Questions tagged [maintenance]
Tools, parts, techniques, and procedures to keep your bike in working order. MAINTENANCE is not the same as REPAIR, a separate tag. Maintenance is what one does on a regular basis. Repair is what one does only when something is broken.
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How to get these lower legs off?
Hi I have a fork from a carrera crossfire 2000, the sticker says mg suntour cr 920. I want to full service and overhaul this fork because the suspension is totally stuck and not working!
There are no ...
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Why do my Urbanbiker Viena electric bike batteries keep failing?
Around late 2019, I bought an Urbanbiker Viena new off Amazon for my daily work commute (around 15km/day at that time, now it’s a bit lower at about 10km/day).
After about 4000km, my (first) battery ...
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Is this a sign for bearing maintenance?
My steerer tube recently experienced the leakage of some red (dirty) stuff at the bottom, whenever after I washed my bike. I guess it was the lubricant for bearings.
Is it a sign for bearing ...
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Stuck SRAM dub crankset
I'm having trouble removing my drive side crank from the spindle I have already taken out the 8mm bolt and undone the preload ring on the non drive side it seems stuck on the end of the spindle. ...
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Shimano 7-speed chain - upgrading for more durability
I have a modest commuter bike with Shimano 3x7-speed Tourney gruppo on and I ride quite a few miles on it. Compared to my 105 11-speed road bike, I noticed that chains don't quite last as long ... on ...
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Want to change Shimano CS-5800 and FC-RS500. What are the newer models?
I have a Scott Speedster Gravel bike equipped with Shimano 105 CS-5800 11 Speed 11-32 T cassette in the rear and Shimano FC-RS500 black / Hyperdrive 50x34 T on the front.
Now both are rather worn out, ...
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Identify missing screw from derailleur mount?
I've just noticed this screw is missing from the derailleur mount on my bicycle. I don't know how long it has been gone, or how it fell out, as I only noticed it when I had remove the rear wheel. It ...
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How to remove threaded crank arm [duplicate]
I'm trying to service my son's bike that was left outside over the winter. I'm not sure what type of cranks and bottom bracket I have.
The crank arms seem to be threaded and the bottom bracket looks ...
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Repair/Replace rim brakes with bottom cable routing
Ok people I need some knowledge around here. I'm working on fixing up my wife's bike. It's a wonderful classic Peugeot women's city bike. Mid 70s steel frame. I've run into the issue of the brakes. ...
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What do I need to change on the rear derailleur to match with the new cassette?
I'm going to the Alps soon and thought that it is a good idea to change my cassette from 11-30 to a 11-32 (with a fresh chain).
I started with replacing the chain, so I used like 3 different 'chain ...
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Diagnosing and fixing a noisy seatpost
I am having problems understanding the source of a noise.
I would describe the noise as a intermittent crack or click that seems to come from where the seatpost encounters the frame. It stops when I ...
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Reusing headset cups on semi-integrated headset
I purchased a used frame that didn't come with the full headset but did come with the alloy cups still installed. They are ZS44/ZS56 tapered setup. Likely Cane Creek 40-series.
The cups appear to be ...
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Are chain breaker pins manufacturer specific?
I broke the second (spare) pin of my Lezyne chain breaker and now need to buy more. There are no pins from Lezyne in the shop but there is a ParkTook breaker of the same basic design and spare pins ...
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What kind of tool do I need to change my bottom bracket?
I want to replace my bottom bracket, but I have no idea what kind of tool to use.
What kind of bottom bracket is this? What tool do I need to change it?
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What are good ways to remove initial cable slack when replacing rear derailleur shift cable housing?
I needed to change the cable and housing of a rear derailleur lately, and what I usually do to help with the initial cable slack is:
Install the housing end caps on the newly cut housing and strike ...
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Fox 34 dust wiper replacement suspension grease or not?
I am working on replacing the dust wipers and foam rings. I’m following this procedure: https://www.ridefox.com/fox17/help.php?m=bike&id=622
My first question is: do I want to use some suspension ...
