Bike maintenance

Mark A · 10 Sep 2006 at 18:11

Hi,

I have a Giant XTC SX mountain bike, Ive had it for a few months now and was wondering if i should carry out any maintenance on the bike.

Ive not noticed anything that needs doing apart from a slight creaking sound. The chain has a few little spots of rust on the links, very small spots but i was under the impression that the chains were rust proof. I want to try and stop it before it starts getting worse.

Ive been using a dry Teflon lubricant (TF2) on the chain, would it be better to use 3 in 1 oil or something similar?. Also i think i may need to degrease the chain as it has a thick black sludge on it and its attracting dust and grit. What can i use to do this?, i was thinking of using some WD40 is this OK to use to clean the chain?.

TIA

Mark

Jonny ///M · 10 Sep 2006 at 19:23

Mark A said:
Hi,

I have a Giant XTC SX mountain bike, Ive had it for a few months now and was wondering if i should carry out any maintenance on the bike.

Ive not noticed anything that needs doing apart from a slight creaking sound. The chain has a few little spots of rust on the links, very small spots but i was under the impression that the chains were rust proof. I want to try and stop it before it starts getting worse.

Ive been using a dry Teflon lubricant (TF2) on the chain, would it be better to use 3 in 1 oil or something similar?. Also i think i may need to degrease the chain as it has a thick black sludge on it and its attracting dust and grit. What can i use to do this?, i was thinking of using some WD40 is this OK to use to clean the chain?.

TIA

Mark

I used wd40 + cleaning brushes to clean my chain and cassette. When oiling the chain drip it on - assuming its that type of bottle - drip it between the two sides of the link since its the lil round things you want oiled........once your done with that run the chain through a rag to take the exess oil off the chain and the outsides of the links thus less black gunk after a week or two. Dry lube isnt as bad as wet lube at that though. My chain loves me more since i started oiling it like that(no snappy snappy).

One thing to check is your crank bolts,left hand side is notorious for coming loose. Also make sure everythings tight,stem,bars,Qr skewers,pedals etc etc. Check the brakes pads......all the gears working ok? Check your spoke tension!!!

weescott · 10 Sep 2006 at 19:42

You are better to degrease the chain and use a chain cleaner and re-grease the chain regularly - this will prolong the life of your drive train. WD-40 will attract dirt so make sure you clean off the excess.

Keep WD-40 away from brakiing surfaces, use it to lube gear cables or displace water after your bike gets wet.

Always check for loose bolts.
Clean dirt from stanchions.
Check for wear on tyres and brake pads.
...and cracks in your frame.

Mark A · 10 Sep 2006 at 21:33

Thanks for the advice guys

. Will any chain tool do?, Ive seen a mini chain tool made by park tool for £15 on ebay inc delivery, will this do the job OK?. There are much cheaper ones for a fiver but Ive heard the pin can snap in cheaper ones?.

All the gears are working perfectly which I'm really pleased about as my last bike was a cheap bike with shimano index gears which would need constant adjustment to keep them running smoothly. What lube is best to use on the gear deraliers (sp?) Ive just been putting a few drops of this dry lube on the spring and pivots. Ive also squirted dry lube down the gear cable housings until it seeped out the other side to stop any rust occurring.

I'll have a look online and see which is cheaper, chain degreaser or WD40 and then order some.

Clean dirt from stanchions.

Sorry for the nub questions but what is a stanchion?

weescott · 10 Sep 2006 at 21:41

Stanchion = front suspension where errr...one part slides into the other.

Chain tool? You mean chain cleaner tool? Get one made by Park Tools. I bought a cheaper one that fell apart after using it twice.

I prefer Finish Line wet lube - it can atract dirt so use sparingly. Just my preference as I ride through all weather.

