Search found 63 matches

by cromo
21 Nov 2022, 8:25am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Strong Rear Hub
Replies: 59
Views: 2972

Re: Strong Rear Hub

Looking at the pictures now posted, could corrosion also be playing a part here?
by cromo
15 Nov 2022, 9:10am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Servicing Tektro RX-5 Mini Vees
Replies: 14
Views: 792

Re: Servicing Tektro RX-6 Mini Vees

I am not familiar with your exact brake but many Shimano brakes have a washer that sits under the M6 brake to boss bolt that can be prised off with a screwdriver. Avid brakes are similar but the end washer is top hat shaped and is best punched off from behind with a suitable drift.
Once dismantled the bushings can be cleaned.
Assembly is the reverse of dismantling. The act of attaching the brake to the brake boss and tightening the M6 fixing bolt will ease the washer / top hat into place.
Hope this helps.
by cromo
13 Mar 2022, 8:44am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: wheel bearing adjustment
Replies: 16
Views: 938

Re: wheel bearing adjustment

Re play in the rear hub bearings being intermittent as the wheel is rotated, I had that problem once and found that loosening the freehub and rotating it by a third or half a turn before retightening cured the problem.
This assumes you have a freehub and not a freewheel of course.
by cromo
8 Aug 2021, 10:49am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Cassette lockring coming loose
Replies: 10
Views: 939

Re: Cassette lockring coming loose

I use 9 speed cassettes on my bikes and did have a problem with a SRAM cassette becoming loose. It had been tightened to the correct torque. I assumed it was the spacers compressing. I replaced the SRAM cassette as I was not happy with the ratios so I don't know if applying the correct torque again would have solved the problem from recurring.
I have not had the same problem with Shimano cassettes.
by cromo
12 Jul 2021, 4:04am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: exal LX17 rims
Replies: 8
Views: 629

Re: exal LX17 rims

You could try putting a spoke fitted with a nipple into a spoke hole at the top of the rim and let it dangle downwards. Try moving the spoke to the left and right and see if there is any difference in the possible angle of deflection. Hopefully you will find that alternate spoke holes will allow a greater deflection to the left and the others to the right.
I found this worked for me when faced with a rim with questionable offset spoke holes.
by cromo
5 Sep 2020, 3:11pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Seatpost slip.
Replies: 34
Views: 2030

Re: Seat pin slippage

I had the same problem and found it very annoying! I did not want to use excessive force on the seatpost bolt. So, I purchased a seatpost clamp (30.0 mm) and a seatpost shim (27.2 to 30.0mm) and cut the shim to fit inside the seatclamp. This extra clamp was then tightened around my existing seatpost so that it was in contact with the top of the bike seat tube. Problem solved!
by cromo
4 May 2020, 3:25pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Deore XT T780 hubs
Replies: 22
Views: 1049

Re: Deore XT T780 hubs

As mentioned, the non removable oil seal on these freehubs makes lubrication difficult. I used a piece of earth sleeving (the yellow / green stuff) pushed over the end of a old Wesco oil can. Inserting the flexible earth sleeving between the freehub body and the oil seal and giving the oil can a few squirts quickly injected oil where it was needed.
by cromo
25 Apr 2020, 11:59am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: how to tell a galvanised spoke from stainless
Replies: 157
Views: 6620

Re: how to tell a galvanised spoke from stainless

Thanks to Alexnharvey for taking those measurements!
It appears that it is possible to quickly tell a galvanised spoke from a stainless steel one if you have a meter that measures millivolts.
by cromo
24 Apr 2020, 9:09am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: how to tell a galvanised spoke from stainless
Replies: 157
Views: 6620

Re: how to tell a galvanised spoke from stainless

Assuming that stainless with stainless would give a very small reading of a few millivolts or zero, then the result of 0.73V of stainless with plated would seem to indicate that the method has some merit.
The comparison of plated to abraded is possibly less conclusive. I imagine when abrading a plated object it is difficult to remove all the coating. Small traces of zinc could affect the voltage measured.
This is after all a simple cell producing a voltage when two dissimilar metals are placed in an electrolyte. Maybe stainless with stainless and plated with plated could be measured to act as controls and that would confirm or refute the validity of the experiment.
by cromo
23 Apr 2020, 10:27am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: how to tell a galvanised spoke from stainless
Replies: 157
Views: 6620

Re: how to tell a galvanised spoke from stainless

I for one would be interested to see the results!
by cromo
23 Apr 2020, 10:18am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: how to tell a galvanised spoke from stainless
Replies: 157
Views: 6620

Re: how to tell a galvanised spoke from stainless

I know a lot has been written about this topic but here is a another possible way of telling if a spoke is galvanised or not. You do however need a multimeter set to read millivolts. The advantage is that the results are instant, you do not need to wait to see if rusting occurs.

Basically you set up two electrodes into some salty water and measure the voltage between them. If you use two stainless steel spokes as electrodes then the voltage will be very small or nil. If you use a galvanised spoke and a stainless steel spoke as electrodes then the voltage should be significantly different to that measured above.

Alternatively, a galvanised spoke, used in the above set up, would be expected to give different readings when used intact and then used with the zinc coating removed by abrasion. A stainless steel spoke will presumably show little difference if used intact and then abraded.

N.B. I do not have a millivoltmeter, so I cannot test the above. It is all hypothetical. I think it should work! Probably best to degrease the spokes before taking any measurements.
by cromo
4 Sep 2019, 4:14pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Loose seatpost - Spa Aubisque frameset
Replies: 67
Views: 5165

Re: Loose seatpost - Spa Aubisque frameset

To solve slipping seatposts I have used an extra seatpost clamp fitted around the seatpost. The extra seatpost clamp is fitted with a shim to make it the correct diameter so that it clamps securely. I used a seatpost shim of an appropriate thickness cut to the correct length.
This does work! SJS cycles is a good source for parts.
by cromo
1 Apr 2019, 9:59am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Bar end friction shifters
Replies: 44
Views: 6257

Re: Bar end friction shifters

I use Dia-Compe friction BE shifters on a 9 speed bike. It does take time to become familiar with them. As for operating them, I agree with Brucey, I hold my hand around the handlebar and use the third and fourth finger or the palm to pull or push on the levers. This allows a more controlled movement.
They are relatively inexpensive compared to some types of shifter and it is quite satisfying be able to shift quietly with friction shifters. Sometimes you will get a bad shift which can be annoying and it usually happens on a gradient when you don't want to lose speed, so you learn to shift early!
I can appreciate that some people will hate them, but they do allow you freedom when it comes to choosing 7, 8 or 9 speed components.
by cromo
10 Sep 2018, 1:10pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: shimano 105 5600 cones
Replies: 13
Views: 1270

Re: shimano 105 5600 cones

If there is play in the freehub then it may be worth dismantling it and removing shims to eliminate play.
by cromo
10 Sep 2018, 12:16pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: shimano 105 5600 cones
Replies: 13
Views: 1270

Re: shimano 105 5600 cones

Have a look at
http://si.shimano.com/pdfs/ev/EV-FH-5600-2458C.pdf
I think it answers your question about freehubs.