A few build questions...
10-13-06, 08:42 PM
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A few build questions...
I seemed to jump into building an MTB instead of purchasing one, I've been riding road bikes for a while, but want an MTB also. I've only done a few things with my road bikes (replaced a rear derailleur, aligned a fd, stem swaps, cassette changes, etc), but I've got an itch to build something from just parts. I just have a few questions?
Anyway, my first question is probably dumb, but when my books or instructions say grease something, what grease do you builders use? I have a tube of triflow grease and was wondering if that will work everywhere or should I get something else? I've already spent more than I should have (keeping away from the wife at the moment), so if there is something better to use I'd go for it?
For the BB, I have found some instructions that say use grease, one said use teflon tape, and I think another said use anti-sieze compound? Not sure what to use here - its the extern BB type.
Has anyone used a nashbar headset press? I got mine today and it looks fine, but just wondering here, it was $69 while the park tool one is more expensive. I did stay away from the park home press it had some bad reviews.
Parts have been showing up and I'm gettin' pretty juiced to do the build. I haven't gone out of the world on parts, but things look pretty cool. I went with just some deore stuff, but got a deore XT crankset. For bars, stem, seat post I went with Ritchy stuff - I have some Ritchy suff on my beater road bike and think the stuff is pretty good.
I'm sure I'll have more questions, but for now I'm on hold, almost everything is here except the frame is not due until Wed of next week..
I did buy a tool kit after I got my second road bike, so I've got most of the tools I think I need (it did come with the tools for the extern BB's), but I'm just waiting for the... oh I need one of those too?!!!!
Any other advice for a first time builder is appreciated,
Anyway, my first question is probably dumb, but when my books or instructions say grease something, what grease do you builders use? I have a tube of triflow grease and was wondering if that will work everywhere or should I get something else? I've already spent more than I should have (keeping away from the wife at the moment), so if there is something better to use I'd go for it?
For the BB, I have found some instructions that say use grease, one said use teflon tape, and I think another said use anti-sieze compound? Not sure what to use here - its the extern BB type.
Has anyone used a nashbar headset press? I got mine today and it looks fine, but just wondering here, it was $69 while the park tool one is more expensive. I did stay away from the park home press it had some bad reviews.
Parts have been showing up and I'm gettin' pretty juiced to do the build. I haven't gone out of the world on parts, but things look pretty cool. I went with just some deore stuff, but got a deore XT crankset. For bars, stem, seat post I went with Ritchy stuff - I have some Ritchy suff on my beater road bike and think the stuff is pretty good.
I'm sure I'll have more questions, but for now I'm on hold, almost everything is here except the frame is not due until Wed of next week..
I did buy a tool kit after I got my second road bike, so I've got most of the tools I think I need (it did come with the tools for the extern BB's), but I'm just waiting for the... oh I need one of those too?!!!!Any other advice for a first time builder is appreciated,
10-13-06, 09:03 PM
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Building your own bike is a great excercise. You will learn about your bike and every screw on it and it will be your bike more than any other bike before it.
Your choice of what grease to use is pretty big. For greasing bearings the choice may make more difference but for lubing threads just about any light duty grease will be fine. As far as the teflon tape vs. grease thing: either one will do as they are basically doing the same job. Both lube the threads for easier assembly and put a protective layer between the dissimilar metals to prevent seizing, galling, and keep moisture out of the thread interface.
Your choice of what grease to use is pretty big. For greasing bearings the choice may make more difference but for lubing threads just about any light duty grease will be fine. As far as the teflon tape vs. grease thing: either one will do as they are basically doing the same job. Both lube the threads for easier assembly and put a protective layer between the dissimilar metals to prevent seizing, galling, and keep moisture out of the thread interface.
10-13-06, 09:22 PM
#3
Call me The Breeze
Do you have cable/housing cutters?
10-13-06, 10:09 PM
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Not to hijack your thread, but I wanted to find out if the BB threads on the frame are somehow distroyed, is the frame trashed? I recently bought a cannondale 1996 frame but haven't had enough cash yet to build it up, and just wondering if I need to check out the threads by trying to install a BB before I go buy other parts to put on the frame.
