Self maintenance - advice on what's easiest and what's hardest

[Buddfox]

Hi all,

I don't post in this section of the forum but have read around a number of the different posts, and haven't yet seen anything along the lines of this question. If there is a useful link apologies for going over old ground.

I'm trying to increase the amount of tasks I perform on my bike when it comes to general maintenance and repairs. There are some jobs I'm comfortable doing and others I've not yet attempted. I'd really appreciate advice on which jobs might be considered sufficiently complex to leave to the pros.

As of now, I've got comfortable adjusting both front and rear mechs, replacing the rear cassette, replacing pedals and replacing the chain. The tasks I've not yet attempted are cleaning / replacing the headset (was next on the list), replacing the gear and brake cables (mine are internally wired and this gives me cause for concern), cleaning / replacing the bottom bracket, and cleaning the wheel hubs. Mickle's fixed post on wheel truing has given me the confidence that next time I need to do that, I'm going to give it a go myself. There may be other tasks I can / should perform which I've not included here.

So what do people recommend? I imagine that for those who have done these jobs a few times they all seem eminently doable (that was my experience with replacing the chain for example) but any sense of ranking regarding the level of difficulty?

Thanks all for any tips.

 

[derrick]

With what you have done so far the rest should not be to difficult, it's having the right tool for the right job, and a bit of research it's all a doddle, but i am a mechanic by trade so that helps me.

 

[Cubist]

The jobs you describe are not beyond you if the ones you have done have been reasonably straightforward.

Check this thread for how to do gear cables
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/can-anyone-help-please.80458/#post-1448758

It's actually a breeze, just needs patience and accurate measuring of outers. A quality cable cutter will become your favourite tool of all time.

I see that yours are internal, but they aren't any more difficult than external ones, in fact, as they don't need donuts and whatever you could argue they're more straightforward. The thing to make sure is that your frame has internal cable sheaths/guides to guide the inners through, the rest is exactly the same.

Headsets... well, it depends on the headset type to be fair. You need a bearing press or nerves of steel to remove the cups and bearings if it's a cartridge type. However, I used a piece of wood and a hammer, making sure I was driving it square at every stroke of the hammer. You can make a bearing press with a piece of threaded bar and some washers anyway.

Bottom brackets, just make sure you use the right tool for the job. They aren't a big mystery, and if you can convert to an external bearing system then do so. Again, make sure you read up first, and only turn stuff in the right direction!

 

[Buddfox]

Thanks guys, this is helpful. I'm happy to invest in the right tools, I'm learning over time that bike maintenance is very satisfying, and the basic simplicity of how a bike works quite fascinating. A combination of Youtube videos and articles has seen me right so far, so the only thing to do is plough on!

Cubist - on the headset, it's on a Cube road bike, so I think it's a pretty simple procedure. I'm not good on terminology, but believe it's an integrated headset (need to do more reading) which makes it easier to work with, although seemingly not the best design operationally.

 

[simon.r]

I learned by doing what needed doing (e.g. I learned how to adjust and grease a headset when my headset came loose). I'm still learning, mainly as I come across new or different components.

Given the right tools and a degree of mechanical aptitude there are very few bicycle maintenance jobs that can't be done at home.

 

[Cubist]

I'd be tempted to simply flush and regrease the headset bearing in situ. Drop the forks and use a pick to remove the seal from the cartridge bearings top and bottom. Squirt WD40 or GT85 in to dissolve the old grease and crud, and once you're happy it's all clean and dry in there use a grease gun (another invaluable tool box favourite) to squirt in some tacky marine grease (eBay is your friend here). If it's still graunchy/notchy after that you'll need new bearings, but regreasing a headset often breathes new life in.

