What Have You Fettled Today?

[ColinJ]

I'll try the sugar trick first because sugar is a lot cheaper than butter!

 

[Reynard]

The sugar turns the washing up liquid into a more serious paste like substance that scrubs the dirt off very efficiently in my experience.

Superb tip by @Reynard.

Yep, turns it into a DIY version of Swarfega.

I can't take the credit though, I'm sure I've seen someone else on CC mention it before...

 

[Reynard]

I'll try the sugar trick first because sugar is a lot cheaper than butter!

Bang on!

 

[raleighnut]

I highly recommend rubbing butter on to the oil/grease (fat lifts the oil/grease) then use washing up liquid to get rid of the butter. Works like a treat. Was told it as a 'trick of the trade' by a car mechanic way back in my youth and I've stuck with it ever since.

TBH any oil works, cheap cooking oil will do it although if working on a Campagnolo equipped bike you must use 'Extra Virgin' Olive Oil.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I'm going to try butter and sugar

 

[ColinJ]

I put the 3rd chainring on just now!

I didn't get mucky this time because everything I put on yesterday is clean, apart from the new chain which just has the 'clean' factory grease on it. (BTW - I work on the assumption that new chains don't need lubing for some time - they seem to work well without. Any thoughts? Is that grease just for rust prevention before use, or is it intended to actually lube the chain?)

 

[C R]

I'm going to try butter and sugar

On your toast or on your mucked up hands?

 

[Roadhump]

I put the 3rd chainring on just now!

I didn't get mucky this time because everything I put on yesterday is clean, apart from the new chain which just has the 'clean' factory grease on it. (BTW - I work on the assumption that new chains don't need lubing for some time - they seem to work well without. Any thoughts? Is that grease just for rust prevention before use, or is it intended to actually lube the chain?)

That is a very good question, which has occurred to me as well. I usually don't lube a new chain until I have done about 100 miles on it. I try to clean and lube them after about 100 miles each anyway.

 

[the stupid one]

Degreased and cleaned the brakes on the Raleigh Mustang - new blocks are in the post - and gave the rest of it a clean too.

Took the grimy bartape off the mongrel bike's butterfly bars and replaced with foam rubber tubing. Looks good new, we'll see soon enough how hardwearing it is.

 

[ColinJ]

On your toast or on your mucked up hands?

I was thinking that you'd have to get the oil/butter/sugar ready before fettling started, otherwise you'd make a right mess of the bottle/pack/bag when you picked it up with those filthy hands!

 

[Reynard]

I'm going to try butter and sugar

At that rate, you may as well add some eggs and flour and bake a cake!

 

[Alan O]

I put the 3rd chainring on just now!

I didn't get mucky this time because everything I put on yesterday is clean, apart from the new chain which just has the 'clean' factory grease on it. (BTW - I work on the assumption that new chains don't need lubing for some time - they seem to work well without. Any thoughts? Is that grease just for rust prevention before use, or is it intended to actually lube the chain?)

It's usually good lube.

 

[Jenkins]

Six of my eight bikes have been given a quick wipe down clean and a full chain mickling as they've mostly had dry running recently. Tomorrow the remaining two will be given a more thorough clean and chain mickling.

Did the remaining two bikes this morning as they needed proper wheels off cleaning - or at least they would have done if the thru-axle on the Voodoo had gone 'thru' properly! For some reason it was stuck in the locating holes and needed some persuasion to release, but it came out eventually and Ill have another look at it tomorrow. The Van Nicholas commuter also needed a mudguard mounting clip replacing which entailed removing the rear brakes.

Once cleaned, I tried out the hangar alignment tool that was delivered last week. The Voodoo was fine, but the Van Nicholas was quite a bit out - I've been having trouble with the gears, but thought it was a well worn chain & cassette that will need replacing soon. Having used the hangar tool, the Van Nicholas now shifts perfecctly on the stand at least. If I have time over the next few days, the other bikes will be checked.,

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Today I discovered that there is a shortage of grease in the USA.

10 week old Trek Domane started doing a decent impression of a mouse squeak from the headset area on Sunday.

Pulled it apart this afternoon and lo-and-behold there was a grease deficit on both bearings - everything has been put back together with oodles of grease and Mus Musculus's irritating little voice has gone.

I blame Trump...

 

[ColinJ]

I tested my newly-fettled transmission this evening and am gobsmacked how much difference it has made. My best bike had been starting to resemble something rescued from a skip but now it looks and feels like a best bike again!

The funny ticking and clicking noises from the transmission have gone. The gear shifting at the back is precise and snappy again - no more trying to tease the chain into place by overshifting and then going back the other way. At the front, I can get the chain on and off the middle ring properly again. I had been struggling to go down to the little ring and would have to overshift to get it up to the big ring. The chain just does as it is told now.

I could swear that the bike actually feels easier to pedal now too. I realise that it is probably some kind of placebo effect - I expect it to work better, so it feels like it does - but that doesn't bother me.

I have written reminders in my diary to remind me to check the chain for wear regularly this time so I can replace it before it wears out and wrecks the rings and cassette. When the bike is working properly I feel more inclined to keep it clean too.

PS Here is a picture of the fettled bike, post test ride ...

(Yes, I know the tyres don't match - I am wearing out the red one then reverting to black!)