Search found 388 matches

by iow
24 Mar 2017, 8:15am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tapered Top Cap
Replies: 16
Views: 742

Re: Tapered Top Cap

Samuel D wrote:
iow wrote:shouldn't a carbon steerer protrude past the top of the stem with the use of a 5mm spacer below the topcap?

That’s how I prefer it even with metal steerer tubes, but Park Tool doesn’t seem to insist upon this even with carbon fibre. I like to err heavily on the side of caution with these things.


me too. park tool may not insist, but I think some fork manufactures may?
by iow
23 Mar 2017, 9:35am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tapered Top Cap
Replies: 16
Views: 742

Re: Tapered Top Cap

shouldn't a carbon steerer protrude past the top of the stem with the use of a 5mm spacer below the topcap?
by iow
22 Mar 2017, 8:55am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: HTII 41mm OD cup BB
Replies: 6
Views: 286

Re: HTII 41mm OD cup BB

meic wrote:I just packed my cheap Tiagra with waterproof grease and it is now at 9,000 miles without issues.
The bike doesnt get cleaned except for the chain and sprockets.

If you havent put too much pre-load on the bearings it is the water ingress that gets them.


thanks. but is this one of the later types with the smaller 41mm OD cups and smaller bearings?
by iow
21 Mar 2017, 11:09am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: HTII 41mm OD cup BB
Replies: 6
Views: 286

HTII 41mm OD cup BB

HTII 41mm OD cup BB - just wondered if these are lasting longer than the old standard. supposedly better seals, but smaller bearings :shock:
by iow
4 Mar 2017, 9:06am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: lycra shorts and pads
Replies: 18
Views: 2366

Re: lycra shorts and pads

decathlon B'TWIN 300 Padded Cycling Shorts have a flat foam pad.
if you can't try them on, get a size larger than normal - they're tight.
i'm the opposite - I find a moulded pad much more comfortable..

EDIT: it depends what you mean by 'sculpted'? the pad in the above linked shorts is the '100' pad in the product video description. ie. it lies flat in the short, but it is quilted.
by iow
2 Mar 2017, 10:40am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Keeping cable ends tidy and prevent fraying
Replies: 60
Views: 3569

Re: Keeping cable ends tidy and prevent fraying

Brucey wrote:IIRC with some liquid fluxes, the best method is to heat the cable end and dip it in the flux, repeating as necessary until the cable end will then wet with solder OK. If the flux left is on the cable end, and the part is overheated, the wetting action may again be inhibited; some overheated fluxes decompose into stuff that inhibits wetting....

cheers


this is probably why using a crucible is more effective? the flux is evenly heated and the solder wets the strands as soon the flux has been activated sufficiently
by iow
1 Mar 2017, 4:44pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Keeping cable ends tidy and prevent fraying
Replies: 60
Views: 3569

Re: Keeping cable ends tidy and prevent fraying

Brucey wrote:do you think it is a question of power? I have (with the right flux and solder for galvanised cables) had good luck with a >50W iron, or one of these;


The great thing about these is that they heat up almost instantly and have a fair amount of grunt (about 100W IIRC). They are no good for delicate electronic components though; there is no thermostat or any real temperature control per se.

If this flux works really well, maybe I can realise my ambition i.e. to be able to soft-solder stainless cables as easily as galvanised ones.

cheers



possibly - I've been using a gas iron, a portasol pro rated at up to 75 watts, but I think it would benefit from a broader tip for this job.
the strange thing is that it seems far easier to solder 2 stainless spokes together (just as an experiment) than to simply tin a cable end. maybe the cables are contaminated with oil during manufacture or packaging?
by iow
1 Mar 2017, 4:27pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: To lube or not to lube?
Replies: 21
Views: 3795

Re: To lube or not to lube?

I stopped putting anti-seize on HTII splines when I had a crank arm start to walk off the end of the axle. strange thing was that the pre-load cap had undone at a similar rate and was undamaged??
clean splines and a re-torque after 50 miles for me from now on....
by iow
1 Mar 2017, 4:18pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Keeping cable ends tidy and prevent fraying
Replies: 60
Views: 3569

Re: Keeping cable ends tidy and prevent fraying

Brucey wrote:
iow wrote:for those who prefer to solder their cable ends, I've found THIS reasonably priced flux to be effective for use with stainless cables and ordinary lead/tin solder.


ah! I probably fancy that a bit more than phosphoric acid TBH. I might have to get some.

BTW is it paste, powder or liquid?

cheers


liquid - about the same viscosity as single cream.
I find it more reliable to tin the ends using a crucible (22mm brass stop-end nut) although I have had success just with a soldering iron alone.
by iow
1 Mar 2017, 4:00pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Keeping cable ends tidy and prevent fraying
Replies: 60
Views: 3569

Re: Keeping cable ends tidy and prevent fraying

for those who prefer to solder their cable ends, I've found THIS reasonably priced flux to be effective for use with stainless cables and ordinary lead/tin solder.
by iow
21 Feb 2017, 8:37am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Cable Lubrication gadget
Replies: 13
Views: 912

Re: Cable Lubrication gadget

does the oil in WD40 stay fluid?
IME, using it as a surface protector for exposed chrome on motorbikes kept in a damp shed, it dries to a soft varnish over the course of a winter.
by iow
11 Dec 2016, 8:44am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Missing item: UPDATE : swiftly resolved by vendor
Replies: 70
Views: 6567

Re: Missing item: what should I *reasonably* expect?

speak to them and accept some responsibility for failing to meet their clear and fair T&C's before mugging them off...
by iow
25 Nov 2016, 8:55am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Aero Bike help
Replies: 2
Views: 426

Re: Aero Bike help

can't answer your question, but THIS looks like an aero bargain worth considering too?
by iow
25 Nov 2016, 8:32am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: 531 Frame Protection against rust.
Replies: 31
Views: 3693

Re: 531 Frame Protection against rust.

engine oil for me too. a squirt or two into each tube once a year.
same treatment for various classic car and mcycle chassis and panels. i'm not happy if I cant see a fine mist of oil creeping out of the seams on a hot day. not had any issues with rot since adopting this method over 20 years ago, even on everyday drivers..
by iow
11 Nov 2016, 8:49am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: SKS mudguards
Replies: 10
Views: 1548

Re: SKS mudguards

reohn2 wrote:
iow wrote:I seem to remember the chromoplastics also have slightly thicker stays


The only differences between SKS and Bluemels stays are the front safety release with the Bluemels being more fragile and fiddly.
I have both types,they are both SS and the same thickness.


a random comparison between chromoplastics and bluemels on the chainreaction website shows a difference - 3.4mm vs 3.0mm...