In need of some pointers to maintain my bike
09-15-22, 05:15 PM
#1
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In need of some pointers to maintain my bike
Hey everyone,
First of all, being a non-native english speaker I don't know all the specific words for all the bike parts & tools but I'll do my best!
I bought my bike used, 4 months ago. I want to give it a good cleaning, and fix the problems I've had with it. Only I'm a total noob at this!
Here are my questions:
1. When I got the bike, the chain, axles, seat tube, etc... were all gunky. Reading up on it, these parts should be lubricated. However, do they have to be lubricated with that sort of black gunk that sticks to your clothes and stains them when you rub against it? I plan on cleaning all of it, and I bought lubricant for bike chains but neglected to buy some for the tubes etc... can I still use the one I have or is it a better idea to go back to the shop and buy some made specifically for those other parts?
2. My chain comes off too often - maybe once every 2 hours. It comes off at the pedal. I'm pretty sure I set the screws correctly, changing gears feels ok. Riding over a bump (or off a sidewalk) almost always results in my chain coming off so I've gotten used to taking bumps very slowly. Otherwise, it can happen when I change gears as well as simply while pedaling (not particularly hard). How can I fix this?
3. What I believe is called a sprocket guard (can't post the photo) came off. The screws loosened little by little without my realizing it. I took it off, but is it important? Should I find screws to put it back on?
4. Other than this, I inflated the tires about 2 months ago, I'll change the brake pads since they're noisy and look used, I'll clean every surface I find, and I'll make sure to tighten all the bolts and screws I find. Is there anything else I should do?
Just wanna make sure I do it right, as I want the bike to last!
Thanks for your time
First of all, being a non-native english speaker I don't know all the specific words for all the bike parts & tools but I'll do my best!
I bought my bike used, 4 months ago. I want to give it a good cleaning, and fix the problems I've had with it. Only I'm a total noob at this!
Here are my questions:
1. When I got the bike, the chain, axles, seat tube, etc... were all gunky. Reading up on it, these parts should be lubricated. However, do they have to be lubricated with that sort of black gunk that sticks to your clothes and stains them when you rub against it? I plan on cleaning all of it, and I bought lubricant for bike chains but neglected to buy some for the tubes etc... can I still use the one I have or is it a better idea to go back to the shop and buy some made specifically for those other parts?
2. My chain comes off too often - maybe once every 2 hours. It comes off at the pedal. I'm pretty sure I set the screws correctly, changing gears feels ok. Riding over a bump (or off a sidewalk) almost always results in my chain coming off so I've gotten used to taking bumps very slowly. Otherwise, it can happen when I change gears as well as simply while pedaling (not particularly hard). How can I fix this?
3. What I believe is called a sprocket guard (can't post the photo) came off. The screws loosened little by little without my realizing it. I took it off, but is it important? Should I find screws to put it back on?
4. Other than this, I inflated the tires about 2 months ago, I'll change the brake pads since they're noisy and look used, I'll clean every surface I find, and I'll make sure to tighten all the bolts and screws I find. Is there anything else I should do?
Just wanna make sure I do it right, as I want the bike to last!
Thanks for your time
09-15-22, 05:21 PM
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You wrote a big ole long post but didn't really provide any information that anyone can use to help answer your questions. You're asking for a lot of advice for an online forum. I'd take your bike to a local shop and have them help you out with it.
09-15-22, 06:02 PM
#3
Senior Member
There's so much more that you need which would fill at least a magazine size book.
The grease you found that was all black and gunky (yeah, that's a good word
) might be regular grease that got very dusty over time or it might be grease that has molybdenum disulfide in it which is VERY black. If you don't want black marks on everything you can replace it with a clear or at least lighter color grease.
If the chain is jumping off regularly then odds are good that your derailleur hanger is bent so it's not guiding the chain well. Especially if it comes off when you back pedal. Or you are trying to run badly cross chained. Like big front ring and big back ring which puts the chain at an extreme angle. Don't do that. Use the gears more wisely if this is what you and the chain is jumping off.
As for the rest there is a very good set self help section at Park Tools website that shows you in pictures and translatable text how to do a lot of the common maintenance jobs on a bike. Also lots of You Tube videos. Don't look for a wide all embracing answer. Focus on one thing at a time.
The grease you found that was all black and gunky (yeah, that's a good word
) might be regular grease that got very dusty over time or it might be grease that has molybdenum disulfide in it which is VERY black. If you don't want black marks on everything you can replace it with a clear or at least lighter color grease.If the chain is jumping off regularly then odds are good that your derailleur hanger is bent so it's not guiding the chain well. Especially if it comes off when you back pedal. Or you are trying to run badly cross chained. Like big front ring and big back ring which puts the chain at an extreme angle. Don't do that. Use the gears more wisely if this is what you and the chain is jumping off.
As for the rest there is a very good set self help section at Park Tools website that shows you in pictures and translatable text how to do a lot of the common maintenance jobs on a bike. Also lots of You Tube videos. Don't look for a wide all embracing answer. Focus on one thing at a time.
09-16-22, 05:31 AM
#4
senior member
Check this out and then re-oil the chain when the bike is dry