Raymond Lin · 12 Sep 2006 at 01:09

I just bought this book,

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0756602955/202-0521213-0931060?_encoding=UTF8

(I hope direct link to product is allowed? If not, I apologise)

It's pretty good for explaining all the bits and bobs, and get stand for the bike, makes mantainence a lot easier. Even a £15 display stand works wonders, so you can turn the crank while lubing the chain.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/Default.asp...ts.aspx&Cat=cycle&w=0&CategoryName=Workstands

Here's a cheap £17 i got, can't afford one of those £150 ones but it helps cleaning really well as it elevate the back wheel off the ground, allow you to turn the crank and change gears.

Look how clean the cogs are after i cleaned it

Jonny ///M · 12 Sep 2006 at 02:20

Uh you put me to shame!! You and your......lovely bike :rolleyes:

Sometime in the next two weeks im gonna get an 11-34 Xt cassette,X9 shifter and mech,new chain and some new grips.....maybe a new seat as that ones bent from a crash. I fancy an 11-34t since my 12-23t is a bit tought to get about on with a 36t front ring but its fun to just floor it with.....can go pretty fast in 1st gear alone

Raymond Lin · 12 Sep 2006 at 02:47

I want to upgrade my bike already lol ! But i've promise myself now i won't until at least the winter is over or when something breaks. However i do like some new shifters, the Deore shifters is a bit hard to shift up, need a bit of force to go up a gear, easy to go down thou. Just like something that shifts easier.

First thing to get is a hydration backpack, useful to carry stuff around while riding. More useful and changing anything at the moment.

Jonny ///M · 12 Sep 2006 at 03:10

Raymond Lin said:
I want to upgrade my bike already lol ! But i've promise myself now i won't until at least the winter is over or when something breaks. However i do like some new shifters, the Deore shifters is a bit hard to shift up, need a bit of force to go up a gear, easy to go down thou. Just like something that shifts easier.

First thing to get is a hydration backpack, useful to carry stuff around while riding. More useful and changing anything at the moment.

I just use my bag at the moment since i carry like..every tool i need. Will proably get a dakine pack or something since i keep needing less and less tools.(no crank extractors for the saints).

I will recomend sram till the cows come home,i used my brothers X7 and now im planning on buying X9 lol.....shifting never felt so good. :eek:

Raymond Lin · 12 Sep 2006 at 03:13

I have a regular backpack but its one of those single cross chest strap bags, fine for walking but when you are on a bike and leaning forward a bit, there is a risk of it swinging forward. Which when riding fast it really affect the balance, almost fell off once when that happened ! So might as well kill 2 birds with one stone but getting a camelbak or something. Will look into X9 shifters, that is if they are compatible with LX mechs.

Jonny ///M · 12 Sep 2006 at 03:15

Raymond Lin said:
I have a regular backpack but its one of those single cross chest strap bags, fine for walking but when you are on a bike and leaning forward a bit, there is a risk of it swinging forward. Which when riding fast it really affect the balance, almost fell off once when that happened ! So might as well kill 2 birds with one stone but getting a camelbak or something. Will look into X9 shifters, that is if they are compatible with LX mechs.

No no ,you have to get a sram with a name...i think sram rocket shifters the the shimano compatible X9.

Front mechs AFAIK are the same but rear mechs i know need different shifters.

Get yourself a pair of rockets.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5718

Raymond Lin · 12 Sep 2006 at 03:29

Ta, will speak to the LBS tomorrow and order some, they fit it for free too, worth the £5 savings.

But first, that backpack.

Jonny ///M · 12 Sep 2006 at 03:44

Raymond Lin said:
Ta, will speak to the LBS tomorrow and order some, they fit it for free too, worth the £5 savings. But first, that backpack.

Ive never used many of them but my riding buddy :rolleyes:

got a dakine and he love it,holds enough tools. Im sure he had a full face helmet hanging off it aswell. Myself i have a "Bass" bag that my mate got me in florida,things built like a tank and so comfy.....takes my bottle of water or whatever instead of putting it in bladder...

