Never fettle on a sunday...

[rh100]

Big mistake, tried to make an adjustment to the other half's bike before going for a ride, and I managed to break it, probably the last decent Sunday of the year and look what happens

What I had tried to do, at her request, was to raise the handle bars slightly, so I had a quick read up and then had a go, found there didn't seem to be any adjustment and tightened back up again, and tightened, and tightened, hmmm still seems to be a bit of give, tightened again and SNAP - the top washer come ufo shaped object (think of a flattened smartie with a hole through the center) had part of it shear off, photo attached.

it seems like it was a washer just suspended by the rim, with the bolt tightening at the centre, crap design or is it just me?

Anyway, is it easily repairable with a few washers?

I'm assuming this bolt is what holds the forks and handlebars together?

Any advice appreciated as always

 

[oxbob]

Get a new one about £5 at lbs

 

[rh100]

Thanks oxbob, these are a standard item then?

How do you know when they are tight enough? I tend to keep going until they stop turning

 

[andrew-the-tortoise]

Yep, it clamps the stem [the bit your handlebars attatch to] to the fork steerer tube via an internal 'star nut' thingy.

Ensure the stem clamp bolts are not tight [the two cap heads below] and nip the cap down onto the top of the stem using allen key, ensure there is no play in steerer tube.
Line wheel up with handlebars, tighten stem clamp bolts evenly together [1 turn top, then 1 turn bottom] until tight.

Test before riding on road !!

If you are still having problems, LBS would be able to sort it & supply new part.

 

[rh100]

Cheers ATT, just got back from Halfords as the only shop open close by, and credit where it's due the lad got me the right part and gave similar advice to yourself.

I've replaced the part, and just pinch tightened it, as i understand it now, the top bolt just holds it in the downward direction, and the two side bolts stop the whole thing coming apart and keep it in line with the forks, acting as the main clamp. So the top bolt just stops the assembly sliding upwards and off should the side bolts become loose?

thanks again

 

[Steve Austin]

You could have quite happily ridden it without the topcap attached. its only there to provide a bit of compression for the headset to stay tight enough. once your tightened the stem bolts, the topcap, starnut could be removed.

 

[rh100]

Cheers Steve, I get it now - I think i thought the forks would drop out the bottom or something I'll know for the next time though eh? And I've still got the afternoon to get a ride in

 

[Eddy_Mc]

At least you have learned the peril of over tightening something that is a cheap and quick fix. Imagine if you has striped stem clamp bolts, it would have been retapping or a new stem.

 

[rh100]

too true

 

[Joe24]

I would of botched it, then gone and got a new one on Monday.
Put a bigger washer on top of it, and did that.

I am not known for safe bodges though, i once went to get a brake cable for the back of a mess about fixed i had. Stupid woman gave me a gear cable, i couldnt arsed to go back into the shop, so, a few knots in the end, thread it back through and done.
Limited braking, but it worked, sort of.
Found out the sprocket was fine on the wheel(no lockring on the sprocket) so just got rid of the back brake.

 

[Eddy_Mc]

I would of botched it, then gone and got a new one on Monday.
Put a bigger washer on top of it, and did that.

I am not known for safe bodges though, i once went to get a brake cable for the back of a mess about fixed i had. Stupid woman gave me a gear cable, i couldnt arsed to go back into the shop, so, a few knots in the end, thread it back through and done.
Limited braking, but it worked, sort of.
Found out the sprocket was fine on the wheel(no lockring on the sprocket) so just got rid of the back brake.

Phew, you cycle on the mainland. I will not have to look out for the guy screaming GET OUT OF THE WAY NO BREAKS anytime soon

 

[Joe24]

Phew, you cycle on the mainland. I will not have to look out for the guy screaming GET OUT OF THE WAY NO BREAKS anytime soon

I ride fixed, still had a front brake and my legs to brake. So no worried about no brakes.
I have often gone to work, been screaming down a hill to have a red light, brake and find i havent pushed the lever back over on the front brake, so just had to leg brake hard, or quickly push the lever down

 

[rh100]

Joe, I think you're nuts remind me never to ask you fix anything on my bike

But thanks for all advice everyone, got the bike fixed and we went out in the afternoon, got back about 7.30'ish, having completed a personal best of about 17.5 mile (god it hurts now though ) We went out to Earlswood reservoir, which gave us our first experience of riding in the countryside, it was absolutely fantastic. No pavements so no choice but to go on the road, which was great as we seemed to go further between stopping to rest our legs. Most drivers were ok except a few ignorant ones, but nothing too bad. Thanks again, the day was saved.

 

[buddha]

Yep. The hub gear on my commute/shopping bike sounded a little rough. So I thought I'd give it a quick service. So took the thing apart (no mean feat) and realised I'd run out of thick grease. Like a numpty, I topped it up with finish line lube. Now, the finish line has thinned what grease was in there and it sounds even worse!

 

[MacB]

I was shown to use the top cap to remove slack, then the stem clamp secures the position and ease the top cap off a turn afterwards.