Questions tagged [preventative-maintenance]
Servicing things before they break, so they're less likely to fail at all.
99 questions
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On-bike pump maintenance requirements?
I have a variety of small bike pumps, both mini-pumps like a Topeak Race Rocket and small floor-pumps like the Topeak Road Morph. They live on their bike all the time, and suffer the same vibrations ...
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How to handle corrosion on brake pads screws on Shimano road bike disk brakes?
Recently I wanted to remove the brake pads of my Shimano 105 disk brakes to check their wear state. When I was about to open the screw which holds them in place I found that some white crust had ...
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Why would solid rubber tubes be no good to some? [duplicate]
I've had solid rubber bike inner tubes for years. No problems. No flats in years. I had way too many of these because of the increase in trash on the roads these days.
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Does washing the bike (not the drivetrain) actually prolong the life of any components?
Common wisdom dictates that bikes, especially those used in the rain or in the winter, should be washed frequently to prolong component life, but I honestly cannot see how. I am aware of the following:...
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Replacing slow to switch Presta/Schrader pump head with dual pump head on a floor pump. Can I go between brands?
I have a Giyo Air Supply floor pump which has one of those Presta/Schrader switchable heads where you have to unscrew the cap, wiggle out the head's innards for half an hour, turn them around then ...
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Hydraulic disc brake maintenance in the absence of performance issues
I see lots of questions about hydraulic brake-specific maintenance. I.e. related to the hydraulic system itself, not the pad/rotor interface. (For this question let's ignore the latter since that's ...
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Why do my Urbanbiker Viena electric bike batteries keep failing?
Around late 2019, I bought an Urbanbiker Viena new off Amazon for my daily work commute (around 15km/day at that time, now it’s a bit lower at about 10km/day).
After about 4000km, my (first) battery ...
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How should I prepare a used bike for the velodrome?
I'm due to collect a second hand track bike, it will be my first for the velodrome and until now I have used the hire bikes available.
How can I prepare the tyres for use on the indoor, wooden track? ...
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Increasing a 32T chainring to a 36T - will it fit?
I'm considering changing up the chainring on this 2020 Specialized Turbo Levo Comp in order to slow down wear on the cassette as the rider tends to keep it in a few of the mid-high gears.
What ...
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Are small, portable medium-pressure washers susceptible to damaging some components when washing a bike (like with high-pressure washers)?
There are now on the market small, portable pressure washers meant for outdoor sports. Those are typically powered by batteries and have a water tank, to be used without a water supply and electricity....
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Will all chain wear tools work on any chain regardless of 9/10/11speed etc?
I have gotten a hold of a BBB chain wear tool to check my KMC x10sp chain. It seems to indicate I am at least at 75% wear. The chain checker does not have a serial or model number I can use to get ...
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Wear-based maintenance/overhaul of air spring suspension fork
Assuming usage as a mountain bike, an air spring suspension fork on a hardtail is to be maintained every 50 hours of riding.
By comparison it's sufficient, and plenty reasonable, to replace a chain ...
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As an enthusiast, how can I make a bicycle more reliable/less maintenance-intensive for use by a casual cyclist?
The details of this question may end up being quite specific to my exact circumstances, but I think the information presented in the answers will still be usable and interesting for the general case.
...
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Guidance to replace cassettes sprockets "individually"
I've seen that sprockets were sold separately (or by "groups/spiders"). Given the small sprockets wear faster than the big ones, it could make sense to replace them at higher interval than ...
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Are air forks suitable for everyday use?
I am looking to buy a hybrid bike for all-around use and several of the models I am looking at come with the Rockshox Paragon air fork. I would appreciate the comfort of well-functioning suspension as ...
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What is the purpose of a tread pattern on city/road tyres?
What is the purpose of tread patterns on city/road tyres?
I think I've understood (perhaps wrongly) from this site that they're unnecessary on paved roads:
Grip (friction) is more-or-less contant, or ...
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Is it safe to ride on wheels with rusted spoke eyelets?
I bought an old Bianchi with 26" wheels and I’m finding it hard to find a replacement with max width 23 mm tires and an old 6 speed freewheel
I was trying to true the wheels but the nipples where ...
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Should I be worried about small cuts on a tubeless tire/tyre?
My tubeless tires/tyres have a few cuts around the tread pattern. They are each around 3–4mm in length. I've been proactive with topping up sealant and have not had any flats since riding with these ...
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When to change quick release springs
The wife and I are newer to longer distance riding and have been learning along the way. While this might mean different things to different people, we are training for an Ironman and will do a half ...
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Rim brakes and rim wear outside the brake track
I have recently found out, that my rim brakes were slightly misaligned and the pads had developed an edge over some time and had worn a bit of paint outside the normal brake zone (see photos). It ...
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Can time-till-rest be used as a hub-regrease-and-repack flag?
The traditional way to determine whether the hubs need repacking, regreasing, and perhaps a ball bearing change is to grab the two sides of the fork or both seatstays after spinning the corresponding ...
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Copper grease on freehub when mounting sprocket?
Do you put copper grease (or something else) on a freehub directly before sliding the rear sprocket on? I put a light coating on by habit when fitting just because I don't like the idea of bare metal-...
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Compound for freewheel locking sprocket threads
I have an oldschool SunTour 6-speed freewheel, where the smallest sprocket screws on the freewheel body to lock the larger sprockets in place.
It's a normal right hand thread, so as you pedal in the ...
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Gear shifting is good enough after 6 years. Does that mean I don't need to replace my cables?
My road bike gear cables have never been replaced, they are 6 years old now. The shifting at the back needs at tune up now and then, more and more frequently as time goes. But once it's done the ...
