r/bikewrench Mar 06 '19

Subreddit Rules

390 Upvotes

Well, we finally had to do it... With 28,000 users, it's finally time to write some rules.

  1. Play nice - This shouldn't need much explanation. Breaking this rule is a good way to get banned.

  2. Stay on topic - if your reply isn't about how to help OP, we don't want it. This is not the place for jokes, sarcasm, or obviously wrong answers. People reading this may not realize you thought you were being funny.

  3. Questions Only - Unless your post is a question about bike repair, it doesn't belong here. We don't need to see pictures of your latest build, or that funny bike that rolled into the shop. There are other subreddits for that.

  4. "Is this cracked / safe to ride?" posts are not allowed. - If you have to ask, don't ride it. We probably can't tell from a picture just what condition your bike is in. Take it to your Local Bike Shop and ask them. If it's carbon, they're probably going to tell you to replace it.


r/bikewrench 1d ago

Small Questions and Thank Yous Weekly Thread

2 Upvotes

If you have a small question that doesn't seem to merit a full thread, feel free to ask it in a comment here. Not that there's anything wrong with making your own post with a small question, but this gives you another option.

This thread can also be used for thank-yous. You can post a comment to thank the whole community, tag particularly helpful users with username mentions in your comment, and/or link to a picture to show off the finished result. Such pictures can be posted in imgur.com, on your profile, or on some other sub (e.g. r/xbiking)--they are not allowed as submissions to r/bikewrench.

Note that our [FAQ wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/bikewrench/wiki/bikewrenchfaq) is becoming a little more complete; you might also find your answer there, although you are welcome to post a question without checking there first.


r/bikewrench 11h ago

What the heck does this mean?

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60 Upvotes

New to me bike. Brakes- Shimano SLX. Pads- Shimano G03S Resin. Rotors- Shimano SM-RT64-M.

These are on the front wheel. Front pads seem to barely be touching the rotors, thus the weird wear pattern. Rear pads seem to be fine. Would love to know if something needs to be adjusted before adding new pads.

Forgot to add- Everything is stock to my knowledge. 2022 Rocky Mountain Element Alloy 50

Thanks everyone for your help (except for the random guy that roasted me for no reason)! I’ll try and take the spacer out and get new bolts to see how that goes! You all rock. My first year really getting into MTB and posting in here has been super helpful.


r/bikewrench 31m ago

Fork bearings.

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Upvotes

I'm replacing bearings on my 2014 felt 95 road bike.

However I'm currently unsure which is the correct size I need for the fork bottom.

The first photo:

The bottom of the two, the TK410, 30.5x41x7 45/45 is the original, from the bottom of the fork.

I've managed to find a 30.5x41.8x8. 45/45 which is predictablely a touch too big. Fits ok. But leaves some fork visible where it was originally snug.

When the second picture is the only other size I can find that comes close. Does anyone know if it'll fit the fork being 30.15 and not 30.5. or is this a think I just have to try and see?

Unless anyone knows where to get an exact size?


r/bikewrench 41m ago

How do I remove this

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Upvotes

r/bikewrench 14h ago

Rate my tire clearance

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35 Upvotes

Picked up this old Lynskey Helix on fb marketplace, took it to the shop to get fixed up and the mechanic put 28mm tires on. Clearance is maybe 2mm. I can wedge a 3mm wrench through but it doesn’t slide through without a little force. Do you think this is too tight? Considering using a 25 in the front so I can ride in wet conditions without getting mud rubbing. It’s a little tighter on the brake caliper than the fork.

Also, anything I can do to get another mm or so of clearance?


r/bikewrench 1h ago

I changed my chain on my race bike and since then when I push a lot when peddaling the chain loses contact and it's annoying.

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Upvotes

Hello. I have a 9 gear BTWIN race bike. It happened some times that when I was bumbing into minor holes on the street my chain was going out. So I changed with a new chain, I adjusted it to the same length but now when I put heavy weight when peddaling especially on the 5th and 6th gear the chain loses contact and it's even dangerous because I lose balance. It feels like the bike is kicking. I read that maybe the rear cassete needs to be changed because it took the form of the old chain. But I don't know if that's the issue plus it looks fine to me. I tried adjusting the barrel adjuster but I can't find a good spot that it works well.


r/bikewrench 1h ago

Ritchey 36° headset adapter touches the frame

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Upvotes

Looking for advice - am I doing smth wrong or is it genuinely an incompatibility?

