What Have You Fettled Today?

[Psycolist]

Got my off roader up on the stand to give a once over with an oily rag. No issues found, didn't even need any brake adjustment. Couple of nips to a couple of spokes and job done. Made me think about getting my winter wheels out though, so took them out of their bag and fitted tyres and tubes ready for a switch over when the bad weather kicks in properly.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Still considering chainrings etc. for Trek Marlin, new shifters for the 7200.

 

[Illaveago]

Started putting my Holdsworth back together, sprayed the rear chain stays silver the other day and cleaned the frame with some Tcut. I removed the bottom bracket as it felt notchy,gave the axle a clean and it is fine so I'll put it back with some new bearings today.Gave the Brooks leather saddle some leather treatment, it used to be black it has faded over the years and is now brown. Cleaned the Campag rear mech, one of the idlers is stiff so i'll give that a clean and grease today.

 

[Sbudge]

Re-indexed the di2 as the bone-shaker surface on my canal ride seems to have nudged things a bit.

 

[Psycolist]

Odd reason for a fettle tonight. Bought some new shoes last tuesday. Shoes I wear to work, Shoes I wear while cycling to work. Well, they must be a bit wider than my old shoes, because every time the crank arm circles past the sole of my new shoes, it rubs and squeaks. They rub and squeak to such an extent that I sound like a demented mouse going down the High Street. .......So, tonights fettle, change my peddles for a wider pair, so no more squeaking in the morning

 

[si_c]

Odd reason for a fettle tonight. Bought some new shoes last tuesday. Shoes I wear to work, Shoes I wear while cycling to work. Well, they must be a bit wider than my old shoes, because every time the crank arm circles past the sole of my new shoes, it rubs and squeaks. They rub and squeak to such an extent that I sound like a demented mouse going down the High Street. .......So, tonights fettle, change my peddles for a wider pair, so no more squeaking in the morning

I had that a month or two back, took me ages to work out what that really annoying squeak was.

 

[Jenkins]

A very busy day of fettling today.

Collected my sister's bike and fitted new disk brake pads front & rear
Completed my first ever bottom bracket replacement on my Planet X and replaced the chain as well.
Full clean of all five of my other bikes including wheels and lubing of chain

I didn't realise that replacing the BB (SRAM GXP) was as easy as it turned out to be until I looked at the videos on Youtube, so the purchase of a Park BBT-9 has saved me some money in the long run as I have 3 bikes running SRAM and 1 with Shimano that appears to use the same fittings. Unfortunately the other 2 run Shimano Octalink style which look more complicated and more tools required.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Tried another crank on the Trek Marlin, still not overjoyed. Probably go back to original replacement crank, and just change the big ring. Or I may change to a new FD, as the old one is pretty knackered.

 

[robjh]

The freehub started making loud metallic clangs this week, so I swapped it for a nearly-new one I had sitting round on a spare wheel in the garage. It fitted fine onto the wheel, though I noticed that the inside was just slightly different from the old one, with the bearings sitting a little further back. I fitted it without a problem, then put it back on the bike and spent the next hour wondering why I couldn't get the locknut tension correct, or the freehub kept sticking and sucking up the chain.
Then it dawned on me -doh! - that when changing over the freehub I needed to change the cone as well, as different-shaped the cups and cones come as pairs. That done, all is now well.
Another mistake I won't make again.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Readjusted the old FD on the Marlin, and repositioned the same. All is well. Couldn't test ride very far, as root canal tooth from 2 weeks ago got removed today. Win some, lose some. Tomorrow is another day. Unfortunately, I have not stored up numerous fettling projects for the winter. Maybe do some wheel building, or create some alcohol stoves for camping.

 

[PeteXXX]

Plenty of post ride fettling in the sunshine yesterday.
General lubing and sprucing up of the bikes including a pre-winter tyre change (including the removal of several thorns and puncture repairs) on the Full Susser. Off with the Michelins and on with the Muddy Marys.

 

[Psycolist]

The freehub started making loud metallic clangs this week, so I swapped it for a nearly-new one I had sitting round on a spare wheel in the garage. It fitted fine onto the wheel, though I noticed that the inside was just slightly different from the old one, with the bearings sitting a little further back. I fitted it without a problem, then put it back on the bike and spent the next hour wondering why I couldn't get the locknut tension correct, or the freehub kept sticking and sucking up the chain.
Then it dawned on me -doh! - that when changing over the freehub I needed to change the cone as well, as different-shaped the cups and cones come as pairs. That done, all is now well.
Another mistake I won't make again.

Very wise parent once said " There is no such thing as an error that hasn't been made before, its just that we have, so far, yet to make those errors ourselves" A forum like this is great for sharing that type of experience, even if your post only stops one other person making that same mistake, it makes it worthwhile.
Maybe a new thread could be created to document this type ' problem solving ' ?

 

[13 rider]

Just spent the last two and a half hours fitting crud road racer mudguards to my giant defy so I can still ride it in the rain without it melting that quickly .At no time was there any swearing or cursing .OK there was lots of swearing and cursing God that was a fiddly job but all done and everything seems to be ok .Thought the rear would be the hardest so did that first and not to bad but the front proved more difficult due to the shape of the forks (not circular) and had to keep adjusting position to get clearance .Will test ride tomorrow I am quite impressed with them up to now and amazed I actually managed to fit then myself I not know for my mechanical skills

 

[mangid]

Fixed some Portland Design Works full metal fenders to my fixie. Took ages, the mounting brackes for quick release axles needed to be drilled for the 9mm axles, got thru many drill bits, and the holes are interesting shapes, but they do at least go on. The rear mudguard needed to be bodged a little, removed the seat post mount, and drilled a couple of holes for attaching to the 2 bridges. Final job looks good, IMHO ;-)

 

[Colin_P]

I finally carried out an upgrade I've been thinking about for a long time on my old Hybrid.

Such is the age of the bike it previously had a 7 speed freewheel on it. It was on its second wheelset due to the brakes wearing the rim down to the wear markers. The current wheel wore very quickly and the bearings, despite my best efforts to maintain them, were making a right old racket. I also have a habit of snapping axles, the freewheel design isn't too good at lasting when 18 stone is taking the bike over terrain a mountain bike would be better suited to.

So today it was done.

Bought a cassette type rear wheel and a lovely megarange 12-32 cassette where previously it had a 12-28 freewheel. A nice easy job if you have the tools. I was a bit worried about the index but got round it by omitting the top gear which I hardly ever use anyway. I adjusted the small cog stop screw accordingly, then re-set the top gear 'base' cable position and then wound the big cog stop screw out a tad. Effectively I've moved the derailleur swing in towards the spokes a bit, in fact by one cog width.

Everything indexes and changes gear perfectly, very pleased as I was a bit worried if it would work. I've yet to try it properly but had a very short spin just up and down the road to test it under load, the 32 tooth cog is going to be a lovely lovely thing to use on them there hills! Offroad hills mainly on farm tracks and paths.

Also changed the brake blocks yet again! I seem to go though these like hot cakes!