Confession time....your idiotic wrenching disasters.
#26
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I put an extra bearing in my freehub - I still don't know where it came from. The idiotic part is that even after I felt the binding I still mounted the wheel and took a lap around the parking lot.
#27
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So by default, I'll go first.
Over tightened the stem clamp on a $200 carbon bar. Now it's just a sad reminder.
Worst part is that I was a shop wrench for several years and the worst thing I ever did was pinch a tube or two and strip a few binder bolts, but that was many moons ago.
So fess up, what have you ruined?
Over tightened the stem clamp on a $200 carbon bar. Now it's just a sad reminder.
Worst part is that I was a shop wrench for several years and the worst thing I ever did was pinch a tube or two and strip a few binder bolts, but that was many moons ago.
So fess up, what have you ruined?
Go away.
Why??
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2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
#28
Still can't climb
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errrrr hmmm.
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coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
#29
Certifiably crazy!
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After removing some spacers to lower my stem, I over tightened my top cap and had a loose headset. I rode quite a bit in the mountains like this, including 40 mph descents. I didn't know anything was wrong until the lbs mechanic told me.
#30
Making a kilometer blurry
I've been building my own wheels for over 20 years. Do you really want me to list these?
Worst case: yes, I have a set of completely unused double-butted spokes that are too short for anything I'd ever build
Worst case: yes, I have a set of completely unused double-butted spokes that are too short for anything I'd ever build
#31
Still can't climb
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I trued my wheels perfectly until it was out of round.
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coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
#33
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With the chain on, the teeth are "hidden."
#34
pan y agua
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Edit: Should have read to the end of the thread Eja beat me to it.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#35
Speechless
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1) Destroyed a new steel fork attempting to install the crown race. I whacked the race, drove the fork out of my hands, and snapped off a fork lug on the concrete floor.
2) Cut a new chain too short. It was a Campy chain, that I couldn't find locally, and had to wait two weeks for the replacement. I had cut probably 15 chains at that point, and never cut one too short previously.
2) Cut a new chain too short. It was a Campy chain, that I couldn't find locally, and had to wait two weeks for the replacement. I had cut probably 15 chains at that point, and never cut one too short previously.
#36
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As a follow up, the best home made tool I ever made was a cheater bar out of a MTB handlebar. Cut it in the middle of the oversized center, squashed it flat, and it will serve as a handle to use the small end on allen keys, or go over an open end wrench on the flattened section and not roll off.
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#38
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I either forget to tighten cassette all the way or over tighten freehub. I've actually done both of these twice. If you over tighten freehub you crush your bearings. If you under tighten cassette your freehub body gets chewed up. Not sure why i didn't learn the first time.
#40
John Wayne Toilet Paper
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Classic cable friction issue from the extra bends in the housing.
#41
serious cyclist
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#42
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My worst wrenching debacle was on my '06 Tundra, so this isn't really the place for it, but I cringe every time I think of it and it serves as a stark reminder that, my mechanical hubris aside, I am fully capable of dorking out mechanically.
And I thank the almighty Toyota engineers above for making a bulletproof drivetrain.
And I thank the almighty Toyota engineers above for making a bulletproof drivetrain.
#43
Aluminium Crusader :-)
My best story relates to automobiles, not bikes.
Way back when, I had a high-mileage Plymouth Volare station wagon. One by one, the lights in the dashboard burned out, so when the last one burned out, I had no way to see the speedometer, so, driving at night, no idea how fast I was going.
So, I got industrious and tore into that dashboard and replaced all those danged light bulbs. Only, in doing so, I managed to damage the speedometer.
So when I got through, the speedometer didn't work at all. But I could see it great!
Way back when, I had a high-mileage Plymouth Volare station wagon. One by one, the lights in the dashboard burned out, so when the last one burned out, I had no way to see the speedometer, so, driving at night, no idea how fast I was going.
So, I got industrious and tore into that dashboard and replaced all those danged light bulbs. Only, in doing so, I managed to damage the speedometer.
So when I got through, the speedometer didn't work at all. But I could see it great!
#45
Ancient Clydesdale
About 30 years ago, I was attempting to pull a Campy Super Record crankset off of my bike, but didn't realize that the washer hadn't come out with the crank bolt. I was amazed at the amount of force it took to pull the crank; but the crank didn't come off. In Campy's immense wisdom, they designed their puller to come apart before the crank threads would pull out. They had dumb asses like me in mind when they designed their crank puller.
When I built my first set of wheels (a jillion years ago) I was SO careful to get the rim straight with no discernible lateral run out. The problem was, I forgot to even try to make the wheel round. I took the bike to a group ride and kept commenting on how lumpy the road was! Later I figured out my error and loosened all the spokes and got the wheel straight AND round!
When I built my first set of wheels (a jillion years ago) I was SO careful to get the rim straight with no discernible lateral run out. The problem was, I forgot to even try to make the wheel round. I took the bike to a group ride and kept commenting on how lumpy the road was! Later I figured out my error and loosened all the spokes and got the wheel straight AND round!
#46
King Hoternot
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I have stripped or cracked a handful of chainring bolts.
Dang, that reminds me, I need to order another set now that mine dont match anymore.
Dang, that reminds me, I need to order another set now that mine dont match anymore.
#47
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About 30 years ago, I was attempting to pull a Campy Super Record crankset off of my bike, but didn't realize that the washer hadn't come out with the crank bolt. I was amazed at the amount of force it took to pull the crank; but the crank didn't come off. In Campy's immense wisdom, they designed their puller to come apart before the crank threads would pull out. They had dumb asses like me in mind when they designed their crank puller.
Not strictly wrenching, but I did buy an Italian thread Athena BB on eBay. I didn't realise that's what "36x24" meant. I've listed it myself and I have 1 watcher, 0 bids, and 5 days left.
#48
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I wanted to do the Manchester Sky Ride where they close the streets off to vehicles and people can ride on them.
Was cleaning my bike and thought I should take the wheels off and get everything really clean.
All went fine until I tried to put the rear wheel back on and tighten the cable arms.
No the cable decided to shred and no matter what I did,(I even tried to solder it!) I couldnt get it to go under the nut thing and being jobless I didnt have any money to go to the LBS to get another cable.
So had to miss out on the ride tho we did go to the Venue and watched all the events.
I did go to an LBS up the road but they wanted £30 to replace it which I didnt have.
Was cleaning my bike and thought I should take the wheels off and get everything really clean.
All went fine until I tried to put the rear wheel back on and tighten the cable arms.
No the cable decided to shred and no matter what I did,(I even tried to solder it!) I couldnt get it to go under the nut thing and being jobless I didnt have any money to go to the LBS to get another cable.
So had to miss out on the ride tho we did go to the Venue and watched all the events.
I did go to an LBS up the road but they wanted £30 to replace it which I didnt have.
#49
Still can't climb
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i don't get it. What cable? Taking a wheel off doesn't require doing anything to cables.
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coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack