Thought about a B.17 for my Brommy, but as it's my all weather get about bike, decided on the C.17 instead. Already have one on my Dawes Fox and very comfortable 'straight out of the box'.
What Have You Fettled Today?
- Thread starter threebikesmcginty
- Start date
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Rhythm Thief
Legendary Member
- Location
- Ross on Wye
I've spent the day re-fettling the Dawes Audax that I fettled on Saturday, which was a temporary fettle to allow me to ride it into work. Today I've stripped it back to a bare frame set, cleaned and polished it, taken all the Shimano kit off it and rebuilt it with Campag 9 speed and a double chainset instead of the horrible triple that was on it before. I've also fitted a dynohub and lights to it to turn it into a properly practical winter commuter.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
The brakes on my 6-speed bike were struggling to release on my ride today. Salt and grit have got into the callipers and cables. I just had a look but have only made minor improvements. It's getting late - I will try to finish the job tomorrow.
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FrankCrank
Old layabout
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
Jameshow
Veteran
Orange and black....🤣
I used a chassis paint on the triangle but the correct colour match, the main frame I touched in and polished.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I just got back to work on the brakes...
I would have liked to remove the callipers, dismantle them, clean and grease the pivots, then put it all back together again. It turned out, however, that corrosion was making it very difficult to undo the allen 'nuts' holding the callipers in place. I didn't want to risk using too much force in case I stripped the allen heads so I had to compromise...
I loosened the one pivot that I could on each calliper and cleaned and greased those before retightening them.
I couldn't do that with the second pivot on each calliper though because of those corroded allen nuts, so I made do with cleaning everywhere that I could and then squirting GT85 over the pivots, and also up inside the brake cable outers. I worked the callipers open and closed repeatedly until they finally loosened up.
The brakes are working properly again now.
I noticed that there isn't much life left in the brake blocks. I will replace those after another ride or two.
You made the right choice, I’ve tried to pull a caliper apart and ended up destroying it in the process. Usually it is possible to get them working without a complete strip down
chriswoody
Legendary Member
- Location
- Northern Germany
Rather than what I've fettled today, more like what have I been fettling for bloomin days now.
It Started when I realised the chain was needing replacement on the Mountain bike. So I had the bright idea while I was there to take the cassette off and give it a good scrub along with the jockey wheels on the derailleur. Upon taking out the wheel I thought something felt odd and yep sure enough there was a broken spoke. Oh well off to the LBS for some spokes. Then I took of the tire and realised because I run tubeless I needed to unwrap the rim tape, which then needed to go in the bin. With that done I replaced the broken spoke and then noticed a second spoke looking a bit bent out of shape, so I decided to preemptively replace that one. In the midst of that job I stupidly dropped the nipple into the double walled rim. 20 minutes of shaking the wheel later I managed to retrieve it and finally finish that job.
I then wrapped the rim with new tubeless rim tape and blasted the tire into the bead, only for a large hissing noise to signify all was not well. Three attempts later and another wrap of rim tape I managed to isolate the leak the base of the valve. At this point I was so frustrated I thought bugger it and threw 120ml of sealant in there and gave it a ruddy good shake, which fixed that issue. It was then on to re-truing the wheel then replacing the cassette and disc. So I'm back to point that I started with and now need to size and cut the new chain, oh and give the bike a ruddy good wash!
It Started when I realised the chain was needing replacement on the Mountain bike. So I had the bright idea while I was there to take the cassette off and give it a good scrub along with the jockey wheels on the derailleur. Upon taking out the wheel I thought something felt odd and yep sure enough there was a broken spoke. Oh well off to the LBS for some spokes. Then I took of the tire and realised because I run tubeless I needed to unwrap the rim tape, which then needed to go in the bin. With that done I replaced the broken spoke and then noticed a second spoke looking a bit bent out of shape, so I decided to preemptively replace that one. In the midst of that job I stupidly dropped the nipple into the double walled rim. 20 minutes of shaking the wheel later I managed to retrieve it and finally finish that job.
I then wrapped the rim with new tubeless rim tape and blasted the tire into the bead, only for a large hissing noise to signify all was not well. Three attempts later and another wrap of rim tape I managed to isolate the leak the base of the valve. At this point I was so frustrated I thought bugger it and threw 120ml of sealant in there and gave it a ruddy good shake, which fixed that issue. It was then on to re-truing the wheel then replacing the cassette and disc. So I'm back to point that I started with and now need to size and cut the new chain, oh and give the bike a ruddy good wash!
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
The Brompton freehub is getting worse, and I don't know when I'll have the time and the workbench to actually sort it out, so today I cycled into work on my tourer, only to find that the tourer is playing up: the smaller wheel on the cassette had worn and was slipping occasionally.
So at lunchtime I grabbed a few tools, dug out a cassette and chain from the store and fitted them, and while I was at it, the rear brake blocks. Result; smooth riding on the way home.
So at lunchtime I grabbed a few tools, dug out a cassette and chain from the store and fitted them, and while I was at it, the rear brake blocks. Result; smooth riding on the way home.
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Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
Oh, and today was Bonus card day at work: the city supports people on income support to come and get help with their bikes, so I ended up showing a not very confident lady how to change a bicycle tyre. Because I'm kind and believe in empowerment, I then took it apart and made her do it herself...
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
Nice one.
I hear you on "chaotic work": I have three new clients trying to get back into a job: one learned to be a machine maker and one a metalworker. It shows in their immaculate workbenches, and they're having a positive influence on the young lady who has joined at the same time: I'm going to have to up my game...
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