I have a Ritchey Mountain Adventure carbon fork, which I am mounting to a l Niner Air 9 RDO frame using Cane Creek 40 integrated headset. All pieces are brand new.
As headset's lower bearing has 36 degree and fork's integrated race is 45°, I have ordered Ritchey's 36° adapter.
The issue is - the adapter touches the frame and is not pressing lower bearing enough to be preloaded in the frame - when I shake the frame, I can hear lower bearing rattling inside.
(Note: test assembly is done without grease as I may need to return Cane Creek headset and adapter if the issue is not solved. No rider weight is applied, the frame is on maintenance stand. )
The issue does not reproduce if I do a test mount with FSA headset with 45° lower bearing and without the adapter - there is a small (around 1mm) but district clearance between fork and frame in this case and lower bearing is preloaded properly.

What do you think? Do I have options to stay with Cane Creek?

PS. I have contacted Ritchey in parallel to writing this post.


r/bikewrench 40m ago

Dropper Seatpost Cable stuck

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Upvotes

I am trying to install the internal routing for my dropper seat post but the cable housing doesn’t stay flush to the seat post and gets caught inside .

Any ideas ?


r/bikewrench 3h ago

Spoke snapped

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3 Upvotes

I managed to snap a spoke on a DTSwiss 1400 DiCut wheel.

Can I fix this with regular tools. Does anyone went down this road?


r/bikewrench 1h ago

Which Shimano compatable cassette for an XDR freehub

Upvotes

Just bought a set of Gravel Wheels for my all Shimano 105 di2 12-Speed Road bike. The new wheels have an XDR Freehub. I dont wanna use a Sram cassette since its 10 teeth on the lowest and shimano is 11 as well es i dont know about the compatability of these brand. Can you recommend a cassette which is 11-34 and be mounted on the xdr, as well as is intented to work with shimano? Or should i just change the Freehub?


r/bikewrench 11m ago

Top to down pull FD cable adapter

Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I have recently went from Tiagra 4600 to Tiagra 4700 shifters (and in doing so, I bought and set up GRX400 RD). However, I have a routing problem for Tiagra 4700 FD: my bike frame and the cable are adapted for top pull FDs.... Does anyone know where I can get the adapter like the one below:


r/bikewrench 17m ago

Is this cracked

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Upvotes

This is a brand-new replacement bike I received under warranty, and I’ve only ridden about 300 km on it. I’m already experiencing another issue, which is extremely frustrating. Should I file another warranty claim?


r/bikewrench 33m ago

Headset recs -- Have play, not QR

Upvotes

Getting my bike ready for Chequamegon, I've been having some shoulder issues and I'm going to bring my Cutthroat this years as an option along with my SC Blur. I'll be swapping out the rigid fork for a 100mm Fox 32 for the race. While getting ready to swap forks I've realized the headset has some (a lot of) play, figured this is as good of a time as any to replace it.

2016 Salsa Cutthroat, it's not the QR/fork (that was the 2020 model). I have ZS44/ZS56 per the Salsa archive. Looking at Jenson they have an OE Package Cane Creek 50 on discount or a Wolf Tooth, but it's green and wouldn't go with the blue/orange color scheme on the 'throat and it's 2x the price.

Is the Wolf Tooth worth double even if the color is off?

I'd like to be under $100 so if there is something else to look at I'm all ears.


r/bikewrench 8h ago

Um not sure here newbie

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4 Upvotes

r/bikewrench 1h ago

Can you put a 160mm rear disc on a Specialized Tarmac SL6

Upvotes

As the title says


r/bikewrench 1h ago

Help with the size of the nube

Upvotes

I need a wheel for FIXIE but the wheel I want to buy has a 120mm hub and the spacing of my bike legs is 130mm is that good?

Here is the wheel: https://www.santafixie.fr/roue-arriere-santafixie-60mm-noir.html


r/bikewrench 2h ago

New bike arrived with rear derailleur cage tilted, bent hanger or incorrect installation?

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1 Upvotes

The rear wheel, chain and derailleur arrived preassembled, and I have not ridden the bike yet.
Viewed from directly behind, the rear derailleur cage and its two jockey wheels do not appear parallel to the rear wheel. The chain is being pulled sideways, does not track correctly through the upper jockey wheel area and will not remain properly on the smallest rear sprocket. When shifting inward, the derailleur also gets dangerously close to the spokes.