10-13-06, 10:11 PM
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Originally Posted by I_bRAD
Do you have cable/housing cutters?
Thanks old_fart, building one is something I've been thinking about for a while so I'm looking forward to it. Planning has been fun, but I had a deal on a frame that went south. I'm happy with most of the components that have shown up, but I'm just going to have to see about the frame that shows up - I really wanted to use that '05 xtc frame but that didn't happen so I have a sette on order - seems low end, but I pulled the trigger on it before I thought things through. I'm working on talking the wife into returning or ebaying that and getting a better one.
10-13-06, 10:15 PM
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Grease wise, I use Marine Bearing grease for just about everything. Its about $3 a tub at ye olde LHS (local hardware store). White lithium grease works well too, but I prefer the marine bearing grease for bearings so to keep things simple I just use one grease all around. Anti seize is recommended when you have dissimilar metals (especially Ti and Al) touching each other from my understanding. I have always used regular ol' grease for the external BB's with fine results. I am very liberal in my greasing of the BB though... I put a LOT in with the cups, and then coat the inside of the BB, and the crank spindle. If the BB shell is not faced I would recommend having your shop do it. I feel its especially important with external BB's since the bearing actually snugs up to the shell. An uneven shell could in theory put wear on the bearing or cause the BB to back out due to uneven contact with the shell.
10-13-06, 10:33 PM
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Laterider
i was in the same boat as you about 6 months ago. I have a road bike but wanted a mtb. I got the itch to 'roll my own' mtb rather than buy one and just went out and did it. I did the same things that you mentioned here in your post and like you, spent more than I wanted but it's my bike and I learned a lot. I made my own headset press tho and it worked really well. The only thing I wish I did was actuall make my own frame. but I'm not a welder.
As far as grease goes, I used the park tools polylube, but the other grease mentioned by the above posters are great as well.
i was in the same boat as you about 6 months ago. I have a road bike but wanted a mtb. I got the itch to 'roll my own' mtb rather than buy one and just went out and did it. I did the same things that you mentioned here in your post and like you, spent more than I wanted but it's my bike and I learned a lot. I made my own headset press tho and it worked really well. The only thing I wish I did was actuall make my own frame. but I'm not a welder.
As far as grease goes, I used the park tools polylube, but the other grease mentioned by the above posters are great as well.
10-13-06, 10:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Old_Fart
Building your own bike is a great excercise. You will learn about your bike and every screw on it and it will be your bike more than any other bike before it.
Your choice of what grease to use is pretty big. For greasing bearings the choice may make more difference but for lubing threads just about any light duty grease will be fine. As far as the teflon tape vs. grease thing: either one will do as they are basically doing the same job. Both lube the threads for easier assembly and put a protective layer between the dissimilar metals to prevent seizing, galling, and keep moisture out of the thread interface.
Your choice of what grease to use is pretty big. For greasing bearings the choice may make more difference but for lubing threads just about any light duty grease will be fine. As far as the teflon tape vs. grease thing: either one will do as they are basically doing the same job. Both lube the threads for easier assembly and put a protective layer between the dissimilar metals to prevent seizing, galling, and keep moisture out of the thread interface.
As for grease, Phil Wood grease is a good general bike grease.
I saw the Nashbar headset press in the last catalog. It looks exactly like the one that Park sells...even down to the blue handles...can you say trademark infringement? But, if it works like the Park, it'll be a great headset press!
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
10-13-06, 10:56 PM
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Originally Posted by crypticlineage
Not to hijack your thread, but I wanted to find out if the BB threads on the frame are somehow distroyed, is the frame trashed? I recently bought a cannondale 1996 frame but haven't had enough cash yet to build it up, and just wondering if I need to check out the threads by trying to install a BB before I go buy other parts to put on the frame.
) to clean them up. If they are too buggered, you are probably sunk. Take it to a shop and have them look at it.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
10-13-06, 11:02 PM
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Heres the thing about the headset press... I would buy Park if you were pressing in 5+ headsets a week, like a busy shop. Its VERY solid and reliable and they stand behind it. The consumer is maybe pressing in a headset a year, tops. So the Nashbar one will more than likely work great.
