Is a bike service worth it for me?

[bantam rik]

Hi all,
as a newby (after owning a bike for 2 years) ive not been riding that much in the past, ive noticed the gears to be clunking a bit when changing. Is it worth me having it serviced or should it be something i could sort out myself. I'm riding a Trek 7.2FX. The embarrasing bit is i'm an engineer, but bikes, gears, not sure,

Thanks in advance.

Rik

 

[Custom24]

You can do it yourself. A bike stand makes things a lot easier when adjusting the indexing of gears, they can be had online for about £40 or less. You Tube is your friend for figuring out how it is done.

Based on what you've said, you probably need to clean and relube everything (chain, cassette and chainrings, and the dérailleur mechanisms). You should also check if the gear cables slide freely inside their outer cables. You also probably need to adjust the cable tension, an easy job with a workstand. You probably don't need to adjust the stops, although most guides on YouTube start with this, and I don't know why they concentrate on this.

 

[screenman]

Most guides should start with checking rear mech alignment, edit that for all guides.

Is it worth your time and effort? some may say you get satisfaction, although I do my own servicing I have never found it satisfying.

 

[User16625]

Iffy gear changing is almost always caused by improper cable tension. This is one of the easiest things to fix. Just turn the adjuster a bit. Theres usually 2 adjusters for the rear derailler. One can be found where the cable enters the derailler itself and the other is usually found near the brake lever or somewhere on the cable leading up to it.
I turn my bike upside down, spin the cranks while turning the adjuster on the rear derailler. When im happy I will ride my bike possibly making finer adjustments using the adjuster near the brake shifter.
Failing that a new set of cables is likely needed. As has been mentioned already, keep your drivetrain lubed and cleaned. Helps makes things run more quietly and smoothly.

 

[slowmotion]

You Tube is an absolute godsend. This clip is the best I've seen on adjusting the rear derailler.
[media]
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkzvfCaIbyQ
[/media]

 

[simon.r]

There may also be a free service available. In Nottingham we have several 'Dr Bikes' who set up workstands and will carry out basic servicing for free.

http://nottingham.travelright.org.uk/3091/2015-dr-bike-sessions/ Out of date website but you get the idea.

 

[bantam rik]

Thanks everybody for your advice, Just before i asked for help on here i mickeled the bike so the drivetrain should be ok. You tube looks like a god send, thanks everybody.

 

[howard2107]

Hi all,
as a newby (after owning a bike for 2 years) ive not been riding that much in the past, ive noticed the gears to be clunking a bit when changing. Is it worth me having it serviced or should it be something i could sort out myself. I'm riding a Trek 7.2FX. The embarrasing bit is i'm an engineer, but bikes, gears, not sure,

Thanks in advance.

Rik

Nowt to be ashamed of mate, i'm not a bad electrical engineer myself, and can get my head around a Boeing 757, but i leave bikes to Bike Mechanics, it isn't expensive, i had same gear issues as you, sorted it out, he said give it a week or so, and bring it back so i can recheck everything. the bike had not been used much till i acquired it, and apparently the cable stretch and need adjusting, makes sense to me, but i am a bit heavy handed. Ok with big nuts and bolts, but not the best with little ones.

Cheers............Howard.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Thanks everybody for your advice, Just before i asked for help on here i mickeled the bike so the drivetrain should be ok. You tube looks like a god send, thanks everybody.

OK, you say you are an engineer and say that you "mickled" the chain and therefore it should be good. Give it some thought (especially if you did tribology). Do you really think spraying stuff on a chain and wiping the exterior will remove grit from the labyrinth inside the chain?

 

[Pale Rider]

i'm an engineer, but bikes, gears, not sure,
.

Your are right to be not sure.

Too many 'engineers' think whatever that means automatically qualifies them as a pro bike mechanic.

The bicycle is such a strange contraption that being an 'engineer' can be a handicap, rather than a help, when it comes to maintenance.

 

[bantam rik]

OK, you say you are an engineer and say that you "mackled" the chain and therefore it should be good. Give it some thought (especially if you did tribology). Do you really think spraying stuff on a chain and wiping the exterior will remove grit from the labyrinth inside the chain?

Hi Yellow Saddle,
i'm not saying because i Mickeled the chain all will be good, i was just commenting on something i'd done to help with the problem. tribology?

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Hi Yellow Saddle,
i'm not saying because i Mickeled the chain all will be good, i was just commenting on something i'd done to help with the problem. tribology?

That's OK. Chains are a bit of a thing for me.
I have pointed out here before that attempting to clean a chain by wiping the surface is futile, you have to remove the abrasive material from the inside. However, I suspect most people clean a chain because it looks dirty and poses a threat to their clothing, not to extend its life.

Tribology is the study of lubrication and friction, an optional add-on to mechanical engineering and materials studies.

 

[Custom24]

Most guides should start with checking rear mech alignment, edit that for all guides.

Yeah, but if you don't have the tool for checking alignment, you might as well start with things easier to check first

 

[screenman]

Yeah, but if you don't have the tool for checking alignment, you might as well start with things easier to check first

Get the first brick wrong and the rest of the wall will be as well.

 

[Custom24]

Get the first brick wrong and the rest of the wall will be as well.

So your advice is if you don't have the £50 tool, then don't even check the cable tension?