Who does your wrenching?

body2big · Sep 8, 2006

HI all new to this forum. I am doing the majority of my own repairs as well. Buying tools as needed. I got the Park Tool book and its decent. As many of you I do all my own minor repairs and leave the wheels and bigger stuff to the shop. My cranks are starting to creak and I don't have any tools for it so that may be a shop trip.

Shawn

bvibert · Sep 8, 2006

Welcome to the forums Shawn. Am I to assume you are a fellow clydesdale from your avatar?

Greg · May 5, 2009

I guess I do since I've never brought it to the shop. Luckily, I haven't had to do any major repairs yet, but basic maintenance/tune-ups. When the time comes, I'll have Brian or Tim down to my house and get them drunk as they fix my shit.

RootDKJ · May 5, 2009

Free tune-ups from the shop (lifetime). I'll do a basic drivetrain clean & lube every now and then but let the shop do it once a year. I could probabily do more, but I really don't want to be bothered.

bvibert · May 5, 2009

I do all my own work. I've ripped into most parts of the bike, except for a suspension fork, but I will at some point. I really need to get a bike stand, that'll make a lot of things a lot easier to work on...

Grassi21 · May 5, 2009

bvibert said:
I do all my own work. I've ripped into most parts of the bike, except for a suspension fork, but I will at some point. I really need to get a bike stand, that'll make a lot of things a lot easier to work on...

+1 on the bike stand. I am starting to turn my own wrenches but still have a ton to learn. The extent of my wrenching so far is tearing off a set or derailleurs and shifter, removing a cassette, installing a single speed kit and chain tensioner, and cutting/sizing a chain. Because I am super paranoid and will be taking my 21 mo. old out on this bike I am having the mechanic at the LBS look over my work.

bvibert · May 5, 2009

Most of my work is done with the bike either leaning against something or turned upside down. A few times I've rigged a ratchet strap to the roof overhang of my garage to get the end of the bike I was working on up in the air a bit. Like the other day when I was trying to adjust my rear brake until I figured out the rotor had a hug wobble, so it turned into me desperately trying to true the rear rotor. Turns out that I don't know how to true rotors, if anything it's worse now...

Grassi21 · May 5, 2009

bvibert said:
Most of my work is done with the bike either leaning against something or turned upside down. A few times I've rigged a ratchet strap to the roof overhang of my garage to get the end of the bike I was working on up in the air a bit. Like the other day when I was trying to adjust my rear brake until I figured out the rotor had a hug wobble, so it turned into me desperately trying to true the rear rotor. Turns out that I don't know how to true rotors, if anything it's worse now...

I'm tempted to fashion a ghetto stand out of PVC or wood. But as you can guess, the stand would only be useful for the bike it was built for. I have 2 bikes to work on now and am anticipating more as the kid and wife get into the sport more.

Greg · May 5, 2009

bvibert said:
Turns out that I don't know how to true rotors, if anything it's worse now...

The only thing I've ever done is wrap a rag around it and try to bend it by hand. I never used pliers or anything. I've still got some warpage, but I don't worry about it.

bvibert · May 5, 2009

Greg said:
The only thing I've ever done is wrap a rag around it and try to bend it by hand. I never used pliers or anything. I've still got some warpage, but I don't worry about it.

I tried the hand bending method first, that wasn't working for me this time, then I took out an adjustable wrench...

Now I think it wobbles in the other direction as well as the original wobble still being there... :roll: I may try my hand again with two adjustable wrenches, or I may just give up and buy a new one...

Marc · May 5, 2009

bvibert said:
I tried the hand bending method first, that wasn't working for me this time, then I took out an adjustable wrench... Now I think it wobbles in the other direction as well as the original wobble still being there... :roll: I may try my hand again with two adjustable wrenches, or I may just give up and buy a new one...

Using two adjustable wrenches is the only way I've ever had success. Works reasonably well. I just got it so the rub wasn't so bad it was producing enough friction to notice or slow the wheel down appreciably when spun freely. I can stand a little noise... resistance not so much.

bvibert · May 5, 2009

Marc said:
Using two adjustable wrenches is the only way I've ever had success. Works reasonably well. I just got it so the rub wasn't so bad it was producing enough friction to notice or slow the wheel down appreciably when spun freely. I can stand a little noise... resistance not so much.

There's considerable resistance, I too can deal with the noise, but I need my bike to roll as smoothly as possible...

Marc · May 5, 2009

bvibert said:
There's considerable resistance, I too can deal with the noise, but I need my bike to roll as smoothly as possible...

Indeed.

I also used some rags between the rotor and wrenchs so as not to create any little compression marks in the rotor. Probably aren't bending hard enough to do that, but I didn't want to take the chance.

bvibert · May 5, 2009

I think if I use two adjustables I'll have better luck, either that or it's just bent beyond what a mere mortal can fix.

o3jeff · Jun 14, 2009

I think I may have performed the bearing mitigation successfully on the Lefty, will find out this afternoon.
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=212844

bvibert · Jun 14, 2009

Was it as straight forward as it looked in that procedure?

o3jeff · Jun 14, 2009

bvibert said:
Was it as straight forward as it looked in that procedure?

Wasn't too bad, had to go to page 2 of that thread since mine is the DLR2 which I had to remove the lockout, but overall they were good instructions.

big oz · Jun 14, 2009

I do all my own wrenching and wheelbuilding (I actually build all my own wheelsets, and I will often rebuild the OEM wheels the right way after I get a new bike).....I will work on just about anything on a suspension fork/ shock except replacing the bushings or steerer tube (special tools that cost 2 much). For the novice, it is easier and cheaper to send it out..... Three reasons: 1 - front and rear shocks change so rapidly it would cost you more than the repairs to buy the specific tools for any major service. 2 - You have choices other than the OEM manufactuer. There are a lot of good service guys out there that specialize in MTB suspension and do it on the cheap. 3 - If they screw it up, it's on them....you mess up something major, you might be buying a new fork. The biggest issues with home mechanics seems to be in the area of drivetrains, wheel truing/tensioning, and bleeding brakes. After that would be bearing issues (headset, wheels, BB). If you take your time and buy some basic bike tools including a good repair stand you have half the battle won.

o3jeff · Jun 15, 2009

Oz, what do you recomend for a decent repair stand?

bvibert · Jun 15, 2009

o3jeff said:
Oz, what do you recomend for a decent repair stand?

I know you asked Oz, but I've been happy with my Ultimate repair stand:
http://forums.alpinezone.com/55281-repair-stands.html

They get good reviews online too.

Who does your wrenching?

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