Search found 524 matches

by AndyA
4 Jul 2022, 10:38pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Frame crack on folding bike
Replies: 15
Views: 1449

Re: Frame crack on folding bike

Looks like there's a crack on the left seatstay/seat tube junction as well. It needs repaired or retired now

You could get someone to TIG or MIG weld the cracks, then file or ream away any burn-through on the inside of the seat tube.
For belt and braces, file down the weld then braze a patch cut from a tube offcut over the top (EDIT this repair has the best chance of outlasting the rest of the frame)

These frames (and a great many others for what it's worth) use a seat tube that's just a touch too light gauge
by AndyA
1 Apr 2022, 7:12pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Sachs 3 by 8, does a 10 fit on an 8.
Replies: 4
Views: 421

Re: Sachs 3 by 8, does a 10 fit on an 8.

Same freehub for 8,9,10 speed Shimano cassettes. 11x MTB also fits this freehub, 11x road needs a wider freehub
by AndyA
14 Feb 2022, 9:54pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Spyre set up : can I do this?
Replies: 28
Views: 1768

Re: Spyre set up : can I do this?

I've used Spyres and Ergos on my tourer since 2012. They are more spongy than the correct NSSLR lever, but using compressionless outer I get 3-400 touring miles before adjustment. Quite important to get your cable runs smooth as it doesn't bend as well as normal outer.

You're using the wrong shape of disc for the pad, the braking track on the rotor is shallower than the pad and you'll get premature wear to the spokes of the rotor. Shimano SM-RT26, Campagnolo and a few others are the correct depth for your pads. Spyres and HY/RD often came oem with rotors with this mismatch, infuriating and a wee bit dangerous.

I'm not sure if your modified clamp is safe or not, I think it depends how the bend is set on the cable. If it's not set well it will fatigue with every application of the brake, or if the cable is rubbing on the caliper, then the cable isn't going to last long
by AndyA
23 Jan 2022, 7:37pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Disc brake caliper - advice/warning!
Replies: 19
Views: 2456

Re: Disc brake caliper - advice/warning!

These really are a bit of a pain in the neck. I've ground a screwdriver that's a very good fit in the slot which definitely helps. In the bikeshop I'll try this screwdriver, followed by cutting the pin as far to the inside as possible (with a set of knipex mini bolt croppers) to remove the pads and getting a set of molegrips on the pin. Try turning the pin with the molegrips and the screwdriver simultaneously, both clockwise and anticlockwise. If that doesn't work it's bin time, new caliper and bleed. You're unlikely to drill out the screw without going squint and damaging the caliper (unless you remove the caliper, get it in a drill press or mill, but by that point it's uneconomical and the caliper is still corroded and worse for wear)
A more economic (and often more available) replacement than Ultegra is Shimano BR-U300
by AndyA
5 Dec 2021, 12:42pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Unusual (to me) bottom bracket axle removal.
Replies: 8
Views: 598

Re: Unusual (to me) bottom bracket axle removal.

The first Campagnolo Super Record titanium axles had a female thread, these were weak and prone to failure as Mr Fignon found to his cost!
They changed the design to male thread and a nut, before doing away with titanium axles altogether until the relaunch of Super Record 11 speed
by AndyA
5 Dec 2021, 12:31pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Home spraying - masking head tube
Replies: 19
Views: 1537

Re: Home spraying - masking head tube

David9694 wrote: 4 Dec 2021, 9:39am That’s really good, Andy. So if I’ve got the shoreline references right, having painted the lug area and let it get well truly dry, you’re wrapping the lugs with the tape as simply and cleanly as you can, I’m guessing then tracing the line of the lug and pressing with a finger the overhanging tape down part-way and then allowing the blade to follow the edge of the lug to give a nice clean line?

As regards the vertical edge of the lug, I’m happy for that to receive the main colour, so long as I achieve a clean edge.
That's right! I can only really do this sort of stuff when I've had a good nights sleep and no coffee, that goes double for luglining. I reckon the best thing for luglining is a needle type car touch-up pen, like this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384381450770 ... 2536026750
Humbrol works fine, especially if you thin it with 5-20% white spirit. The £££ option is One-Shot signwriters enamel, their "Metallic Brass" is great
Flam Lavender Flying Scot HT.jpg
by AndyA
28 Nov 2021, 6:41pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Home spraying - masking head tube
Replies: 19
Views: 1537

Re: Home spraying - masking head tube

I use yellow frog tape, pressed down into the shoreline of the lug with a fingernail or piece of plastic, cut with a fresh 10A scalpel. Avoid overlapping the tape too much, it's hard to cut an accurate line through two layers of tape. It helps if the tape goes down as flat and non-wrinkled as possible, sometimes I'll cut lines on the non-lug side of the tape to allow it to better conform to the contours. It's best to cut the tape at the shoreline, especially if luglining afterwards. You might need/want to mask to the lug edge rather than the shoreline if you're not luglining, it's possible but harder.
Masking.jpg
This was done with yellow frog tape and a scalpel
by AndyA
15 Nov 2021, 5:58pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: spray grease - what would you use this for?
Replies: 19
Views: 1088

Re: spray grease - what would you use this for?