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Caliper brake lubrication
Good day all, I have a question about caliper brake maintenance.
Occasionally, my caliper brakes remain a little "stuck" closed, in that I have to manually open them/spread them back out in ...
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SRAM Guide R bleed problem
I'm bleeding my SRAM Guide R brakes. When working on the rear brake I noticed that the fluid can go from the lever syringe into the caliper syringe, but not the other way around. I can't move the ...
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Bleeding Promax Decipher Hydraulic Brakes
I have a Promax Decipher Hydraulic Rear Brake on a bike I am trying to repair, but no idea how to bleed the brakes. I have tried to find something out there in internet land but the two videos I found ...
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How maintenance-free can a commuter bike be?
Commuting is hard on bikes, especially when doing it all-year long. Maintenance is essential to assure one can get to work every morning without issues but it takes time and care.
Fixed-gear and ...
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Does the rear gear hub on a 6 speed Brompton needs regular servicing? How do I know when it needs replacing?
I got my Brompton second hand. I believe it was originally manufactured in 2011 and I strongly suspect it's never been properly serviced - most teeth are pretty worn and the chain is sitting on circa ...
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Shimano Nexus 8-speed gear unstable on hills. Struggling to calibrate
I have Shimano Nexus 8-speed internal gears on my bike. They have a subtle problem that has been getting worse over time. Any time the pedals are turning with some resistance on a hill, the gears keep ...
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How to remove the lock lever on a 2020 Suntour NEX suspension fork?
The locking on that fork is no longer working in that in locked position, the fork is as unstiff as when not.
On other models, I've been able to remove that blue lever and tighten things underneath ...
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What size replacement brake pads for the Brompton?
What size brake pads are needed to replace the brake pads on a Brompton bicycle?
The brake pads on my Brompton bicycle are getting thin, and I would like to buy a replacement pair. There is no ...
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V-brakes rubbing on wheel
I have been given a bike which is in good order, except that the brakes are rubbing against the wheel. I have fiddled about with it but I can't adjust it effectively.
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Is there a quick and reliable way to identify hydraulic brake fluid?
I recently saw a Shimano hydraulic disk brake system that was about to be bled with yellow oil in it (Shimano's mineral oil is red). Most likely it was third party mineral oil like Finish Line's ...
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Do we need to repeat the bed-in process for disk brakes after replacing only the pads?
I know that we need to go through the bed-in process when installing a new disk, but what about when changing only the pads?
Technically, the surface of the disk has already been prepared with the ...
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Is there a way to wrap bullhorn handlebars to avoid unwinding both in the center and on the sides?
My handlebar tape keeps looking messy because of an incorrect direction, and I can't find an obvious solution to it. Maybe someone can advise?
The direction of the wrap for handlbar tape should be ...
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Are small, portable medium-pressure washers susceptible to damaging some components when washing a bike (like with high-pressure washers)?
There are now on the market small, portable pressure washers meant for outdoor sports. Those are typically powered by batteries and have a water tank, to be used without a water supply and electricity....
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How to avoid and anticipate breaking handlebars
Recently while commuting my road bike (drop bar) handlebars split in half at the stem while I was riding. I took a spill but was luckily mostly unhurt. However, this was the second time this had ...
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Grinding and resistance from front wheel
So I've been riding my Nishiki Manitoba for a bit over 400 miles. I stopped riding consistently when I started to feel resistance and a rough grinding feeling and noise from the front wheel. I have ...
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How do you clean cycling glasses effectively?
I've been using three-part cycling glasses for a couple of years.
That's a frame, separate plastic insert in front for colour, and a small inset frame in behind for prescription lenses.
What's the ...
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How to remove this Suntour Q-Loc thru axle front wheel? It does not go downwards when axis is removed
I need to remove the wheel to replace the tire. I was surprised that there are no dropouts, so I cannot just pull the wheel out as I did for my rear wheel. The lever can be released, the axis can be ...
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What tool should I be using on this bottom bracket?