Mark A · 12 Sep 2006 at 20:00

Raymond Lin said:
I want to upgrade my bike already lol ! But I've promise myself now i won't until at least the winter is over or when something breaks. However i do like some new shifters, the Deore shifters is a bit hard to shift up, need a bit of force to go up a gear, easy to go down thou. Just like something that shifts easier.

First thing to get is a hydration backpack, useful to carry stuff around while riding. More useful and changing anything at the moment.

Same here lol, I'm going to wait a while before i buy anything though as the bike rides great. I just always get the urge to upgrade stuff, thats why I'm holding off getting a car.

I typed a big post 2 nights ago then when i clicked submit reply that 9/11 screen appeared and all was lost

.

I was going to ask if soaking the chain in white spirit would do the job of cleaning the chain OK?. It would be a lot cheaper and i cant see it doing any damage. I ended up buying some citrus degreaser and some wet lube in a spray can, came to £15 :eek:

but should last a while.

Raymond Lin, thanks for the info mate, ill order a copy of that book i think. Its a PITA searching for info online, this forum is great but i could ask 1000 questions lol. Also i think I'll get one of them stands as well, i usually use a great tool AKA my brother but could do with something that doesn't moan as much lol. Theres so many tools i need to buy. Ohh i got a nice pump a few weeks ago looks great on my bike and seems very good quality. I also like how it fixes at the side of the bottle. A necessity to have on the bike as i found out a few weeks back, had to carry my bike 4 miles to get home

.

Raymond Lin · 12 Sep 2006 at 20:08

I am still thinking about what pump to get, i think yours is a Toppeak one?

I want this one

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?modelID=7457 to put on the bike

Kamerad · 12 Sep 2006 at 20:14

With the weather getting worse you will need a wet lube for your chain. I use Finish Line Cross Country myself and find it pretty good. With it being a wet lube though it attracts dirt and you will have to clean the chain more often. I would reccommend getting a SRAM chain as they come with a powerlink so you can uncouple the chain making cleaning it a lot easier.

If you have Shimano disc brakes check if you have resin brake pads fitted. I had them on my bike and they completely disintegrated over a couple of wet rides as they are only really designed for dry weather.

As far as books are concerned I bought "The Art Of Mountain Bike Maintenance" by Lennard Zinn from Wiggle. It has everything you need to know and is very well written and illustrated.

Kamerad · 12 Sep 2006 at 20:17

Raymond Lin said:
I am still thinking about what pump to get, i think yours is a Toppeak one?

I want this one

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?modelID=7457 to put on the bike

Crank brothers make good products if a little expensive

I have a Blackburn Mountain Air mini pump. I wouldnt attach it to the bike though as the seals will fail when exposed to bad weather. They are best kept in a rucksack/camelbak or if you do attach it to the bike keep it inside an old inner tube.

I don't really like mini pumps though as I cant get my tyres up to a decent pressure with mine although they do come in handy in an emergancy

Mark A · 12 Sep 2006 at 20:46

Raymond Lin said:
I am still thinking about what pump to get, i think yours is a Toppeak one?

I want this one

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?modelID=7457 to put on the bike

Its a Blackburn air stick, was £17 i think, seems like a decent pump thus far. Its says on the website that the pump will pump up to 150psi so shouldn't be a problem getting the tires upto a decent pressure

, although i wouldn't exactly call the one i have a mini pump.

Raymond Lin · 12 Sep 2006 at 20:47

Mark A said:
Its a Blackburn air stick, was £17 i think, seems like a decent pump thus far. Its says on the website that the pump will pump up to 150psi so shouldn't be a problem getting the tires upto a decent pressure , although i wouldn't exactly call the one i have a mini pump.

It is mini compared to this

I'd get a mini to take on rides and one like this for home thou.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?modelID=1608

Mark A · 12 Sep 2006 at 20:54

Yeah i might get something like that to keep at home and then i can test out different tire pressures, instead of just pumping them up till the feel hard.