CharleyFarley
Senior Member
- Location
- Japan
My six-years old Specialized fat bike needed a new BB so after much deliberating I took it to a bike shop and had a PF30 adapter screwed in. I didn't have the tools to remove the old bearings, myself. I removed the crankset and chain to save them some time and effort, and stripped the bike of all the accessories. Today, I got the bike back.
Now to put everything back together. Started with the crankset and chain, then found no matter how I adjusted the front derailleur, I couldn't get it right. It's a 104º (40C) out there and my fan was blowing hot air at me. I'd heard that getting the spacers right could be a bit of a job, but it seemed like I'd need to move the chain ring closer to the frame. So pulled the chain off, and removed the crankset and adjusted spacers to bring it a bit closer. Put it all back together.
Aaaahhh! Now the chain won't even go onto the smaller chain ring! Must have needed more spacer, not less. So strip it all down again and realized I'd best look down through the derailleur see the small chain ring and to gauge how much spacer would be needed. Got it right, this time, but can't use the preloader because I had one very wide spacer for the non-drive side. Also didn't have enough 1mm spacers to use with the preloader. So rigged up a temporary spacer and no preloader. Ordered more spacers.
I really like the new BB adapter because I can change the bearings when necessary without buying expensive tools to use one time.
I love learning new things, and today I learned more about spacers, and that I would have probably been better off If I'd left the whole thing to the bike shop. I don't mind struggling with things I've not done before, but not when it's 104º.
Now to put everything back together. Started with the crankset and chain, then found no matter how I adjusted the front derailleur, I couldn't get it right. It's a 104º (40C) out there and my fan was blowing hot air at me. I'd heard that getting the spacers right could be a bit of a job, but it seemed like I'd need to move the chain ring closer to the frame. So pulled the chain off, and removed the crankset and adjusted spacers to bring it a bit closer. Put it all back together.
Aaaahhh! Now the chain won't even go onto the smaller chain ring! Must have needed more spacer, not less. So strip it all down again and realized I'd best look down through the derailleur see the small chain ring and to gauge how much spacer would be needed. Got it right, this time, but can't use the preloader because I had one very wide spacer for the non-drive side. Also didn't have enough 1mm spacers to use with the preloader. So rigged up a temporary spacer and no preloader. Ordered more spacers.
I really like the new BB adapter because I can change the bearings when necessary without buying expensive tools to use one time.
I love learning new things, and today I learned more about spacers, and that I would have probably been better off If I'd left the whole thing to the bike shop. I don't mind struggling with things I've not done before, but not when it's 104º.
