Kell's idiot thread.

[Kell]

I've never stripped down a bike before so I'm starting from an absolute zero knowledge base.

And more importantly, it's a lot easier to break one apart, than it is to put one back together, so I'm going to have lots of questions.

So, rather than cram up the board with repeated idiotic questions, I figured it might be better to contain my ineptitude to one thread.

As such, whenever I have a question that seems ridiculously easy to anyone else, but I don't know the answer to, I'll post it here.

First things first.

Jockey wheels.

I've refitted the ones on my XTR RD900 mech, but they're very pointy. Replacement wheels for that mech are £32. But XT ones are £13. How do I know if other jockey wheels will fit? Or are they all much of a muchness in terms of size, just better quality materials?

And, if the XTR ones are £32, should I get some nice Hope ones instead as they're the same price?

Links: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/s?q=jockey+wheels

 

[Thias]

The XTR ones do have better bearings. XT RD-M739 or any other Jockey wheels for 8-speed will fit. There are some nice coloured CNC wheels out there.

But the original XTR M900 will be best- the question is: Will a used-but-OK derailleur cost any more that that? You could still sell yours for ~25 quid

(Note that the older 7-speed-XTs will not fit, they are wider!)

 

[xerxes]

Re:

Try a set of these: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/bbb- ... prod134278, I've had some for quite a while in my 7 speed set-up, no issues.

You might find these sites useful too:

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help

http://www.madegood.org/

 

[Kell]

OK, so now it's all stripped and I'm assessing whether or not the frame will polish or if it needs a full strip down and then polish and then lacquer, I've noticed that it has two small dings in the non-drive chain stay and seat stay. They were under some random red paint, so something's obviously fallen on it at some point during one the house moves as they weren't there when I last rode it in the late 90's.

They're almost invisible to the naked eye - unless you know they're there - but what's the process for getting rid?

If I was to get the bike dipped in acid and replated, then these would always be there, as I'm assuming anything they plate has to be metal, not any filler. So do I get them filled in with weld and file back?

Or go down a filler and then powder coat or painted route?

 

[Thias]

You should really get pic up.
What kind of frame are we talking?

 

[Kell]

You should really get pic up.
What kind of frame are we talking?

I'll try and get pics tonight.

It's the old P7, so steel.

 

[Thias]

Small dents in steel are usually fillded with some soldering metal, e.g. silver solder, then sanded. If you want to apply new color, of course.

 

[02gf74]

And more importantly, it's a lot easier to break one apart, than it is to put one back together.

NO!!!!

Depending on condition of an old bike, youll come across stuck seatposts, stuck bottom brackets, stuck stem quills,, seized bolts, mullered bolt heads to name a few - anyone of those could days to sort - not to mention oil and crud covering parts making it unpkeasant to work on.

 

[Kell]

Re:

All I mean is it doesn't matter which order things come apart. But it does matter when they go back together.

 

[k-rod]

entropy is your adversary.