Why I was late for work today.
#1
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Why I was late for work today.
So I thought it would be and easy job. Finish it then go into work.
I made the decision to switch from 175 to 170mm cranks. Lots of 170s laying around in my garage.
Pull off the old cranks. Swap the chainrings. Put on the 170s.
Man, that's a wide crank. Look at that chainline. Crap. I need a narrower bottom bracket.
Wait, there's one on that frame hanging over there. Measure it. 15mm narrower. Ok, that's a little narrow, but it will work.
Pull off the BB from the unused frame and then pull the BB from the bike I'm working. They come off OK. Clean and grease threads.
Put on the BB. Man, that looks a little narrow. Install the cranks. Yep, narrow but works.
OK, put the chain on, and turn the cranks.
Uh Oh, the crank hits the front derailleur. Ok, rotate the derailleur. Tighten, move, nope, untighten, move again. Nope, not quite, a little too low now. Loosen and move again. Now tighten it.
Aw, *****! Stripped the threads in the clamp. Now I gotta find another derailleur. I have many, but each one is missing a critical screw or bolt.
Let's see. Here's a Shimano 105 that's intact. That might work. Put it on. Yep, I guess right. Old Shimano 105 for a double doesn't work with a triple. Now what.
Suddenly I remember the parts bike that supplied me with the bottom bracket has a Suntour Cyclone just like the one I just broke. Remove it and install it on the bike that by now should have me at least half way to work.
It works. Suntour made some pretty nice stuff.
Finish up, take the bike for a ride. Works well, after the REAR derailleur gets adjusted.
While adjusting the RD, I notice the rear wheel needs truing. Remove and true the rear wheel.
Half an hour later, I'm on my way to work. Need to keep stopping to adjust my cleats and saddle to accommodate the shorter, narrower cranks.
Around 1:30 I roll into work.
I wanted to be there by 10:00.
I made the decision to switch from 175 to 170mm cranks. Lots of 170s laying around in my garage.
Pull off the old cranks. Swap the chainrings. Put on the 170s.
Man, that's a wide crank. Look at that chainline. Crap. I need a narrower bottom bracket.
Wait, there's one on that frame hanging over there. Measure it. 15mm narrower. Ok, that's a little narrow, but it will work.
Pull off the BB from the unused frame and then pull the BB from the bike I'm working. They come off OK. Clean and grease threads.
Put on the BB. Man, that looks a little narrow. Install the cranks. Yep, narrow but works.
OK, put the chain on, and turn the cranks.
Uh Oh, the crank hits the front derailleur. Ok, rotate the derailleur. Tighten, move, nope, untighten, move again. Nope, not quite, a little too low now. Loosen and move again. Now tighten it.
Aw, *****! Stripped the threads in the clamp. Now I gotta find another derailleur. I have many, but each one is missing a critical screw or bolt.
Let's see. Here's a Shimano 105 that's intact. That might work. Put it on. Yep, I guess right. Old Shimano 105 for a double doesn't work with a triple. Now what.
Suddenly I remember the parts bike that supplied me with the bottom bracket has a Suntour Cyclone just like the one I just broke. Remove it and install it on the bike that by now should have me at least half way to work.
It works. Suntour made some pretty nice stuff.
Finish up, take the bike for a ride. Works well, after the REAR derailleur gets adjusted.
While adjusting the RD, I notice the rear wheel needs truing. Remove and true the rear wheel.
Half an hour later, I'm on my way to work. Need to keep stopping to adjust my cleats and saddle to accommodate the shorter, narrower cranks.
Around 1:30 I roll into work.
I wanted to be there by 10:00.
#2
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Been there, done that.
Once almost had to spend the night at the warehouse after starting a routine 5 minute job.
Once almost had to spend the night at the warehouse after starting a routine 5 minute job.
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FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
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FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
Last edited by FBinNY; 08-18-10 at 08:40 PM.
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And I want a job where it's okay to be 3:30 late....
#5
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
This is reason 14,632 to own more than one bike.
And there is a penance to be paid for breaking a Suntour Cyclone derailleur.
And there is a penance to be paid for breaking a Suntour Cyclone derailleur.
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This sounds like a typical evening (minus the stripping bolts.) I have a few cyclone bits in my parts bin if you need something.
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I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
Last edited by Cynikal; 08-19-10 at 08:42 AM. Reason: can't speel
#8
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Well, it wasn't over.
First of all, the BB I installed had a little bit of play in it. So tonight I was installing a new one. As I was riding today, I noticed a bit of sound as I pedaled. Couldn't quite isolate it. I thought it must have been the bottom bracket. But it was this instead.
First of all, the BB I installed had a little bit of play in it. So tonight I was installing a new one. As I was riding today, I noticed a bit of sound as I pedaled. Couldn't quite isolate it. I thought it must have been the bottom bracket. But it was this instead.
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Anyone who does mechanical jobs has something like this happen. Years ago I started to change the rear drum brake shoes on my '71 Datsun 510 (remember those?) that had 90,000+ miles on it. I had the new shoes had the needed tools and started the job on a Friday evening figuring I'd finish by bedtime.
After three trips to the dealer and parts stores for two new wheel cylinders, new brake hoses, brake fluid and a star adjuster I finished the job the following Tuesday night!
After three trips to the dealer and parts stores for two new wheel cylinders, new brake hoses, brake fluid and a star adjuster I finished the job the following Tuesday night!