Fixed in a mountain state
08-23-10, 11:48 AM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Fixed in a mountain state
I just moved from Cleveland to a city in Virginia and brought my two fixies with me to use as commuters. Things were fine for awhile, difficult moving up and down hills on a ratio designed for minimal elevation changes, but generally ok.
And then things started falling off my bike. I started losing chainring bolts (one or two at a time) with others loosening. Even more worrisome, my left crank arm started loosening all by itself. I've heard of stuff loosening before, but never something as substantial as a crank.
The hypothesis I've been running with for the time being is that the added strain of hard back pedaling + mashing up a ton of hills has been raddling things loose that would otherwise be solid.
Any suggestions for fixes would be much appreciated. I've gathered that steel might hold better, but I'd rather not have to replace crank arms, chainrings, and bolts all at once.
Cheers
And then things started falling off my bike. I started losing chainring bolts (one or two at a time) with others loosening. Even more worrisome, my left crank arm started loosening all by itself. I've heard of stuff loosening before, but never something as substantial as a crank.
The hypothesis I've been running with for the time being is that the added strain of hard back pedaling + mashing up a ton of hills has been raddling things loose that would otherwise be solid.
Any suggestions for fixes would be much appreciated. I've gathered that steel might hold better, but I'd rather not have to replace crank arms, chainrings, and bolts all at once.
Cheers
08-23-10, 12:26 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DeSouf
Posts: 2,145
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yikes, bro. LBS needed, stat.
Otherwise, it's a good habit to check the chainring bolts, axle nuts, chain tension and air pressure before each ride. It'll save you from a world of pain...and $$$.
Otherwise, it's a good habit to check the chainring bolts, axle nuts, chain tension and air pressure before each ride. It'll save you from a world of pain...and $$$.
08-23-10, 12:39 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 330
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Same thing happened to me when I moved from Florida to Atlanta. My Orgin 8 cranks are all wacky now.
Do you have a square taper BB and crank? Does the crank become loose again no matter how tight you seem to tighten it?
I think I've heard it is possible that the square hole of the crank can round off slightly messing with the fit of the crank to BB. Dunno about the chainring bolts though.
Do you have a square taper BB and crank? Does the crank become loose again no matter how tight you seem to tighten it?
I think I've heard it is possible that the square hole of the crank can round off slightly messing with the fit of the crank to BB. Dunno about the chainring bolts though.
08-23-10, 11:58 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Davis, Ca
Posts: 383
Bikes: Peugeot U0-8 (Stolen), Motobecane Grand Record, 80's Diamondback BMX, Peugeot Monaco
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My chainring bolts used to loosen all the time, so I put a tiny dab of nail-polish on the threads. Has been working wonderfully since.
08-24-10, 12:32 AM
#6
SpecialK
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: CO Springs
Posts: 373
Bikes: 2007 SE Lager
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Just make sure everything is installed correctly and check it every week if you ride a lot. Also you'll get to a point where you notice something isn't ideally set just by the way mashing feels. It will probably benefit you to keep a set of allen wrenches on your person/bike (or a multi-tool). Make sure one is an 8mm, for you cranks.
08-24-10, 01:30 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 264
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Solution One: Put a smaller freewheel cog and a larger fixed cog on your flip/flop hub. Use freewheel for longer/hilllier/fitness rides so you can mashu up and coast down. Use the fixed gear when in town/short rides. Carry a 15mm wrench.
Solution Two: Get a geared bike.
Crank: Has it been overtightened? If so, buy a new bottom bracket.
Chainring-bolts: Make sure they are greased. Ungreased Chairing-bolts come loose easily under strain. Get a proper chainring-bolt tool for a few bucks and use it once in a while.
Solution Two: Get a geared bike.
Crank: Has it been overtightened? If so, buy a new bottom bracket.
Chainring-bolts: Make sure they are greased. Ungreased Chairing-bolts come loose easily under strain. Get a proper chainring-bolt tool for a few bucks and use it once in a while.
