What Have You Fettled Today?

[Jameshow]

Damp and miserable day meant it was perfect weather to have a fettling day.

Firstly some unnecessary bling was added to the Pickenflick to match the other bits fitted over the years
View attachment 778644

View attachment 778645
Then it was chain & frame cleaning time, so the most used bikes got a going over including Autoglym car polish on the frames.
View attachment 778643
Finally using a cheapo AliExpress laser alignment tool (I didn't know they existed until this post) the handlebar alignment was checked and adjusted as the bikes were put away and all were found to be almost spot on already.

If shmbo says you have to many bikes this is the answer lads!!

 

[Jenkins]

If shmbo says you have to many bikes this is the answer lads!!

There's another three inside the Asgard!

Edit - make that four - I forgot about the folder that I just don't use and really should sell.

 

[sevenfourate]

Damp and miserable day meant it was perfect weather to have a fettling day.

Firstly some unnecessary bling was added to the Pickenflick to match the other bits fitted over the years
View attachment 778644

View attachment 778645
Then it was chain & frame cleaning time, so the most used bikes got a going over including Autoglym car polish on the frames.
View attachment 778643
Finally using a cheapo AliExpress laser alignment tool (I didn't know they existed until this post) the handlebar alignment was checked and adjusted as the bikes were put away and all were found to be almost spot on already.

Line-up looking great ! A less than awesome weather day well spent. I'm a tinkerer / fettler. So not sure about you......but i'd have actively enjoyed it too. Plus of course going out / riding with the satisfaction / knowledge all are in 'tip-top' shape

That Laser; bars / front wheel alignment tool is interesting. Because i'm an OCD iriot. I am the guy who takes an hour to look at this from multiple angles / elevations....and go for a couple of test rides with Allen keys in my pocket. Before finally bolting everything up tight.

So whilst i would in essence welcome this tool. The Engineer in me would be looking how how if fits. whats not quite symmetrical, where there's play / movement in the way it clamps or holds on etc. I'm far from knocking the concept. This is possibly more about me than the device. *I'm still gonna buy one anyway. I'm intrigued now !

 

[Jenkins]

Line-up looking great ! A less than awesome weather day well spent. I'm a tinkerer / fettler. So not sure about you......but i'd have actively enjoyed it too. Plus of course going out / riding with the satisfaction / knowledge all are in 'tip-top' shape

That Laser; bars / front wheel alignment tool is interesting. Because i'm an OCD iriot. I am the guy who takes an hour to look at this from multiple angles / elevations....and go for a couple of test rides with Allen keys in my pocket. Before finally bolting everything up tight.

So whilst i would in essence welcome this tool. The Engineer in me would be looking how how if fits. whats not quite symmetrical, where there's play / movement in the way it clamps or holds on etc. I'm far from knocking the concept. This is possibly more about me than the device. *I'm still gonna buy one anyway. I'm intrigued now !

Definitely not a fettler, more of a fit and forget once set up correctly type.

I don't know if the more expensive alignment tools are of better quality, but this is just a plastic box with weak spring clips that are slightly wider than the stem. They hold it steady enough to get on with the job while still in place. It can also be reversed and used to check saddle alignment!

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

Rode my Brompton down to the shop today, built myself a new “e” cargo bike and rode it home with the Brompton for its first load of cargo.

 

[avecReynolds531]

Reunited an overhauled ARX derailleur with the 531 & test spin was all fine through 10 gears.
That meant a Cyclone Mk II could also be rebuilt.

Dismantling showed the main spring was a mess of rust & grime, every pivot & bolt was also a lot of work.

Disraeli Gears describes the Mk II as: '...an engineering tour-de-force, but it hides its light under a curiously anonymous bushel.'
Seriously impressed with how well it still functioned - it had been changing gears fantastically well - after what must've been a tough 4 decades.

All back together, not sure how the main spring will last - the rust has taken a toll - and the dull & tarnished finish will be kept as is just now - preserving a story of 41 years on the road.
Overall though, a happy day is when another Suntour derailleur has a chance to change a few more gears yet.

