First go at servicing cup and cone wheel bearing on the commutes rear wheel which has been making some horrid noise . Surprised how relative simply it was after watching a you tube video I felt like an expert right up to the point I dropped a ball bearing on the sawdust covered floor !!!!. No you tube videos on how to find a ball bearing that's been dropped . After grovelling on my knees I found it all back together and running quiet
What Have You Fettled Today?
- Thread starter threebikesmcginty
- Start date
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Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
A magnet can help. Guess how I know this..
I learnt that trick servicing a cup and cone hub on the lawn. Placing a big bowl underneath can save many hours of annoyance.
Yes that's how I found it but was keeping the info as a trade secret
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
Punkawallah
Über Member
Big dust sheet on the floor for me :-)
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
For bike maintenance specifically, or do you generally need one to catch food, appendages et c?
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
I’ve replaced the inner gear cable on my front bar end shifter. It had become difficult to get the big ring and the cable has frayed near derailleur bolt. I discovered that the part highlighted in the image wasn’t orientated correctly. Explains why lever didn’t have full throw for big ring. So re assembled and greased the moving parts. The lever movement is now so light and easy and smooth. Got to love bar ends, dual control can’t touch the smoothness when they are adjusted correctly.
Set off on test ride and oddly found my rear gears weren’t shifting. Seems the cable had decided to choose this moment to slip in derailleur bolt. Pulled it hand tight and tightened up bolt. That was it, as I run friction rear as well no fiddling to get indexing right.
Then continued test ride checking every gear combination. Jobs a good one.
Set off on test ride and oddly found my rear gears weren’t shifting. Seems the cable had decided to choose this moment to slip in derailleur bolt. Pulled it hand tight and tightened up bolt. That was it, as I run friction rear as well no fiddling to get indexing right.
Then continued test ride checking every gear combination. Jobs a good one.
Last edited:
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
Mmmmm, I use a plastic tray whenever disassembling anything. 
Have a stash of them in the garage - things like re-purposed mushroom punnets and those large trays from pork steaks.
Have a stash of them in the garage - things like re-purposed mushroom punnets and those large trays from pork steaks.
Punkawallah
Über Member
Why, yes! How did you know?
Yes I was doing in properly over an old tea tray but dropped the bearing as I picked it up to put in back in and being a ball bearing it bounced and rolled !!!Mmmmm, I use a plastic tray whenever disassembling anything.
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Laying out your work area and being ready for things to drop is key. My favourite is walking round bike and kicking something I’d laid neatly on the ground.
I think people get scared off by bearings but they really are simple in terms of parts and how you adjust them. Ball bearings are also cheap to buy so you can just put new ones in when servicing.
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
- Location
- The TerrorVortex
Old paint
New powdercoat
And stickers
It's my old 531ST frame, been powdercoated by Maldon, and being rebuilt over the summer.
New powdercoat
And stickers
It's my old 531ST frame, been powdercoated by Maldon, and being rebuilt over the summer.
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
Ooooooooo...
I'll admit to a certain amount of frame envy there; that's pretty much exactly what I'm looking for.