The bottom bracket bearings will be Hollowtech 2 at a guess, in which case it's a simple swap out job. Some folk insist you can change bearing cartridges, but the whole assembly costs £20 online if you shop around. Treat yourself to a HT2 tool which is completely circular, rather than the open ended type. I use an open ended one, but I am always conscious that it can slip and chew the castellations on the bearing cups. Remember the threading on the drive side is left handed, so you turn the cup clockwise to remove it and anti-clockwise to tighten. Make a note of any spacers when you're taking the old one off, and clean the threads before regreasing them.

Superstar components had some good value tools on special offer last week, as did On One /Planet X

 

[PpPete]

Don't change to external bearing BB just for the sake of it. If you are already on HT2 (or BB30 or one of the new-fangled specs) then stick with it, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with square taper if that is what your bike came with. The bearings last longer, and the replacements are cheap and easy to fit.

 

[lulubel]

I'd be tempted to simply flush and regrease the headset bearing in situ. Drop the forks and use a pick to remove the seal from the cartridge bearings top and bottom. Squirt WD40 or GT85 in to dissolve the old grease and crud, and once you're happy it's all clean and dry in there use a grease gun (another invaluable tool box favourite) to squirt in some tacky marine grease (eBay is your friend here). If it's still graunchy/notchy after that you'll need new bearings, but regreasing a headset often breathes new life in.

This is what I was going to say. There's no need to remove the cups just to clean and regrease.

However, if you do need to replace a whole headset at any stage, it isn't nearly as difficult as everyone seems to think, as long as you have the correct tools. The most difficult job I'd done before I decided to build my own bike was indexing the gears, and the first job I had to do on the new bike was fit the headset. I bought myself a decent headset press, and it took about 5 minutes.

 

[martint235]

My only advice that no one seems to have mentioned yet is: always make a note of the order in which things come off when you start taking things apart.

The number of times I've had to take stuff to the shop with "I know all the bits are here but..."

 

[Buddfox]

My only advice that no one seems to have mentioned yet is: always make a note of the order in which things come off when you start taking things apart.

The number of times I've had to take stuff to the shop with "I know all the bits are here but..."

Even on my experience to date, this is wise advice...!

I'd like to get to the stage where I'd feel confident to build my next bike myself. There's something to be said for understanding properly how the whole thing fits together and works - not least it gives you a much better understanding of how to maintain it (as well as saving money on servicing).

 

[ianrauk]

Even on my experience to date, this is wise advice...!

I'd like to get to the stage where I'd feel confident to build my next bike myself. There's something to be said for understanding properly how the whole thing fits together and works - not least it gives you a much better understanding of how to maintain it (as well as saving money on servicing).

What I do is place the components I have taken apart in a line on the floor then take a pic.

 

[Blue Hills]

certain bits it can also be a good idea to put a zip tie through them.

 

[Cubist]

Even on my experience to date, this is wise advice...!

I'd like to get to the stage where I'd feel confident to build my next bike myself. There's something to be said for understanding properly how the whole thing fits together and works - not least it gives you a much better understanding of how to maintain it (as well as saving money on servicing).

It really isn't as complicated as you might imagine. Most bike parts these days are modular, so as long as you check compatibility and certain measurements, the only mystery is what order to put it together in. The first one I built was a real eye-opener, and I was very suspicious of myself when I had added both mechs and the chain, and allowed myself a whole evening to get them indexed and set up, but they worked perfectly after less than half an hour. I built my last one in about four hours, including two moderately large cock-ups.

The sense of achievement is massive, but most importantly, as you have pointed out, you learn how it all goes together, and if you are a compulsive fettler, servicing as such is never required, as your maintenance routine means it's always in tune.

What I do is place the components I have taken apart in a line on the floor then take a pic.

Great idea. If I'm dissembling something with loads of washers and spacers I have a length of stiff wire I thread them onto in the order I take them off.

 

[Buddfox]

... including two moderately large cock-ups.

Are we allowed to know what they were...?!

 

[PpPete]

One of the jobs I shied away from for years decades was anything to do with wheel truing. Then circmstances conspired to force me to learn to build wheels. Surprisingly easy (with the right guide), although not the quickest of jobs. Mahoosively satisfying though.