6 week check

[ScotiaLass]

Okay, so I've had my hybrid a year, but didn't start really riding it until a few months ago.

It's been cleaned (because I know how to do that lol) but apart from that it's had nothing else done to it.
I was passing my LBS the other day and the mechanic was outside.
We got chatting (as we do!) and he said if nothing else, I should tighten the cranks?

So, how do I do this and what else should I do?
I should be able to carry out most stuff myself as it's less complicated than the MTB!

This is her...

 

[DEFENDER01]

Why would you want to tighten the cranks.
Are they loose.

 

[Torvi]

if anything, the lbs probably just tried to make you leave your bike to them which means £££££ for lbs :P as long as everything works fine, there is nothing you should be worrying about

 

[ScotiaLass]

Why would you want to tighten the cranks.
Are they loose.

I wouldn't know!

 

[Mo1959]

Unless there are any obvious problems, I would leave well alone. Not sure why your cranks would need tightened either??? Provided they were fitted at correct torque when the bike was put together, I doubt they would need tightened. I think the 6 weeks service is just a general checkover, with possibly a wee tweak of cable tensions if there has been any stretch.

 

[roadrash]

If it ain't broke. Don't fix it
Seriously if you are not experiencing any problems leave well alone ,particularly if you are not too confident with maintainance

 

[DEFENDER01]

I wouldn't know!

I would think if they were loose you would know.

 

[ScotiaLass]

Unless there are any obvious problems, I would leave well alone. Not sure why your cranks would need tightened either??? Provided they were fitted at correct torque when the bike was put together, I doubt they would need tightened. I think the 6 weeks service is just a general checkover, with possibly a wee tweak of cable tensions if there has been any stretch.

The bike came built up and I just put the pedals on and turned the handlebars around.
It's since had butterfly bars added by me, but thats about it.
The gears need a slight tweak but I always seem to mess those up so I'm leaving them for now!
I clean it regularly and clean under the brake blocks and clean the rims too.

 

[DCLane]

I'd leave the cranks alone.

Adjust the gears - and if you're cleaning/lubricating regularly it'll probably be fine.

My Wilier's just past the free 6-week check and it's not going in; they had the MTB and left it in an awful state, adjusting the brakes until they didn't work and putting a couple of unremoveable marks onto it.

The new bike's significantly changed already (new seatpost, saddle, crankset, wheels) and will be changed even more this week (shifters, derailleurs, stem, bars) so it's not worth them having it to mess up.

 

[welsh dragon]

Im another one for the if it aint broke, don't fix it brigade, but in my case, that's because I know bugger all about what, and how to fix things

 

[User33236]

Slightly off topic but when I owned a motorbike many years ago I chose to ignore the section in the user guide that recommended re-torquing a number of items every 300 to 400 miles. I was going 100 miles a day and it seemed like too much trouble.

Move forward a few months and, as I was riding to work, I noticed one of the washers under a bolt that attached the bars to front forks seemed to be spinning. Just as I was thinking 'i should stop and look at that' the botls and washer flew past my helmet. After that I re-torqued said items every couple of weeks (every three to four days seemed excessive lol).

Its a habit I have kept up even on my bicyles and check tightness every 6 months or so.

 

[midlife]

BITD after checking a bike over before selling it we generally never saw it again unkes something wore out or broke

Shaun

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I should tighten the cranks?

After I changed the bottom bracket of one of my bikes, with the help of @KatyO (Katy the bike mechanic, I think you know her) she advised me to tighten the cranks after about 100 miles. This I did, indeed the slight play that had developed went away.
Tool

 

[Globalti]

Some bad advice above. Definitely tighten the cranks as the bolts will have worked loose as everything settled. This is best done with a torque wrench so pop into the bike shop with a packet of biscuits for the mechanic and ask him to do it.

 

[adamhearn]

I also had a crank come loose some time after replacing them. Whilst I think a 6 week check isn't strictly necessary if the bike's running OK I'd offset those thoughts if the shop is a good one and it's close by. If they're miles away and/or have a poor reputation then go round the bike yourself - they're plenty of info on the web to follow.