I use Carlube 100+ spray semi-fluid grease, it's probably very similar to this. It's very good at reviving sticky shifters, mechs etc. You probably could use it for freehubs, especially if you were to spray it into a lid or something and let the propellant evaporate off first. I've got some Land Rover swivel grease that I use for freehubs (and hubs in general if the sealing is decent)
by AndyA
26 Aug 2021, 1:02am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Where can I buy a thick rear sprocket?
Replies: 13
Views: 863

Re: Where can I buy a thick rear sprocket?

Half link chains wear very quickly with road/street use and will eat your chainrings/sprockets. The only advantage is for doing grinds, unless that's part of your normal riding I'd fit a good quality standard chain.
I think your current sprocket is 3/32" wide, and you're after an 1/8" wide sprocket if I understand your post correctly. Loads of shops sell 1/8" Shimano splined sprockets, if you're in Edinburgh I've got a drawer full of the Sturmey ones Alexnharvey linked to
531 Colin is right, chuck your half-link chain, fit a 3/32" singlespeed chain (KMC Z1 or Z1eHX are good) and this will run with minimal slop on your existing sprockets, unless you've changed your front chainring to a 1/8" chainring. If you've got a 1/8" chainring, fit an 1/8" sprocket. But whatever you do, don't bother with the half-link chain

Swiss army bikes come with 3/16" rear sprockets, now that is proper thick!
Swiss Army Sprocket.jpg
by AndyA
26 Aug 2021, 12:36am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Shimmy help
Replies: 25
Views: 978

Re: Shimmy help

I bet if you relocated the battery somewhere low and central the shimmy would move above 25mph. Another bet that I'd be willing to take is that the wheels don't line up perfectly
by AndyA
26 Aug 2021, 12:29am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Does anywhere sell custom made allen keys?
Replies: 21
Views: 1194

Re: Does anywhere sell custom made allen keys?

Mushroom head screws are never a good idea with allen heads. The smaller size hex on mushroom bolts is almost guaranteed to round out if there is any corrosion, threadlock etc. Cap screws for allen are fine. Safety critical screws like rotor or stem bolts that need to be properly tight, should be torx if they're mushroom head and only allen if they're cap head
by AndyA
21 Aug 2021, 11:52pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycle Routes in Fife?
Replies: 6
Views: 596

Re: Cycle Routes in Fife?

Light tourer will be fine on either route, the only issue you might have is further north in Tentsmuir forest, the track through the forest is mostly fine on 28 or 32mm tyres but there is the odd section of rough track and a couple of hundred yards of stoney beach as you exit the forest and enter Tayport
by AndyA
21 Aug 2021, 11:47pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycle Routes in Fife?
Replies: 6
Views: 596

Re: Cycle Routes in Fife?

EV1 is the nicer ride I think, Falkland is a particularly picturesque cafe stop and Loch Leven is lovely. EV1 is mostly country lanes after Glenrothes, 76 route is a bit more urban/suburban and uses more pavement. Neither is bad, neither is flat
by AndyA
21 Aug 2021, 11:25pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Another tubeless struggle - advice welcome
Replies: 22
Views: 1662

Re: Another tubeless struggle - advice welcome

I think, everything else being equal, your experience can be explained by your tyres having thin, leaky, possibly cracked/degraded sidewalls to start with. It definitely echoes my experience with GP5000 32mm on my tourer and Nobby Nic 3" on my MTB. The GP5000 go down to 30 from 60 psi within a month, the Noby Nics still had useable pressure after a lockdown enforced year of disuse. GP5000 had fizzy sidewalls initially, but not the Nobby Nic
by AndyA
3 Aug 2021, 11:18am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Top eye engraving - how to pick out?
Replies: 4
Views: 333

Re: Top eye engraving - how to pick out?

The easiest way I've found is to use a car touch-up needle paint pen
Image
Humbrol works well, you might want to add 5-10% white spirit to thin the paint
Miles easier than a brush, can be used for luglining too. You can rub out mistakes with white spirit and a cotton bud