Multiple bikes...PIA

......when you have to clean them. We had quite nice weather lately so
not much need for cleaning, but eventually it all gets sticky because of
leaking waterbottles, sn*t, dr**l and dust. Inspired by the mechanics of
the Pro teams in the Tour de France:

https://picasaweb.google.com/101076538433373858645/MondayCleaningDay?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ_fu5Si2K6isgE#

Lou

On 7/15/2013 3:45 PM, Lou Holtman wrote:
.....when you have to clean them. We had quite nice weather lately so
not much need for cleaning, but eventually it all gets sticky because of
leaking waterbottles, sn*t, dr**l and dust. Inspired by the mechanics of
the Pro teams in the Tour de France:

https://picasaweb.google.com/101076538433373858645/MondayCleaningDay?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ_fu5Si2K6isgE#



You seem to have a nice place to work.

On 7/15/2013 2:45 PM, Lou Holtman wrote:
.....when you have to clean them. We had quite nice weather
lately so not much need for cleaning, but eventually it all
gets sticky because of leaking waterbottles, sn*t, dr**l and
dust. Inspired by the mechanics of the Pro teams in the Tour
de France:

https://picasaweb.google.com/101076538433373858645/MondayCleaningDay?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ_fu5Si2K6isgE#


In a famous exchange, Jim Mateja, the Chicago Tribune car
editor, was asked what he recommended to clean vehicles.

His pithy answer,"Teenagers."

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On Monday, July 15, 2013 4:05:48 PM UTC-4, AMuzi wrote:
On 7/15/2013 2:45 PM, Lou Holtman wrote:

.....when you have to clean them. We had quite nice weather

lately so not much need for cleaning, but eventually it all

gets sticky because of leaking waterbottles, sn*t, dr**l and

dust. Inspired by the mechanics of the Pro teams in the Tour

de France:



https://picasaweb.google.com/101076538433373858645/MondayCleaningDay?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ_fu5Si2K6isgE#





In a famous exchange, Jim Mateja, the Chicago Tribune car

editor, was asked what he recommended to clean vehicles.



His pithy answer,"Teenagers."

That's been the solution for the best way to mow my lawn. It's put the thought of a robotic lawn mower out of my mind.

I'm still enchanted by letting sheep do the mowing, though.
http://www.homestead.org/AllenaJacks...LawnMowers.htm

- Frank Krygowski

Frank Krygowski writes:

On Monday, July 15, 2013 4:05:48 PM UTC-4, AMuzi wrote:
On 7/15/2013 2:45 PM, Lou Holtman wrote:

.....when you have to clean them. We had quite nice weather

lately so not much need for cleaning, but eventually it all

gets sticky because of leaking waterbottles, sn*t, dr**l and

dust. Inspired by the mechanics of the Pro teams in the Tour

de France:



https://picasaweb.google.com/101076538433373858645/MondayCleaningDay?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ_fu5Si2K6isgE#





In a famous exchange, Jim Mateja, the Chicago Tribune car

editor, was asked what he recommended to clean vehicles.



His pithy answer,"Teenagers."

That's been the solution for the best way to mow my lawn. It's put the thought of a robotic lawn mower out of my mind.

Speaking of lawn mowing---anyone here sharpened a Scotts push mower?
I'm not convinced that back-lapping it (running the reel backwards with
grinding compound applied to the cutting bar) does much. The local
lawn-repair shop wants $66 for the service, which is a bit stiff.

Apologies for the off-topic post...

--
Joe Riel

On 16/07/13 08:37, Joe Riel wrote:

Speaking of lawn mowing---anyone here sharpened a Scotts push mower?
I'm not convinced that back-lapping it (running the reel backwards with
grinding compound applied to the cutting bar) does much. The local
lawn-repair shop wants $66 for the service, which is a bit stiff.

Apologies for the off-topic post...


I have a Qualcast that is a motorised version. If you find a
recommended method, I'd like to know. I carefully cleaned up the blades
and cutting bar with a fine file. They were a bit rusty and pitted. I
think the most important thing is that the blade and bar pass with
almost zero tolerance - like the halves of a pair of scissors. Mine
seems to cut well enough, provided the grass is not long to begin with.

--
JS

On 7/15/2013 3:37 PM, Joe Riel wrote:
Speaking of lawn mowing---anyone here sharpened a Scotts push mower?
I'm not convinced that back-lapping it (running the reel backwards with
grinding compound applied to the cutting bar) does much. The local
lawn-repair shop wants $66 for the service, which is a bit stiff.

I tried hard to find a DIY method to sharpen "reel" mowers back when I
owned one, 20 years ago. Having it done for you, even back then, was
expensive, when you could find someone who knew what you were asking for
- most mower shops I called thought I was talking about sharpening a
rotary mower, which is trivial with a file and a vise.

The shops that knew what they were talking about had a fancy tool rig
that bolted to the mower with a part that slid sideways across, while
the reel rotated, sharpening the blade at a constant distance from the
reel axle, to maintain the reel-to-bar constant clearance James mentioned.

I gave up and bought an electric rotary mower. I think now the grand
majority of reel-mower users are golf courses, so the price for
sharpening them will be high, given the small market.

Mark J.

Per Lou Holtman:
.when you have to clean them.

I used to think of crud on my bike as a protective layer and theft
deterrent - until the wife complained about stuff falling all over the
garage floor.
--
Pete Cresswell

James writes:

On 16/07/13 08:37, Joe Riel wrote:

Speaking of lawn mowing---anyone here sharpened a Scotts push mower?
I'm not convinced that back-lapping it (running the reel backwards with
grinding compound applied to the cutting bar) does much. The local
lawn-repair shop wants $66 for the service, which is a bit stiff.

Apologies for the off-topic post...


I have a Qualcast that is a motorised version. If you find a
recommended method, I'd like to know. I carefully cleaned up the blades
and cutting bar with a fine file. They were a bit rusty and pitted. I
think the most important thing is that the blade and bar pass with
almost zero tolerance - like the halves of a pair of scissors. Mine
seems to cut well enough, provided the grass is not long to begin with.

I know how to do it, at least how a home-owner is supposed to do it. I
took off one of the wheels, removed the gear, replaced the pawl with a
slightly shorter version (cut from some handy metal stock), then locked
the business end of a hand brace (old-style drill) to the shaft, just
engaging the shortened pawl. With that I could hand-turn the reel in
the reverse direction. Mixed up some oil and carborundum, applied to
the edges, and preceded to grind away. Worked my way through a few
sizes of grit. I've got plenty of grit, from hand lapping planes and
chisel backs. It seems to work, but is slow. An electric drill with a
half-inch chuck would speed the operation, however, I don't own one.

A theoretical problem with this method is that the reel and cutting bar
are only ground in one dimension. I think you really want to put a
relief angle on either the bar or the reel blades, maybe both. I don't
see any practical way to do that. Maybe it isn't critical.

Joe Riel

The Chevron's parts got thrown in the TVR's bin. Whatta mess.

Seperate garages.