 

[ColinJ]

The bike had been making ticking noises when I hit bumps in the road. I had been thinking that it was chain slap. Some of the noise is indeed from the chain but I realised this evening that some was from the front of the bike. It turned out that the headset needed tightening so I did that before the test ride. That pretty much eliminated the noise from the headset though I did hear a couple more ticks on really big bumps. I will see if a little more tightening helps.

Most of the other sounds turned out to be cables slapping against the bike frame. I sorted that problem out yesterday by sticking lots of little felt pads to the frame under those cables, wherever I thought that they were needed.

A ride on my bumpy local roads confirmed that the bike is now much quieter.

Chain slap is the only major noise bothering me now, but (apart from my local council laying lovely smooth tarmac everywhere, which is not going to happen!) the only thing that would potentially fix that is a rear derailleur with a clutch mechanism to hold it steady between gear changes.

 

[ColinJ]

Rode my Brompton down to the shop today, built myself a new “e” cargo bike and rode it home with the Brompton for its first load of cargo.

I suspect that you bought it? If you did build it, I am impressed!!

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

I suspect that you bought it? If you did build it, I am impressed!!

I’m the assembler at a factory owned Trek shop. So yup, I had to put this silly lump together before I could ride it home.

now… let the mods begin!

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

Reunited an overhauled ARX derailleur with the 531 & test spin was all fine through 10 gears.
That meant a Cyclone Mk II could also be rebuilt.

View attachment 778830
Dismantling showed the main spring was a mess of rust & grime, every pivot & bolt was also a lot of work.

View attachment 778831
Disraeli Gears describes the Mk II as: '...an engineering tour-de-force, but it hides its light under a curiously anonymous bushel.'
Seriously impressed with how well it still functioned - it had been changing gears fantastically well - after what must've been a tough 4 decades. View attachment 778832 All back together, not sure how the main spring will last - the rust has taken a toll - and the dull & tarnished finish will be kept as is just now - preserving a story of 41 years on the road.
Overall though, a happy day is when another Suntour derailleur has a chance to change a few more gears yet.

I do love the old Suntour stuff.

 

[iandg]

Been playing with the Cross-Check.

From this

To this

Fitted the Cowchippers a few weeks back. Reach was too long and stack too low. I bought an adjustable stem and a 30 deg rise has given me nearly 3cm higher stack and shorter reach.

Ditched the guards and 40c WTB Byways and fitted 47c Schwalbe Land Cruisers. Swapped the pedals and saddle, tidied up the gadgets on the bars and fitted a front carrier.

 

[ColinJ]

Chain slap is the only major noise bothering me now...

I went out a bit late this evening (a relevant factor) and eventually noticed another very subtle ticking noise from the back of the bike when riding on rough tarmac.

It took me a while to track down the culprit. It turned out to be the rear light that I had attached in case it was getting dark when I was coming home. The light is held on by a stretchy strap. I had opted to use the first hole in the strap which meant the strap was fairly loose. The light was rattling every time I rode over a bump. The solution was to simply stretch the strap more and use the second hole.

 

[sevenfourate]

This Morning (Which was forecast rain / lightening here; yet turned out dry and ok 🤷‍♂️) I’ve managed to get a small (21”) TV with around 40 Digital Freeview channels working in the bicycle museum / man cave. This made me smile……as I despise technology / electrickery 😁

The signal was initially appalling: but I managed to get it all going with a couple of mini aerials run externally - which saved buying Wi-Fi boosters or running a hard-wire from the modem to the house.

I now have really good light in there, good enough heating, a fridge, a radio, a TV; along with plenty of tools and toys.

Before long I’ll never need to set foot in the house again 😆

 

[DCLane]

Cleaned the Ridley Fenix after my recent French trip to Brittany. The derailleur was out, which appeared to happen on the ferry across, so I straightened the hanger: I'd left it rather than try to straighten / replace it.

Also, the Giant FCR Compact received some flat/SPD Shimano A530 pedals which I'd bought earlier this week.

 

[HLaB]

The main fettle was yesterday. I p'tured last year and put a tube in the tubeless tyre and I p'tured again on Friday and took the opportunity to put it back to tubeless. I couldn't quite get it to seat with the air tank but did with a CO2 cannister. I couldn't get it to hold pressure over 30psi as a p'ture hole was opening up but I inserted more sealant and that was plugged instantly. Today's fettle was just a thumb test to make sure it held pressure overnight and it did