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Fettling

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  1. Nelly
    Member

    Drivel thread really, but lightening the mood from politics !

    Its that time of year again - lighter evenings, better weather - when I look at the commuting bike and wonder what minor job I can stretch into an entire afternoons frustration (or fun, depending on viewpoint !).

    Mine yesterday was the brakes - needed new blocks and the cables had done ~5000 miles, no visible wear, but not something you want to 'go' halfway down Ashley Terrace when some zoomer pulls out of a side street.

    So, new (better) brake blocks and new inner cables installed I went out for a test ride and it was 'almost' disc brake-like in their efficiency.

    Now having cold sweat moments thinking about how bad the old ones must have been all winter.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    "new (better) brake blocks and new inner cables"

    Better based on experience of other bikes or other people's experience?

    Type/brand?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  3. Nelly
    Member

    The new ones are Clarks triple compound (old ones were clarks but harder).

    New ones are softer which seems - to me - to give a nicer feel than the last ones.

    May not last as long, but I am treating as an experiment.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  4. chdot
    Admin

    Thanks

    Might try some!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  5. Nelly
    Member

    Will do a "one week in" report next week.

    I am always amazed when my amateur mechanicals work. :-)

    Posted 9 years ago #

  6. Stickman
    Member

    Is replacing the cables difficult? The online guides make it look fairly simple but my experience of actually doing this kind of thing is often rather different.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    Generally no.

    If you have drop bars and the cables are under the tape, that takes time/bother!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  8. Kenny
    Member

    If you have drop bars and the cables are under the tape, that takes time/bother!

    It's not a bother if you installed the cables correctly in the first place, because all you need to do is take the inner out and feed the new inner in, and it'll find its way through the outer without needing to take the bar tape off. I did it myself for the first time in April after reading that this was possible, and was amazed how easy it was.

    But if your outer isn't "installed" properly in the first place, then it is indeed a bother because you need to take the whole thing apart. When putting it back together again, make sure the outer is pushed hard into the STI lever and against the round thingy that the inner goes through, and you should be ok.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    I was meaning for replacing outer too.

    Some people say it's 'false economy' to just do inner.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  10. Kenny
    Member

    Ah right. Aye, if you need to replace the outer too, then you need to take off the bar tape. I don't find it a problem as I've replaced handlebar grip on racquets hundreds of times and it's a remarkably similar process, but does need practice if you've not done that kind of thing before. Also, after a couple of times, the bar tape will tear so you'll need a new one, but you should get away with re-using the same bar tape at least twice unless it's in bad condition.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  11. wee folding bike
    Member

    It wasn't a tough winter and I was on top of things so nothing particularly needs done. My tax dodge Brompton from July '13 did most of the miles as it has the SON generator and the other two working Bromptons don't. It also has Marathon tyres and child pick up arrangements this year meant I chose reliable over slightly faster.

    It's on its third chain and set of sprockets. I replaced the front brake blocks in January and they need done again. The Brompton's own brand tail light broke but I expected that and replaced it with a B&M tail light.

    With ordinary bikes I'm happy to replace the inner cable only. Bromptons seem to suffer from more rust inside them, they come up into the brakes and water gathers in the bottom of the U. The outers also fracture at the bottom bracket because of the folding. I replace the whole thing on Bromptons.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  12. Arellcat
    Moderator

    I had a lazy afternoon today to strip and rebuild the front brake on my Brompton. As weefolding mentioned, the things have a habit of collecting moisture in the U-shaped loop of housing next to the fork, and the caliper's pivots had sort of seized a little bit, so it all wasn't working very well. I cut a new length of housing for the loop, and poured lots of Green Oil into it before running the cable through. It's still quite spongy feeling but I can live with that.

    I checked the chain too. Park CC-3 says it's just on 0.75% elongation so far, which is fine. Although not very good for 1400 miles.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  13. gembo
    Member

    I had another look at the seized chain that has been in bath of oil three weeks. Only six links still seized but think might have to nudge their pins with chain link extractor and put it back in the oil bath. If it hadn't been a new chain I would have given up. The other links are incredibly Slippy.

    Was up on flat roof of my garage with the big ladder. Taking my neighbour's sycamore saplings out of the roof guttering. Pleased with myself until I spotted more at the front of the house. That would involve the big ladder being fully extended and I am too scared.

    Did plant some lambs lettuce, and a bit of coriander. Piled lot of mulch on top of tattie Schaw's sprouting very quickly.mmy earlies are only marginally bigger than my lates. I am at the tipping point this year as the cost of my harvest may be the same as just buying the same amount of potatoes from Scotmid. Assuming no blight. Went for salad blues again this year.

