Secrets of the Masters

[chepe13]

I am soaking a chain in some oil now. Does the heat really make a difference?

IMO, the heat assists in getting all the grime off. I am riding a chain now that I boiled over a year ago, haven't lubed it, and it's still spotless and rust free.

 

[jerrykr]

Extra Leverage - tricks.





My father's old brass hammer - one of my best tools.





Hope this helps.

 

[chepe13]

I've heard trans fluid was better than oil for restoring old chains... I have no experience in the matter.

With the detergents in trans fluid I would agree, but I do oil changes more than I do tranny flushes. I heard trans oil was especially great to clean aluminium.

 

[horsefarmer]

Lots of truth there. there is a guy on this forum trying to sell a pair of cracked white walls for $100. ..... He's nuts. Keep eyes open for curb bikes and metal recycling dumpsters. I have an insane amount of luck in that department. Just took a 70s ish schwinn breeze out of dumpster yesterday and passed on 7 kids bikes that were in there.

I would also say complete bikes are a great source of cheap parts. I bought 2 20" girls bikes this spring for $5 each at St Vinnies and Goodwill.
So far used the 4 brake pads, 2 cables 1 chain and the 32 t sprocket. and there are tons of other good parts left.

 

[sensor]

Best bit of advice I ever got was shut your mouth and open your ears. 2nd best was K.I.S.S.(keep it simple stupid). Probably won't help much but who knows.

 

[Bendix]

Best bit of advice I ever got was shut your mouth and open your ears. 2nd best was K.I.S.S.(keep it simple stupid). Probably won't help much but who knows.

K.I.S.S. is especially good advice!

Don't over think things, as a friend of mine said in a similar vein:

"When you hear hoofbeats, think 'horses', not 'zebras'."

 

[scrumblero]

Extra Leverage - tricks.





My father's old brass hammer - one of my best tools.





Hope this helps.

I have a friend with 2 fake teeth in front from using A wrench as a cheater bar...

 

[RPJ]

With the detergents in trans fluid I would agree, but I do oil changes more than I do tranny flushes. I heard trans oil was especially great to clean aluminium.

I soak stuff in diesel, don't know if it's better than the above, but it does a good job and it's easy to get

 

[horsefarmer]

I have a friend with 2 fake teeth in front from using A wrench as a cheater bar...

 

[Joe Monstermaker]

Crescent wrenches suck at getting tight fasteners off, but I've been using the rounded back end of the handles of them for tire irons since I was a kid.

 

[horsefarmer]

Although you may think it looks cool, don't use a old beer can opener as a brake torque strap! (too brittle!)

 

[2wheels]

Don't use cheap WalMart bikes for parts.

 

[Joe Monstermaker]

And I just started a thread about using my WalMart Mongoose Dolo for parts... There goes my cred...

 

[horsefarmer]

Don't use cheap WalMart bikes for parts.

And I just started a thread about using my WalMart Mongoose Dolo for parts... There goes my cred...

 

[horsefarmer]

Pretty ironic that the bottle opener that failed as a brake strap says "A Case of Good Judgement".

I know, almost too cool, till it broke. Made a new strap out of mild steel, Lucky it failed on my 1st test ride.

 

[karfer67]

Got a quill stem that wont come out? Try loosening the bolt about five turns then tap it with a hammer. This normally breaks it free

 

[karfer67]

Make a cheap brake strap out of a peice of chain wrapped around the frame and run a bolt through the links

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Never stop learning from others.

Luke.

 

[kingsting]

Make a cheap brake strap out of a peice of chain wrapped around the frame and run a bolt through the links

One of my favorites from these forums. I liked it so much I stole the idea and used it on my first rat build...

 

[jerrykr]

I know, almost too cool, till it broke. Made a new strap out of mild steel, Lucky it failed on my 1st test ride.

dare I say it. drill your holes, instead of burning them.... (runs for cover)