Bicycle Mechanics - When to lube???

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View Full Version : When to lube???


lbear
07-21-08, 08:39 PM
I just bought a 2-3 year old road bike off of Craigs List. It looks like it has less then 100 miles on it. Is there maintenance (like lubing the hubs) that should be done just because it is 2-3 years old. It runs fine and I want it to stay that way as long as possible.


theShiba
07-21-08, 10:20 PM
I like to do a bearing overhaul as soon as I get a chance with a used bike. If it's been sitting for a while, any moist parts tend to collect a lot of dust and dirt. But, if it only has 100 miles, you should be fine to leave it....

If it's running smooth, then you can probably leave it for a while, but it certainly would not hurt to open things up and see if the hubs have any crud, or need cleaning/lubing.

I say, it's never a bad time for lube!

BCRider
07-21-08, 10:26 PM
Yeah, I agree. If it's truly in like new looking condition then you're fine for now. However over the winter a full end to end to do it all would be a nice step if you want to use the bike for years to come. Even if it doesn't need it you'll know that you're starting with a properly done bike and if there IS any issues you'll discover them as you move from bearing to bearing and do the brakes and the rest of the stuff.

If it's a steel frame then frame saver'ing would be wise during this strip and lube process as well.


lbear
07-21-08, 11:36 PM
Thanks for the advice, I think I'll make it my late summer project since the OCR2 is going to be my commuter/rainy day bike. This will give me a chance to buy some tools, and you can never have too many tools!