    Did clean my bike after week of WoL path but no actual fettling.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  14. wee folding bike
    Member

    I don't grow veg to save money. It's partly because it's nice to get it straight from the ground but mostly so boys learn where these things come from.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  15. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    With the bottom bracket on my summer bike chased and faced by Cyclops after his successful removal of the five year seized Dura crank and a new bearing set sourced gratis from a kind person in Stirling, I rebuilt the drivechain, regreased the rear wheel bearings and had a ride around the block (avoiding gunmen). I may be suffering the cycling equivalent of a hi-fi buff "listening to the cables" but I think it feels "tighter".

    Posted 9 years ago #

  16. Instography
    Member

    The chain on the Trucker that has been sorely neglected and badly abused all winter decided to explode last Tuesday. As it did, it wrapped itself round the cassette and when it finally stopped, ripped the rear derailleur off. Apart from the three mile walk home (it was a decent evening for it) I don't feel too sore about it. I've done zero maintenance apart from adding more oil to the gunk already on the chain.

    So, I'll take the opportunity to replace the broken bits and strip everything else off, replace the cables, outers, cassette, new wheels, new pedals and give it a good clean and get it back in order. Between that and making some more beer, that's next weekend taken care of.

    And I'm enjoying my Croix de Fer, which had been neglected in its own way.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  17. davey2wheels
    Member

    @Arellcat, from what I've read, around 0.5% should be the time to consider replacing the chain, even Sheldon says it so it must be right :) From this I would take 0.75% as definitely having to replace the chain.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  18. chdot
    Admin

    Got AM out of winter hibernation.

    Replaced 6 spokes (frozen nipples), trued wheels.

    New tyre.

    It just goeees.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  19. Baldcyclist
    Member

    This year so far I've done, a chain, a cassette, bar tape, front gear cable, both sets of brake pads (they need done again), fixed a broken saddle pin, and made a back wheel.

    Next month I'll be doing a frame, handlebars, brake leavers, and gear leavers (taking oportunity with new frame to set up bullhorn handlebars, I'm to fat to use the drops).

    Posted 9 years ago #

  20. wingpig
    Member

    I replaced a bolt on the trailer this afternoon. Might try and remember to note cable replacements on my odometer spreadsheet this year to see how far they go.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  21. DaveC
    Member

    Made a wee tool roll fpr PS. Quite happy with the result. I made a larger one for myself last year so knew what I was doing and what mods I would do this time.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  22. DaveC
    Member

    Oh dear. Click pic for full image.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  23. Instography
    Member

    Ah, well, if that counts as fettling, I made a crate to sit on top of a bike rack. Teak (I think) and brass. Holds eight 500ml beer bottles.

    http://tendigits.wordpress.com/2014/05/10/bike-rack-crate/

    Posted 9 years ago #

  24. gembo
    Member

    Insto, that ticks many boxes, retro, brooks saddle (in the link.), beer, bike racks, fettling. Could also help IWRATS with his Hovis delivery? I may have confused two adverts - I were right about that saddle though and 'Ovis as good today as it's always been. Possibly narrated by same actor?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  25. wee folding bike
    Member

    But not in Yorkshire. It's in Dorset.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  26. DaveC
    Member

    In other news, I have a triple Driveline?? crank (30/42/52) I want to put on my Dawes. I have a Stronglight (28/38/48) on the Dawes right now and want to put that on the Dolan. Then I can remove the 105 (34/52) on the Dolan which is difficule on hills, and perhaps flog it. I just need to get round to tinkering and working out exactly what size BB I need.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  27. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @gembo

    Do try to stay on-message old boy. Insto and I are the same person, remember? I do like that rack though. I've had beer storage issues on the way home from Peckhams on a Friday night. Stylish, but the beer might end up a bit shoogled though?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  28. DaveC
    Member

    'shoogled"

    Love this ^^^

    My 7 year old, has started to say this! 'Give it a shoogle daddy'... :O)

    Posted 9 years ago #

  29. Roibeard
    Member

    Shoogle - verb, the act of using the Force in any Lego Star Wars game.

    At least, it is in our household...

    Robert

    Posted 9 years ago #

  30. kaputnik
    Moderator

    @DaveC have you considered it may be much easier and cheaper to get a longer-reach rear derailleur and fit an MTB-style rear casette with a big sprocket at the bottom end? You'll be able to significantly reduce the gear ratio without the hassle of replacing BB, crankset and front shifter (and possibly also needing to change the derailleur regardless, to provide the reach to take up the extra slack the triple crank will put in the chain)

    Posted 9 years ago #

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