Ive been bad !

[Bigbud]

I left my mountain bike over Christmas without cleaning all the salt and rubbish off it

Got it out last month and almost cried Anyway cleaned it all up and she's looking good again but now have problems !

The chain was solid so I ordered a new sram one, fitted it the other day and went out on it.

The Chain is slipping under load on the cassette but only in the middle couple of gears and doing it on every chain ring, Ive only done about 700 miles on it so was wondering is it an indexing problem or have I abused it and the cassette's knackered ? (Took the derailleurs off for deep clean)

Also the hydraulic brakes are not what they were, the back brake will lock up but feels spongy, the front brake will not lock up no matter how hard I pull on it and both have excessive travel. Assuming they need new pads and bleeding, any links for over hauling them.

Feel dirty and ashamed, my road bike on the other hand is mint and running well

 

[Moodyman]

Sounds like you wore your previous chain too much which then wore out your most used gears on the cassette. You've got to replace your chains before they stretch too much. Google chain stretch. Looks like you need a new cassette.

Re your disc brakes you might have air then them, in which case they'll need bleeding.

 

[dan_bo]

For the chain slip, check or get checked the indexing, making sure the cable inners are flushed and lubed.

In these situations, diesel is your friend! I've rescued a few well cacked and salted rear mechs by soaking 'em in the stuff for a couple of days.


And.......DONT DO IT AGAIN!

 

[corshamjim]

If it's any consolation, I did the same with my Dahon folder. The new chain now refuses to go from 5th to 4th so I have to go 5th to 3rd and back again. The old chain was horrendously over-stretched so I probably ought to replace the cassette sometime, but thankfully it's a bike I only occasionally use so I'll probably just live with it for a while.

 

[Cubist]

Check the indexing and cable tension before you change the cassette. Also have a look at the teeth. If they look like shark fins then they are worn.

It sounds like your front brake has seized pistons, and your back one needs bleeding.

Start by taking the wheel out and look at the brake pads. They should have at least half a mm of material left, if not change them.

Unseizing pistons is a pretty complicated procedure that should only be tackled if you are reasonably competent... it may need a full stripdown and seals replacing.

 

[rusty bearing]

chain and cassette will wear in together so if you put just a new chain on you will get this slip unless your cassette is relatively new and unworn.It's always good practice to change chain and cassette together

Yes your front brake is probably seized and you will need a compressor to get the pistons, so new seals and rebuild is the order of the day. Unless its an expensive brake you might be able to find a good deal and simply replace. depends how you feel about hydraulics and maintenance. Mind you we did have one in the workshop with 'front brakes don't work' syndrome. Inspection revealed a missing retaining clip and no pads.

Back needs bleeding. Some fluids take up moisture more readily than others so bleed them right through until you have replaced all the fluid.


Enjoy.........