Bicycle Mechanics - Mixing old and new grease, handlebar tape

In cleaning up the old new Bianchi Brava I just got I flat ran out of time cleaning and greasing wheel bearings. Got the fronts done. The original grease was actually still in decent shape. Pulled the cones off the back just to check. Again OK, just a little stiff but clean. Not enough of it to suit my taste. Now, I KNOW it is not a good idea to mix lubricants, but I went ahead and squeezed in some fresh grease and worked it in some. This is strictly a short term thing, I will clean and grease in a couple of days, I just had to ride her. As long as I clean this up and repack soon (certainly less than 100 miles) will this hurt anything?

Along the same lines, I am using a grease the LBS recommended called Pro Gold EPX Cycle Grease. Anybody heard of it?

I retaped the handlebar with the white tape I had purchased for the old Schwinn. Did a pretty decent job for a rookie if I do say so myself. :)

I really believe the guy. This bike could not have been ridden more than 100 miles. After washing, the paint job glistens like it just came of the showroon. The gears were shiny clean except for the accumulation of dust from hanging in the garage. The dry rotted tires still had the little ridge down the center from the mold they were made in!

Raymond:

Congrats on finally getting the handlebar tape right. Which way did you go - from inside to end or from end to inside?

Hey, man, you know better than to mix old grease with good grease. When you change oil in your car, do you just put in any old oil you have around and "never mind draining the old stuff"?

If your old grease is dark or black, it is dirty. If it is dirty. it has abrasives in it and that 'aint good even if you put in fresh grease to mix with it.

Now you have to schedule time this week to clean out all the old and new gunk in the hub.

I know, Sensei, I know. I would really never do such a thing other than as a semi last resort and very short term measure. The old grease was EXTREMELY clean; the bike was hardly ridden. It was just a little thick, like the high temp grease used for auto wheel bearings. I may have time to do it right this evening. Consider me duely chastised and contrite. :D

I wrapped the tape from the bar end toward the stem. Thanks for everyone's help on that.

Regards,
Raymond

Mike Sensei,
I have seen the folly of my ways and cleaned and repacked the offended hub bearings. You sure know how to lay a guilt trip on a guy! :)
Regards,
Raymond

Originally posted by RainmanP
Mike Sensei,
I have seen the folly of my ways and cleaned and repacked the offended hub bearings. You sure know how to lay a guilt trip on a guy! :)
Regards,
Raymond

Yoroshii. Umaku dekimashta. (Good. Well done)

Mike (sensei)

Mike,
Today I progressed in my training. Not only did I overhaul my headset, a job I had done before, but I also overhauled my bottom bracket. THAT was a task I approached with not a little trepidation, I assure you. Turned out, like most other things bike related, to be a piece of cake as long as you follow the instructions. The only problem I ran into was that I did not notice the washer that was left after removing the crank bolt. Luckily I realized something had to be wrong before I really messed something up. The washer was press fitted on the little rotating piece at the end of the crank extractor. I got it off, but the little piece came out as well. Luckily, I did not lose the little ball bearing. It took 15 minutes to get it back the rotating piece back in. The job proceeded normally from there. I felt pretty good about accomplishing that particular operation. It was the most intimidating I have attempted.

I have now cleaned and repacked all the bearings on my old new Bianchi - hubs, bottom bracket, headset. Having done that in addition to other things I have learned and done, I feel confident I could build a bike from scratch. The only difficulty I might have would be getting some of the more esoteric adjustments down, like chain line, etc.

I cannot thank you enough for your advice and encouragement. I could not have done many of these things without your help. The tools I have acquired cost much less than getting the repairs done, and now I have them for the next time I need to do maintenance. Yorick probably needs a little TLC. He's getting close to 3000, you know.

Poor Yorick. He has been sitting quietly by, watching me spend quality time with his girlfriend. He's not jealous, though. Well, maybe a little. Thing is, I'm not sure if he is jealous because I am not spending more time with him or because I have been getting kind of intimate with Dolce. I mean, I've seen every part of her bottom bracket. :D

Tomorrow, I wll ride Dolce to work again by way of a "shakedown". I am taking her on vacation next week so I want to make sure everything is working just right. I had to promise Yorick I'd be back in the (Brooks) saddle Thursday and Friday. He's getting a little testy.
Domo arigato,
Raymond

Magnificent, Raymond, absolutely brilliant! Congratulations!

Now, you are free. Really. Now, you can fix your bike or maintain it more conveniently than hauling it to the LBS, dropping it off, waiting, picking it up, and on and on...

Yup, you will save money, but more importantly, you will be able to adjust things just the way you like 'em. If anything starts to squeek or rattle, or chirp, you will know just what to do.

You need never be crippled at roadside for any reason. With a fist full of tools, you will be able to fix almost anything that goes wrong (except for a broken frame or some other over the top job).

Bicycling will provide you with more freedom now than ever before.

You are an inspiration for others, Raymond.

Omedeto gozaimasu (congratulations)