking of replacing that with the padded tape. So I'm guessing has flat bars, not "drop" bars? (that is, mountain bike or cruiser style bars, not "10 speed" bars?) You may be able to purchase new grips at your LBS if you prefer those. Your choice. good luck nate -- replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply. http://members.cox.net/njnagel |
#7
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What to do to 'maintain' my Bicycle?
On 2008-04-10, wrote:
[...] If you're feeling adventurous, pick it up and spin the wheels round by hand. Check they spin freely and don't make a grinding noise or anything. If they do you might want to clean them out and replace the grease, but you need special spanners for that. I probably wont do that. Even if they make a grinding noise, all that would do is slow the bicycle down, make me work a little more to pedal (I assume)... Pretty much. I have no problems with that. No worries then. I called a bicycle place asked them, they said a tune up is $70, but they wouldn't tell me what is involved. They might be thinking of regreasing all the bearings. Otherwise they probably just check it over and adjust the gears. Maybe they true the wheels if they need them. What bearings? You've got bearings in the hubs (so the wheels can turn), the bottom bracket (so the cranks can turn) and the headset (so you can steer). Their life can in some cases be prolonged by cleaning them out and replacing the grease occasionally, but nothing that disastrous happens if you don't. It's not like the bearings in your helicopter rotor. You probably want to keep a closer eye on those ones. [...] You just put the oil on the chain. More details:http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html. Can't I just: 1. Have someone lift the bike by the seat (so the rear wheel is off the ground) 2. Turn the pedal and hold a napkin against the chain (to get rid of the oil thats there) 3. Then turn the pedal again, and put a few drops of WD-40 on the chain Wouldnt that work? That would work just fine. Although the part on the rear wheel that the chain connects to (the place where the chain 'shifts') looks a bit grimy (but then again, it has ALWAYS looked grimy). Is that the derailer? What I think you mean is called the "cassette" or the "sprockets", or, if you want to annoy Brandt, the "cogs". They are often real grimy, it doesn't matter. I probably need to clean that also somehow. or maybe not. The grime just gets pushed down between the cogs where it doesn't hurt anyone. If you want to go to town a better investment of time is probably to clean the chain properly. |
#8
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What to do to 'maintain' my Bicycle?
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#9
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What to do to 'maintain' my Bicycle?
Nate Nagel wrote:
wrote: Click on a bike part at this Park Tool site, and you'll get some idea of what can be done: http://www.parktool.com/repair/bikemap.asp Thanks for the link. I took a look at cleaning the chain, looks complicated! I thought I would just put a few drops of WD-40 on the chain and thats it. I'm sure that if there's any regular readers of the automotive groups that I frequent here, they'll recognize that I'm trying to restrain myself from ranting here... WD-40 is NOT a lubricant! I can't stress that enough! It's a mixture of (a little) very light oil and (a lot of) solvent. It's great for its intended purpose, which is displacing water from parts that aren't supposed to be wet but are. It's also a halfway decent solvent when you really ought to disassemble something for proper cleaning but can't for whatever reason. It's a lousy lube. It seems like it works well at first, but any lubricating properties that it has will be gone in a week or so. WD-40 is no more liked by the RBT regulars. I find WD-40 useful for cleaning asphalt off of test equipment. In short, WD-40 is a quality product that has a place on any handyman or mechanic's shelf, but it has been overhyped by its manufacturer and recommended for many uses for which it's not suited. It's perfect for drying out the distributor cap on your old Triumph - that's what it's made for. As a solvent, it's great, especially if you're trying to clean a painted surface where more aggressive solvents could cause damage. As a penetrating oil, it sucks - use PB Blaster, Kroil, Wuerth Rost Off instead. As a lubricant, it also sucks - use a simple oil can or spray grease. Use the right tool for the job! IMHO if your chain is really crapped up, *cleaning* it with WD-40 might not be a bad place to start, but if mine really needed cleaning that bad I might be tempted to remove it and clean it in something like a can of carb dip instead. Then let dry, and lube it with something intended for the purpose; either simple motor oil or by boiling it in grease. Or you could just do what many people do and simply lube it with an oil can loaded with plain old motor oil or ATF and simply keep on riding.[...] Easy - Getting ALL the Jews, Christians and Muslims to agree on the true teachings of God. Hard - Getting cyclists to agree on proper chain cleaning and maintenance. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia The weather is here, wish you were beautiful |
#10
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What to do to 'maintain' my Bicycle?
Ben C? wrote:
[...] What I think you mean is called the "cassette" or the "sprockets", or, if you want to annoy Brandt, the "cogs".[...] I think Kentucky Bourbon Man and Dear Carl have that assignment covered pretty well. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia The weather is here, wish you were beautiful |
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