Bicycle Mechanics - LBS Bike Assembly Quality?

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.
lunacycle
01-03-05, 06:57 PM
I just picked up a new track bike at my LBS. I was fiddling around with the seatpost and handlebar adjustment, and I noticed that there was no grease on the threads of the handlebar face plate bolts, the stem bolts, the star-fangled nut bolt, or the seat clamp bolt. Not only that, but the seat post wasn't greased at all, nor was the steer tube. For that matter, nor was the square-tapered bottom bracket spindles, or the chainring bolts. Oh yeah, there was grease on the seatpost binder bolt.
My question is this: Shouldn't these things have been greased? Especially the seat post, as the frame is steel. Am I being nit-picky, or was my bike assembled by an unqualified individual? Has anyone else had this type of experience with a new bike? It just seems kind of sloppy to me.
2manybikes
01-03-05, 07:28 PM
The square taper BB spindle where it goes into the crank is actually supposed to be dry, most people don't think that, but the grease allows you to tighten the crank too much and spread the aluminum of the crank and wear out the crank too quickly.
When I assemble bikes at my friends bike shop sometimes, the bikes come in from the factory with a little grease on most of those places. I don't remember any bikes from the factory with grease on the seat post or stem parts. We always grease them. I never heard of anyone checking there own chainring bolts before (except me, and only on my track bike). We check to make sure they are tight and the chainring is straight, but not grease them.
However I can see on a track bike why this is more important than a geared bike. Many owners would change the chainrings.
Do you have a carbon fiber seat post? That may not even work with grease.
You have an aheadset type steerer? Not sure where you would grease the tube itself?
I grease all handlebar, stem, seat post binder bolts. I do not think you are being too picky. If you have a steel frame and any kind of metal seat post, I think that is a big problem.
I think the shop should know about it. If it was my shop I would want to know right away. So it can be corrected
matheprat
01-04-05, 12:10 PM
"Am I being nit-picky?"
I think so, yeah. Other than maybe seatpost. Still let the shop know but don't cause too much of a fuss.
powers2b
01-04-05, 12:20 PM
The new bikes I have seen come assembled and adjusted in the box. Except for the front wheel and handlebars.
So the shop mechanic probably assumed everything was up to snuff, put the front wheel and handlebar/stem assembly in place, snugged everything up, checked the adjustments and when on to the next bike.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.12 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.