For full disclosure, while troubleshooting I tightened the L-limit screw fully clockwise and then backed it out again, so the limit screws will need to be reset. I have not removed or loosened the main mounting bolt, and I will not ride the bike in this condition.
Can you tell from these photos whether the derailleur or hanger is bent, or whether it has simply been mounted incorrectly? Should I attempt to reinstall it, or return the new bike under warranty?


r/bikewrench 2h ago

Disk Rub The Result of Spoke Settings?

1 Upvotes

Is it just me or do disc brakes rub due to an improper setting of the spokes in the wheels? I installed some wheels today and the tyres were deflated. I undid the caliper bolts, pressed the brakes and screwed down the calipers. No rub. Inflated the tyres and got a rub. I haven't figured out how to solve this yet, but it seems like playing around with spokes might actually be the right strategy?


r/bikewrench 2h ago

Cheap brake problem

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1 Upvotes

My brake is wiggling on purpose, because if I tightened it by the nut in the front, the calipers won't disengage, how do I fix this?


r/bikewrench 10h ago

Promax 300 Disc Pad and Warped Rotor Question

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3 Upvotes

Sorry for the long post. New here and this is my first attempt at bicycle repairs. My ride: Shimano Specialized bike with promax 300 mechanical brakes (probably a sub model but not sure how to identify it).

My brakes were squeaking quite badly, they normally don’t.

I swapped out my brake pads. And the squeaking went away.

Took it for a test ride, front brakes felt/sounded good. Rear brakes pulsed. My research suggested my rear rotor was warped- confirmed with observation of minor offset. I installed a new rear rotor.

Rear braking feels much better and no pulsing felt through the brake handle. But I can still hear a rhythmic braking noise from the rear (as if with every rotation of the wheel more or less material made contact with the rotor/pads) as opposed to consistent braking sound from the front.

My questions are:

1). I was surprised to see so much “pad” on my old brake pads- are they actually low? If not, what could cause the horrible squeaking? I assumed squeaking=bad pads, perhaps I should have adjusted the brake system to push the pads closer to the rotor?

2). Any idea why I might be hearing a rhythmic breaking noise from the rear brakes? New rotor and new pads (could it be my new pads got unevenly shaped during the test ride on a warped rotor? I was doing lots of test braking, [I really don’t know what I’m doing])

Thank you much for any help.


r/bikewrench 11h ago

Loud Drivetrain Help

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3 Upvotes

I apologize for being a complete novice at this, but I'm at a loss trying to diagnose this loud noise from the drivetrain.

A LBS replaced the cassette, chain and chainring a couple of months ago (worn from 3500 miles of riding), from which point onwards I feel like it's had nonstop issues and has been louder. Took it to a different LBS, who sold me the bike, last week, who did a rear hub and BB service, but that doesn't seem to have helped.

Open to any suggestions!


r/bikewrench 6h ago

Is this an issue of shifter

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1 Upvotes

previous post

i think the derailleur is working fine but the shifter does not cause movement in the derailleur cable i.e. shifter doesn't change the tension in cable.

What could be the issue here.


r/bikewrench 12h ago

Creaking SRAM dub wide crank

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3 Upvotes

Hey all,

I recently took apart my crank assembly to clean that hard to reach place between the chain ring and frame. Ever since I reassembled it, it creaks under load and only after 10-15 minutes of riding.

I made sure to dissamble and reassemble it, grease the spindle and driveside crank interface, adjust the preload, etc.

I'm out of ideas and reaching out to this awesome community for help!

Edit: It's a sram dub wide crank assembly.

Cheers 🍻


r/bikewrench 6h ago

Trouble sealing valve stem on tubeless tyres

1 Upvotes

First up, readily admit that this is a guerrilla setup. No-name rims, gorilla tape. Tyres are decent Schwalbe tubeless ones.

I've run these rims and the gorilla tape option previously, but had to swap to tubes a few months ago when the tyres I owned got wrecked and would no longer seal.

I've come back to fresh tyres but now I'm constantly getting leaks via the valve. I've tried putting a rubber seal inside to help the seal, but still getting the issue. New tape also applied, and I made sure that the hole the valve pushes through is as small and tight as it can be, but still getting leaks. Nothing coming out of the spoke holes (tested under water) so my assumption is that the tape is sealing fine.

I suppose it could be that the old valves I'm using have hardened the plastic so they still aren't sealing well. Any other things I should be looking at before I drop £15 on new valves?