Its been a busy week...
Fixed a puncture.
Got the urge to play on my MTB earlier this week, but I'd put it away in a sulk in December after it suffered some mechanical issues. Particularly the long standing crank allergy to the chain, a stiff bb, free hub issue and needing a new tyre.
See here
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/tight-bb-and-reluctant-freehub.270172/
Decided it couldn't be all that bad and got it out, put it in the conservatory with a fan heater on it for a while and then set to with some GT85, plusgas, a tractor tyre and a bucket of optimism.
Got the freehub running much better after deciding the qr didn't need to be tightened by he-man (look it up kids) and changed the tyre.
Set about the BB with an absence of relevant tools and basically hosed everywhere i could with lube. It was still stiff and rumbly but much better.
Decided to ride to work on it via the hillso, got to owork and found the crank was moving much better, still rumbly but at least the cranks would spin freely.
On my other bikes this week I have found that the cold (under minus 5) is detrimental to my free hubs.
I have two shimano freehubs (m475 type) that have quit in the cold, sticking in freewheel mode. Both brought back to life by pouring some boiling water over the hub or leaning against a radiator. I can only assume they have either got water inside that is icing up or the cold is making the grease too sticky. They both live in dryish, but unheated sheds.
Bought some Noah and Theo ceramic pads a few months ago after a recommendation on here (the shimano resin i had been using for years had started to shed the material - possibly a bad batch). Smashed through them after about 200miles, contacted N&T who have been really helpful. They have suggested my rotors are resin only types and this is chewing up the pads.
Popped to pick my lad up from the inlaws (child care bubble) and got some surprise fettling in as the nephew had somehow rounded out the nut that holds the seat to the seat rails. Found the headset was loose, brakes decorative and wheelbearings worn and loose - is there anything that destroys confidence in bike handling more than a wonky headset?. Did the best with the rest and tried to get the seat post out to work on, after much swearing decided it was only the cold stopping it, so poured some warm water over the frame and out it popped. Turns out the threaded nut part of the clamp is goosed, so decided to add a nut. Of course the bolt is some oddball thread so it will have to wait until I can get a new nut to suit or a new bolt to suit the nut. Nephew wants a new bike for his imminent birthday, so it doesn't have to be pretty. Tried to convince his BIL that some brake-pads may be a wise investment in the interim to ensure the continued existence of his eldest. I might find some especially as the bike is likely to be handed down and we wouldnt want it to be damaged before my lad is big enough to ride it.
Had a beer this evening (i'm a light weight) and decided it would be a good idea to strip off the MTB having borrowed the necessary tool from a colleague.
That self extracting crank idea is neat. Having got the BB bearing out now they both turn pretty easy, the drive side feels dog rough and the whole thing was filthy. Ive cleaned it up a bit and was amazed that the covers for the bearings just fell off in my hands. Both full of black gunk, looked like moly grease and the rougher bearing was fully of rusty sludge. The bearings dont seem to want to come out of the cups. Toyed with the ideal of soaking them in diesel or carb cleaner but then thought that would probably just wash out the remaining grease and remembered that I didnt have any of either.
Cleaned up the bits a bit, shiney rings on the crank spindle - wonder if the spindle has been turning in the seized bearings?
Had a celebratory (successful disassembly) whiskey, then inhibitions suitably lowered went online and bought a new crankset for the MTB along with a new RD, 10MM Hex socket, a collection of brake pads I have 5 different pads over my 3 bikes and a new rotor. Just need to figure out how to assemble this CL - 6Bolt adapter now.
Still need to source a suitable Shimano 10speed shifter.
Anyway should I put copperslip on the BB cup threads?
And what's the point of that wavey washer other than to hold grass and crap?
