Cycling UK Forum

meic wrote:My guess is that at some point it had 9 ball bearings on each side (the normal case) and at some point one of them fell into the wrong place during an assembly or disassembly.

Ah, well I suppose it's possible that one fell down the middle as I removed the quick-release spindle. Should I try it with 9 in each side then when I re-assemble? These bearings have been running fine for many years, the wear ring on the black bit is smooth and regular, no pits or grooves.

I've taken out the quick-release spindle and bar, and all the ball bearings (oddly, I noticed the cog side had ten and the other had eight, is this normal?), after liberal application of GT85 degreaser the cassette now feels and sounds like it has grit in it when free-wheeling. I'd like to take it off and attempt to re-grease or re-oil, whatever it needs, is it possible to do this? The cogs look fine so I don't want to have to buy a new one, it's just a touring six speed (been on many years, may not be able to buy the same thing now, or can I?), originally it had a five speed set but I don't think they are available any more. It's on a 27" / 630 wheel and non-indexed friction levers if that makes any difference.

So, can the cassette be dismantled to get the grit out and re-lubricated? If so, what tools / grease / oil would be required? I don't even have the tool to take the cassette off, may need to ask my local bike shop to do that for me and to put it back on too, or is it worth buying the tool?

The cassette says on it:
TD Shimano VIA
MF-Z012

I don't know what this means though.

It is a Pelissier hub, I found a Shimano screw-on cassette on eBay, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230864107193, should this fit? I was reading on a webpage that French, British, and other hubs used different threads.

Thank you for your advice on this.

Thank you for the suggestions, for now I'm just using some normal yellow grease we have in the garage, should be fine as I think it's what I used last time.

Thanks Brucey. I need to buy some decent bike tools anyway, not sure if I'll be able to get good quality imperial stuff easily these days though, any suggestions?

I saw a thread on here that mentioned marine grease, salt-water proof, might be handy on the salty roads during the winter but any good for bearings? I presume that most axle / bearing grease works exactly the same, but just has extra qualities that make them cost extra.

I might ask my local bike shop to re-grease them, save me the worry and effort, although they might not have the correct imperial tools.

While removing a very old tyre from my Rigida front wheel I noticed just how grimy the hub looked so I set to with some GT85 to clean it with a brush. I had hoped not to get any in the hub but I could quickly feel a difference and I reckon the old grease has been diluted. I want to re-pack these (probably needed doing anyway) so is there anything I should know before going out and buying some car lithium grease for the job? Is there a better alternative for alloy bicycle hubs? What about the rear hub - anything special there that I need to watch out for?

Thanks.

Is there a specific measurement I should be looking out for? I see some say 55mm and 52mm, is that just an error on the website? I don't know what that measurement refers to.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/clarks-55mm-brakes-shoes-inc-extra-pads/rp-prod35450

I have old alloy wheels on my Dawes Galaxy and am in the market for new brake blocks. I have Hi-Gear caliper brakes, my local bike shop didn't really know much about them it seems (they're probably as old as the guy who was serving me!)

I've seen these Clarks 55mm Caliper Brakes, should they be OK? Are there better caliper brake blocks to be had? Would prefer metal / chrome finish holders and black or grey blocks to match the alloy wheels and midnight blue frame, not keen on these white holders but that seems to be all I can find in this model.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/clarks-55mm-caliper-brakes-free-gear-cables/rp-prod94327

My brakes / wheels.

That's what I have used on the wheels, I'll give it a go with a stiff brush on the pedals.

Next question - wheel maintenance. I will be taking the wheels out for the first time in many years (good non-puncture record! Well not really since I haven't turned many miles on the bike in the last ten years). How can I tell if the bearings need replacing or re-greasing, or should I just leave be if the wheel is spinning freely? I have a computer on if that helps. If I should be replacing them or the grease, what kind and where to buy? Also rim tape - should I replace that? I haven't seen under that tyre and innertube for a long time, it could even be a strip of canvas. I have a pair of Panaracers to go on, they look good.

Thanks!

Thank you very much again for your knowledge on this subject, it really is great to know there are people still out there who know this kind of stuff!

I think all that my pedals need is a bit of a brush up and clean, I might buy some of the MKS ones as a backup anyway though. Have you a recommended method for cleaning that type of alloy? I have in the past polished my alloy wheels with chrome polish (is that wise or not? I like them to be shiny!) but I don't think that would be easy or even possible with the pedals.

Another question regarding pedals...

Here is my current pedal, note that it has a bar running across the middle front to back. I notice the SKS ones do not have this, is there any advantage to either design?

My pedals:


New MKS Sylvan Touring Alloy pedals:


I might just clean up my old pedals, they're not that bad really and have a nicer design than the Sylvans. I have a new pair of matching chrome christophe toe-clips ready to fit.

Regarding the brake blocks, I have read in another thread about BBB Techstop, they look nice and I think they could be worth spending the money on for my Dawes, providing that they would work with it. I just don't know what the numbers mean so wouldn't know which ones to order. My tyres say 32x630 and they are on imperial Rigida alloy rims if that's anything to go by.

Here is my front caliper, the rear looks much the same:





The grey blocks I have on are aztec, they've been on for many years and are very worn down so there's little to no tread left, which I'm told is bad in wet weather.

PS I have new tyres on order, these ones are perishing and look rather bad.

Brucey wrote:they look like aftermarket lever hoods you have there at present. I don't recognise the brake levers..... are there any identifying marks?

cheers

There are none that I can see. Would you recommend a new set of levers? I don't want to replace the whole brake cable system, but if buying new levers is as good as new hoods then I'll do that. Still would like the cables to come out of the top though. I am probably going to replace the handlebar tape too.

These are my current levers and hoods:




Is this a Weinmann & Mafac style, as in this product on SJS? Or is there a better name for them?
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/cane-creek-weinmann-and-mafac-style-cane-creek-road-brake-lever-hoods-black-prod26321/

Probably should get new tape too, something with a bit of comfort to it. I've seen some that looks good in the local bike shop (I forget the brand), any suggestions from you guys? I tend to get pain in my hands even after a short while so I probably need to sort out handlebar height or something, do you think raising it would help? Doesn't seem to matter where I put my hands, and I don't get it when riding mountain bike style bars (not the same anyway, and then only if I'm getting shaken to bits on rough tracks).

Another question... what do you call those rubber covers for the brake levers on drop handlebars? The ones on the top side that you can rest your hands in. Mine have the cables coming out of the top and I'd like to get some replacement cowls (if that's the correct term).

My search for parts is going quiet well, thanks in part to the replies in this thread. I found some matching chrome Christophe toe clips, taking a gamble that Medium is going to be fine for my normal UK size 8.5 shoes (couldn't find a size guide). Leather Christophe toe straps seem to be a tad expensive, the only place I've found some so far has been eBay, but I do have a few of those already anyway so probably won't buy them for now.

The rear rack light bracket is still eluding me. The one on SJS Cycles just isn't appropriate for my rack, I might have a go at making my own if I can find some alloy that I can fabricate one from.

Just as a side note, the left pedal bears a scar from when I hit it against a curb at speed, nearly threw me off the bike. The underside of the pedal is slightly bent and scraped, I may be sorry to see this piece of the bike's history get replaced but c'est la vie. I want shiny new pedals!

Oh and shoes - normally just comfortable trainers or low profile hiking shoes. They keep my feet warm in the winter and breathe well in the summer, and when I'm on the mountain bike they enable me to walk up the steep muddy bits.