Comments on: What maintenance won’t you do?

By: Moose

Moose — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 13:23:36 +0000

The threaded rod headset press is a very serviceable tool. Refrigerate (as in the freezer) the baring races and cups, and have a warmed headtube. This tends to facillitate installation.

Truing wheels is an art form I leave to the professionals. I totally suck at it, and at the same time cannot stand the slightest out-of-true wheel.

Chasing/facing isn’t at all difficult with patience. Coming up with the right size tap for the threads can be fun.

By: Matt Novak

Matt Novak — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 02:55:02 +0000

Wheel building and truing are still black magic to me, all framework is left to the LBS, and I’ve never pressed a headset (don’t have the tool, yet).

For me, “DIY vs. LBS” really comes down to three things: whether I have the right tools for the job, whether I can find enough info to proceed with confidence, and time.

That said… has anyone else ever found that it’s sometimes impossible to “do it right” no matter how much experience/confidence/tool-ege you have? It drives me flat-out _bonkers_ when I can’t find the correct torque spec for a part… or I can find the torque spec, but can’t find a tool that works with a torque wrench (the Hollowtech BB tool comes to mind)??? Any solutions/tips for these situations?

By: Tim Grahl

Tim Grahl — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:23:49 +0000

For me, I see taking something to the LBS to work on is like buying insurance. I pay a monthly fee just in case I get jacked up in a wreck or get sick. Sure, I haven’t used it in years, but it’s still worth it.

I take stuff to the shop when the cost of the parts plus the odds of me messing up outweighs the price I’ll pay to a mechanic. Right now that includes the things I listed in the post along with a lot of the wheel stuff mentioned by other commenters.

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 18:58:39 +0000

I decided to build my own bike for kicks. I had not mechanical experience previously, so I knew this would be an adventure to say the least. In any case, when it came to the headset and fork, I left those to the bike shop. Same reasons as everyone else. If I messed it up, I couldn’t think of wasting $400. I also has them face/ream the frame so I didn’t have to buy the tools.

Other than that, I have installed the wheels, cranks, transmission, disc brakes, cables, etc. So far, it has been very rewarding. I can’t wait to finish it up.

By: Karl Etzel

Karl Etzel — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 15:11:17 +0000

About the only thing left off my list at this point is frame work - facing the HT or BB shell. And that is because of not having the right tools. I find that with high quality products and the right tools most stuff is pretty simple. The first time I pressed in a HS with my Park professional press I was like “wow, that’s it?”.

I still don’t overhaul my own forks though (time constraints more than anything) and I have yet to do a complete brake bleed but I’ve only been on my Formula hydraulic brakes for a year.

I find building my own wheels to be extremely satisfying, but again, time constraints force me to buy off the shelf most times these days. Truing I do on my own though.

The one job I detest the most (but I still do it myself) - running cables.

By: Fritz

Fritz — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 06:39:55 +0000

Speaking of forks, the cost enhances the importance of ‘measure twice, cut once.’

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 03:19:25 +0000

I have done all my own maintenance as long as I can remember. 9 speed drivetrains are a dream to dial in compared to the old 7 and 8 speed ones, tight tolerances make it easier for me. Replacing a spoke is not really so bad in a well maintained wheel, just get the tension right and it’s a breeze. I installed 2 King headsets with 2×4s and a hammer, and cut down forks using a Dremel and an old stem. My first time dismantling and rebuilding the air fork was ultra nerve wracking but it works afterward, lol.

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 01:46:24 +0000

I have no problem with pressing headset cups or cutting down forks. (I recommend a cheap pipe cutter from the hardware store for the latter job. It’s neater than a hack saw.)

It’s truing wheels that still makes me crazy. I run to the shop for that. And now that I have a high-zoot new full-suspension mountain bike, there’s all this shock maintenance I have to learn for the new models. I’m still testing the waters in that area.

By: HELLBELLY

HELLBELLY — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 01:15:40 +0000

I do all the basic stuff including clean ups, brake pad changes, drivetrain adjustments, shock/fork maintenance, and whatnot. I have with the help of my more experienced pal pressed in headsets, cut forks, and dialed in new drivetrains as well as hydraulic brake bleeds. I stay away from wheel truing and major drivetrain nightmares.

By: Greg from Ohio

Greg from Ohio — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 18:16:30 +0000

I’ll do just about anything except wheels and chasing/facing the bottom bracket and head tube…

What’s so hard about installing a headset? I made a DIY tool out of a threaded rod with nuts and washers on both ends and its pretty much a breeze.