Belongs to a fairly basic kids bike. Bought second hand and was able to remove it using almost my fingers alone, with a little assistance from a flat head screwdriver.
After replacing the bearings, ...
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How to tighten chain on Kalkhoff Image 5.B Season
I have a Kalkhoff Image 5.b Season (with coaster brake) which was in need of having its chain replaced. Having moved within the last year I have been using this bike as my main way of getting to work ...
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Shimano BR-M395 hydraulic brake pads keep rubbing
I've replaced the brake pads of my bike, Shimano BR-M395 with some BS03S (there were originally BS01S, but I have been told they are identical), but the new pads just keep on rubbing.
I've even taken ...
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Slipping feeling (too smooth for chain skip) after shifting into the big ring
I have an old bike to get me from the station to work and back at the far end of my commute. It was never up to much, but anything good would be stolen in no time as well as degrading from being ...
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Will all chain wear tools work on any chain regardless of 9/10/11speed etc?
I have gotten a hold of a BBB chain wear tool to check my KMC x10sp chain. It seems to indicate I am at least at 75% wear. The chain checker does not have a serial or model number I can use to get ...
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U.S. source for Alfine 11 oil for oil changes?
Yesterday I changed the oil in my Alfine 11-speed hub. I bought the 50ml bottle of SG-S700 from an eBay seller in Florida, the last one in the site's search results originating from the United States. ...
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Old Bike with presta valve missing the cap and the plunger is gone
I want to get into biking into the local forest preserve, so I want to inflate my Uncle's old bike. The front tire has the core but has likely been missing the cap and the portion that you push in to ...
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Something feels like brake rub but isn't brake rub
I brought my road bike on a flight last week and after I put it back together I immediately noticed it felt slow and muddy. It felt like I had brake rub or a mushy back tire. I'd say it feels about ...
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How should I handle a broken bearing cup on a vintage ten speed?
It is a 1978 Schwinn Traveler 3, original "Normandy" rear hub (reads Schwinn 'Approved' 36-78 Made in France).
The bearing cup has broken into four pieces that fell out. I just stuck them ...
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Three-way hex driver that I can lock to something?
I know this looks like I'm asking for a product recommendation, but if there's an answer it is unambiguous and non-obvious, so I think it fits within the spirit of SE.
I want to chain up a three-way ...
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Is a wound cable too much for the "cable **and** housing cutter"?
This is a sequel to an earlier question.
Park Tool's CN-10 (and similar, such as Pro's Team Cable Cutter, Jagwire's Pro Cable Crimper and Cutter, Pedro's Cable and Housing Cutter, Feedback Sports' ...
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Montague FIT folding bike with “snaking” frame
My 2012 Montague FIT folding bike has started to “snake” especially when riding at speed downhill. I have tightened the frame quick release and inspected and tightened the pivot nut but the snaking ...
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The bicycle has Shimano M7100 chain and Shimano M6100 cassette. Should I buy M7100 cassette instead for replacement?
As per shop specs, this bicycle has Shimano XT M7100 chain (and this is printed on the chain so is true) and Shimano M6100 cassette. But there is M7100 cassette available on the market that even does ...
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Wear-based maintenance/overhaul of air spring suspension fork
Assuming usage as a mountain bike, an air spring suspension fork on a hardtail is to be maintained every 50 hours of riding.
By comparison it's sufficient, and plenty reasonable, to replace a chain ...
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Bike shop did too much work on my bike - do I need to pick it up?
A month ago I bought a 90s Trek road bike for $100 off of Craigslist. It was my size but it had sat outside untouched for over a year so I took it to my local bike shop for a tune-up. I was expecting ...
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Could the spindle of a pedal have just one set of bearings, not two?
Pedals can be cleaned with a solvent and an air compressor without removing the races from the spindle.
How is that possible? It would seem that there must be a second set of bearings—one that's only ...
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How long would a worn cassette take to wear out a new chain?
I changed my chain and I should have done it earlier (it seemed to be such a short time). I was stupid enough to do it at the last possible moment. Now it skips. How long does it take before the chain ...
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