Bike maintenance for dummies.

101 watchers

Northern Exile Jun 2015 6:57pm, 26 Jun 2015 3,844 posts	0 Northern Exile Hmmmm. I wonder if I'm guilty of some colossal stupidity here? The edges of those "broken" teeth are very sharp. Please send me that picture!!
eL Bee! Jun 2015 7:20pm, 26 Jun 2015 19,926 posts	0 eL Bee! I'm sending them to your FB account
JustDistracted (JD) Jul 2015 2:22pm, 2 Jul 2015 1,645 posts	0 JustDistracted (JD) Campagnolo alert! Just changed chain with a buddy using a standard chain tool. Boy was it a faff! Have looked on wiggle for the proper tool and it £80-odd on wiggle. For something I might use once a year (now i know how!) Any massive pitfalls in using a standard tool, apart from it being fiddly?
jacdaw Jul 2015 5:49pm, 2 Jul 2015 1,407 posts	0 jacdaw What bit was fiddly? Did you use a powerlink type link to join the chain? I have Campag on my road bike and just a basic chain tool; never had any problems. I use the KMC link thing to rejoin the chain. Am I missing something (or have I been doing it wrong)?
JustDistracted (JD) Jul 2015 5:59pm, 2 Jul 2015 1,646 posts	0 JustDistracted (JD) The chain came with a hollow link and a pin thiny to guide it in. That was less than a milimeter the wrong size for the tool so kept going slightly wonky pushing it back in... What's a KMC Link thing? do you mean I can use this instead of the campag linky hollow pin thing? wiggle.co.uk
jacdaw Jul 2015 6:14pm, 2 Jul 2015 1,408 posts	0 jacdaw That's what I use. Think there is an 11 speed version too, if you have 11-speed, obviously. I like to have a couple with me whenever I go out, and a simple chain breaking tool, so I can make some sort of repair to a badly mangled chain as quickly as possible. As far as I remember the bike came with one fitted. I'm sure somebody more knowledgeable will come along in a moment and explain in detail...
Stepford Wife Jul 2015 6:22pm, 2 Jul 2015 18,438 posts	0 Stepford Wife They are much easier and actually stronger than pissing about with pins. And despite what They Say, cross compatibility is fine.
JustDistracted (JD) Jul 2015 7:12pm, 2 Jul 2015 1,647 posts	0 JustDistracted (JD) Great, thanks chaps, that saves money and bother!
MudMeanderer Jul 2015 9:35pm, 7 Jul 2015 1,541 posts	0 MudMeanderer Has anyone got any ideas for getting an isis/square taper bb off? The non drive side cup came off easily, but the drive side doesn't want to budge. The tool sits in the splines but they're so shallow it's just slipping out and damaging the splines without shifting the cup. As best as possible I've tried full body weight but it doesn't seem to want to budge. Any ideas?
Dvorak Jul 2015 11:54am, 10 Jul 2015 10,483 posts	0 Dvorak When centring the seat after adjusting the seat post, do you do it by eye, or do you use some kind of device (however basic)? My post also has cm markings on it and arrows, though the arrows are slightly off centre. However, it does seem that the point of the arrow is just at the clamp when I think the saddle is centred. Is that an actual guide or just an unintended feature? I'd moved my saddle up slightly, but I was feeling in a hip I was just stretching a little to the pedal, so I have moved it 0.5 cm down (which equates to around 0.7% of inseam). Is this kind of microadjustment what proper cyclists do when fitting a bike?