Stupid mechanic errors you have made

[bladesman73]

Was in a rush fitting a KMC quick link chain the other day. Measured it up using the method of chain around large cogs at back and front, bypassing the rear derailleur...all good so far. Then without thinking I joined the quick links...before I have threaded it through the rear deraiileur!! 🤣🤣 Share your schoolboy error mechanic fails with me...

 

[Dogtrousers]

Stupid is my middle name. I think possibly the stupidest, and most dangerous, was fitting some front brake blocks the wrong way round so when I braked they ejected the brake pads. At least I think that's what I did, I forget. If not exactly that, it was something stupid that resulted in my front brake suddenly becoming not a brake any more.

 

[Sharky]

A long time ago, used to watch the track racing at Kirby stadium. Noticed that some riders used to wrap tape round their tubs/rim to to hold them in place.

Thought, that's a good idea, especially as my tubs were a bit worn and had a habit or turning round on the rim.

So tried it, but alas, only got to the end of the road before I realised that this solution doesn't quite work with rim brakes!!

 

[geocycle]

Tightened a rear wheel skewer too much after repairing a puncture and snapped it. Unfortunately it was on some deserted moor north of Newcastle. Disconnected the rear brake and decided to see if I could ride to a bike shop. 25 miles later I arrived at Halfords in Newcastle!

 

[Rusty Nails]

Years ago, before I had really got into bike maintenance and repairs, I painstakingly converted a1952 Rensch road bike I bought off my next door neighbour from fixed-wheel to seven speed using a new Shimano chainset and Crane gears.
Everything worked well in the workshop so I took it out for its first ride on the road. On coming to a steep hill I moved the rear mech to the biggest sprocket on the freewheel and the chain jumped over the cogs and mashed up half a dozen spokes on the rear wheel. I wasn't up to truing wheels at that stage so had to take it to the bike shop to have the spokes changed and the wheel trued.
I have always double-checked the limits on the gears since then.

 

[MichaelW2]

Trying to remove a seatpost bolt with an Allen key by rotating the bolt that keys into the frame. It does not rotate.
Rotating the bolt to remove bars, until the wedge drops off.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Me? None. Never. No sir. I'm not a total div...

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/i-am-a-total-div.261149/

 

[ianrauk]

Changed an inner tube, pumped up the tyre. The tyre had a huge weird bump.
Somehow I had left a tyre lever in the tyre.

 

[bladesman73]

Loving the stories guys. Keep em coming.

 

[Low Gear Guy]

I realised last week than when I last adjusted the cable tension on the rear derailleur that the smallest cog was not available.

I had not noticed for two years.

 

[Jameshow]

Assembled winter bike several years back and put one gear adjuster in for the front but not one for the back it's still like that today!! Guess rear has one on the RD.

 

[Profpointy]

1 Cut the cable tie not the cable !

2 Soldering up a DIN audio lead but forgetting to put the rubber shroud on. Never mind, I can slide it on the cable from the other end. Momentarily distracted I forgot again, so had to desolder the 5 pins, then put both shrouds on the cable and re-solder. Arse ! I've now got both shrouds facing the wrong way, so now have to desolder and resolder the five pins again. What a palaver that was.

And finally, and I may well win the thread for this last one. Reassembling a totally stripped down bike, and upon putting the forks back on, thought "hang on, that doesn't look quite right" and it took me a few moments to realise they were upside down ie the handlebars would have been underneath, and the forks where the bars should be.

 

[Smokin Joe]

In the days when you could buy Campag sprockets individually I built up an eight-speed cassette and ran it for eighteen months (Including time trialing) before realising I had two 18t sprockets.

That explained why a certain gear shift was silky smooth.

 

[Milzy]

Torque wrench was not locked in place so slid to a high setting. Snapped a titanium bolt. Drilled out & re-tapped but was never the same again.

 

[Beebo]

Was in a rush fitting a KMC quick link chain the other day. Measured it up using the method of chain around large cogs at back and front, bypassing the rear derailleur...all good so far. Then without thinking I joined the quick links...before I have threaded it through the rear deraiileur!! 🤣🤣 Share your schoolboy error mechanic fails with me...

I’ve done the same without going through the front derailleur.
Pain in the behind.