Total dismantle of bike?

[Mushroomgodmat]

No planning on doing this myself, but I was wondering has anyone more or less totally dismantled their bike for a good clean and re lubricatin?

 

[YahudaMoon]

Yep. just make sure you have the money / parts to put it back together again. Usually something needs / wants replacing :-0

 

[rockyraccoon]

yep. also if it is your first time, remember to take pictures as you remove the parts so you know how to put them back together.

 

[avsd]

Watch out with the headset - it needs to all go back in the same order. otherwise it will not tighten correctly and a visit to the LBS may be required. Here speaks the voice of experience

 

[smokeysmoo]

All good advice, and if you did try and got stuck don't forget YouTube is your friend

 

[Smokin Joe]

Waste of time, everything can be cleaned and lubed in situ. Most bearings are sealed now anyway.

My current bikes were built up six and seven years ago and the only time they'll get a total strip down is when I replace the frames.

 

[MontyVeda]

it's fun... I first tried aged 7 with my Raliegh Tomahawk. As i removed the forks and watched a myriad of tiny silver balls cascade across the garage floor i had my first 'oh shoot' moment. all I had to do was get it back together before dad found out... i did, he didn't

from experience though... don't remove the headset cups from the stem, they're a bugger to get back in properly.

 

[gbb]

Done it occasionally but not what you'd call a total disassemble, down to headset cups etc etc.
For me it'd be...
Calipers off, strip calipers and thoroughly clean and lube.
Forks out, lube headset, inspect steerer.
Crankset out, thorough clean.
BB seals / covers out (very carefully), inspect bearings, smear some grease for in there to prevent water ingress and general lubrication(FSA Omega)...
Seatpost out, just to clean, light smear of grease or similar to prevent siezure.
Cassette off, thorough clean.
Hub bearings...if they were ok, i wouldnt touch them.
Cables out, clean, lube, re-assemble
TBH, a lot of its not neccessary, i just enjoy doing it.

 

[GrasB]

Usually do this once a year after the weather seems to have properly go over winter. Genrally a number of sundries are needed; ball bearings, cable ferrules, etc.

 

[accountantpete]

If you haven't got a good memory to replace bits in the order that they came off or have a habit of mislaying 1p bits of metal which render the whole bike unworkable I would recommend doing one part at a time.

 

[gbb]

If you haven't got a good memory to replace bits in the order that they came off or have a habit of mislaying 1p bits of metal which render the whole bike unworkable I would recommend doing one part at a time.

Very valid point...my day job is maintenance and repair of machinery and IMO doing one bit at a time is the orderly and correct way to do it.

 

[Cubist]

Yep, definitely one section at a time, that way the task of putting it all back together doesn't seem such a mountain to climb, especially if you're newish to the sport of "pingfukkit"

 

[Cubist]

Waste of time, everything can be cleaned and lubed in situ. Most bearings are sealed now anyway.

My current bikes were built up six and seven years ago and the only time they'll get a total strip down is when I replace the frames.

Good point, but to some people taking the wheels off and removing the brake calipers is a major strip down!

Bikes are much easier to clean if you can remove chains, cassettes, brake discs/calipers, and while you're at it you might as well lube the cables etc etc etc!

 

[GrasB]

Waste of time, everything can be cleaned and lubed in situ.

Not from what I've seen having done a strip down clean, mud & grime between surfaces that can only be got at by disassembly such as on spindle of the hub or BB.

If you haven't got a good memory to replace bits in the order that they came off or have a habit of mislaying 1p bits of metal which render the whole bike unworkable I would recommend doing one part at a time.

See this just seems like standard practice to me.

 

[Mushroomgodmat]

Wow, top advice...like I said, not planning todo it anytime soon...but I suspect it would be somthing I'd try, if only to learn about the parts and how to maintain/upgrade them.