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What non-obvious maintenance should I do after 6 years/~25k km without professional service
I've ridden my commuter and touring bike (cyclocross frame, but with mudguards, rack, hub dynamo etc.) extensively for the last six years and a total of maybe 25 000 km (~15 000 miles). It has seen a ...
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What is the lowest total cost way to lubricate a chain? [closed]
I know there are numerous different ways of lubricating a chain. Some prefer to
remove the factory grease from a chain and lubricate it with a different
lubricant immediately, others use the factory ...
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Protection against saddlebag straps
How can I protect my bike against abrasion and scratches from bikepacking saddlebag straps?
It is mostly for a full frame bag, like the Apidura one.
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Should I ride my bike on the beach?
This is the suggested follow up question from this earlier question that dealt with if I can bike on the beach.
While it turns out I can ride the beach on 32c tires, the comments made it clear that I ...
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What maintenance should be done on a bike pump to keep it in good condition?
My zefal hp x 4 full frame bike pump internals have rusted out. I now have a Lezyne mini pump. What maintenance should I do on the pump to make sure it does not rust out?
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When basic maintenance for basic Suntour XCM/ XCC fork is needed?
When basic maintenance for very basic Suntour XCM/ XCC fork is needed?
Is it needed just in case if something wrong or once a year or after some amount of km?
By maintenance, I mean something like ...
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Data on cable lubricant
Chain lubrication is a popular topic. Perhaps for this reason, it is possible to find data for chain friction and chain lubrication. Some of the results of the research are quite interesting. I'm ...
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What would cause a pedal to loosen from its spindle while riding?
I recently serviced an old pair of Wellgo platform pedals. They were already old and well-used by the time I got them, and they were slightly too loose, but useable. I rode on them for a few months ...
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Removing an internal headset before pulling the fork?
I'm completely taking apart a 2014 Kona UTE (for fun, and to clean it, but nothing wrong with it). I'm not sure how to proceed with the fork. It is now "bare" (no wheel, no cable, no handle, ...
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Installing flat pedals (with pins) on a MTB for rainy/wintry conditions?
I have some RaceFace Chester pedals that I want to install on my beater MTB, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea. Basically, I have two bikes and I want to use one for the "bad" weather conditions (...
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Longer side of bottom bracket goes toward which side of bike?
I am replacing the bottom bracket bearings on my Schwinn World Sport.
Which side of the bike does the longer side of BB axle go to? I would assume chain side but just wanted to make sure.
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Retaining M5 bolts for bottle cages
I have a Ti frame.
Alloy M5 bolts (they were greased) not working too well for me for holding the bottle cages - one seized / broke off, and I lost the boss/insert (?) when a mechanic drilled out the ...
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Can a new chain significantly improve the riding experience? If yes - what else can?
I am a casual commuter (in average 2 days per week, 30 km per day), on a generic bike which I bought a few years ago.
Yesterday I took the opportunity of having the bike reviewed and the chain and ...
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Servicing full suspension bike after long period of not being used
I bought a new bike about a couple of years ago, rode it about a dozen times and haven't been on it since. Should I perform a full service on the bike (replace seals, oil, bleed the brakes, etc.) ...
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Calculate suspension oil needed for a fork?
I've got a non-standard 20" air fork (Mekkem SASO) that could use some maintenance, but there's zero info I can find from either the manufacturer or OEM on oil viscosity, volume, or anything else. I'...
user36575
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How to patch glass cuts in a bicycle tire?
How do you deal with the small cuts in a bicycle tires main tread? Do folks fill these small cuts?
I have continental gatorskins which I periodically check and pull out the street glass shards.
...
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How do I clean the inside of my frame? Is it even necessary?
I'm trying to fix up a bike that has been abandoned outside for a while. When I first turned it upside down, rust brown water started coming out of holes in frame around the rear stays.
I've fixed it ...
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Should I cover my bicycle overnight while bikepacking?
I'm wondering if all the moisture from being out overnight will damage my bicycle. I'm thinking 30+ days of being in use, with maybe a couple of those days being light rain.
If the water will damage ...
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Bottom bracket maintenance - is it a thing?
Previously when I've had annoying noises from my bottom bracket I've simply discarded it and bought a (cheap) new one. But the last time I replaced it I got a great offer and splashed out a little ...
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Home made bottom bracket plastic sleeve
I want to make a plastic sleeve from a water bottle, for a classic cup and cone bottom bracket, to protect against moisture and impurities that may run down the seat tube.
How do I know the proper ...
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Coaster brake heat management and lubrication
I've heard that coaster brakes can reach high temperatures, so it desirable to use grease designed for high temperature applications.
My questions are:
Would a grease labeled max 220 °C be good ...
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Best places to put protective clear stickers
I want to protect the new paint of my bicycle, so I'm thinking of putting some transparent stickers to the most prone to scratch areas of the frame.
But what are the most prone to scratch areas?
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How long do inner tubes last?
I recently started biking again after taking about 2.5 years off. My bike has been sitting in my garage since then. I did a 30 mile ride as my first one back and I didn't replace my tubes beforehand. ...
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How to tell when to change steel front fork?
I am riding a Dawes made sometime before 1974 and have read in a Swedish report (http://vti.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:694821/FULLTEXT01.pdf) that front fork failure is a not uncommon cause of ...
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Why does my bike constantly break/need servicing?
I only cycle about 4 miles per day, on roads and paths, which although a little bumpy in places, I'm not off roading. I'm finding something is breaking or coming loose on my bike after only a couple ...
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What things to check on road bike after a long trip on poor roads
Just bought a new aluminium frame road bike with 25mm tires. Due to very poor planning, I started a journey that turned out to be suited for mountain bikes: it involved country roads, unpaved gravel ...
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