Bicycle stealth navigator DIY repair

Since the invention of the bicycle, this means of transportation has always been popular among people of all ages and material wealth due to its simplicity of design and the absence of costs for fuel and other consumables. With the help of a bicycle, you can not only cover the necessary distances, but also go in for sports, both professional and taking leisurely walks with friends and relatives.

Despite the simple design, this vehicle still tends to break down and without proper experience and a special tool, bicycle repairs may take a long time or not work at all. Our VeloStop website was specially created to help you understand all the intricacies of self-repair and maintenance of your bike. On our site you will find detailed step-by-step instructions for repair of any complexity with photos and videos, and at the end of each article you can ask questions of interest to the site administration or other site visitors.

Bicycle device and its main parts

To successfully repair a bicycle, you need to know its structure and the principles of operation of its individual units, as well as study the names of all its main elements. If earlier, when repairing domestic bicycles, it was possible to do with just one family, then to disassemble a modern bicycle you need a whole arsenal of all kinds of keys and special pullers. You can also learn about the necessary tool from our instructions and even find out where to buy them.

Bicycle maintenance is also worth noting, which will help delay bike repairs. Carrying out timely and high-quality maintenance of the bike, you can reduce breakdowns to a minimum and save a lot of money on spare parts. In addition, the service will help to avoid unforeseen situations while walking. From our instructions, you can learn how to use different lubricants correctly and how to buy them correctly.

Bicycle maintenance

In the sections of our website you will find a huge amount of information on how to repair bicycles with your own hands of absolutely any bicycle - children's, sports, road, mountain and walking. Our instructions are perfect for any brands of bicycles such as Stels, GT, Merida, Stinger and even domestic bicycles Salyut, Minsk and Shkolnik.

It is extremely important for the owner of a bicycle to know that his transport is constantly in good condition. The life and health of the owner may ultimately depend on how reliably the bicycle works, because suddenly the brakes fail suddenly can provoke an accident. It is possible and necessary to turn to professionals, but in the life of every cyclist there comes a moment when a critical mass of knowledge about the structure of a bicycle has been reached and you can do routine maintenance and minor repairs of the bike yourself. In order for the bulkhead process to go as smoothly as possible, and the bike only gets better, you should follow these tips.

Like other repair and maintenance work, bicycle repairs cannot be carried out without a set of necessary tools... Each cyclist should have a basic set so that he can carry out routine repairs of the bike on his own:

• Wrenches - preferably several sizes in a set.
• Hex keys are included.
• Screwdrivers - both Phillips and slotted screwdrivers are needed.
• Pliers in stock.
• Scissors and clamps.
• Tweezers and mallet.
• End caps.

In addition to the basic tools, the craftsmen recommend gradually increasing their number and adding to their working box: a squeeze for the chain, ratchet and socket wrench, spoke wrench, chain brush and other important bicycle tools.

In addition to the listed tools, it is also necessary to prepare a sufficient base Supplies: oil of various types (each of which is needed for a great part - forks, for oil seals, for chain and pedals), brake fluid and hydraulic oil, solvent and cleaner to fight dirt. All these fluids will not only make the process of caring for your bike much easier, but also keep it in perfect condition.

A bicycle is a complex mechanism that requires regular, gentle lubrication to ensure that all parts function properly. The bike enthusiast should know what to lubricate (and this is the carriage, and the hinge assemblies, and bearings, and the bushing, and pedals) and what exactly to lubricate (only a special lubricant should be used for each part).

The following lubricants are used to lubricate the bicycle:

• The aerosol is suitable for treating articulated joints, as well as chains and cables in the event that emergency care is required and there is no time for full lubrication.
• Liquid lubricant (for example, I5A oil) is intended for the chain and drum of the rear hub. The peculiarity of such a lubricant is its point application, which makes it a preferable option. But for riding in the cold, it is not suitable, since it hardens quickly in the cold and makes it difficult for the mechanism to work properly.
• Grease is more suitable for lubricating bearing assemblies and threads.

When starting to sort out a bicycle, you need to be prepared for the fact that every detail in it will require attention and sufficient knowledge about its structure.

The process of caring for a frame is, first of all, in keeping it clean. That is why it is extremely important to completely clean the frame of foreign dirt and dust before rebuilding the bike in order to avoid problems with dirt particles getting into the working mechanisms.

ADVICE! Washing under running water with a soft sponge and soapy water is ideal for preparing the frame for bulkhead.

Inspecting the most delicate and damaged areas for cracks or chips is a necessary step to avoid future problems. Experienced cyclists advise Especially carefully inspect the following parts: head tube, bottom bracket tube, rear suspension and chain stays of the rear triangle. If scuffs or chips of paint are found on the frame, then they must be quickly painted over: spray paint does an excellent job with this task.

Bicycle steering column.

The nuances of the column bulkhead process directly depend on its type: if in integrated columns operating on industrial bearings, it is enough to carry out a timely lubricant change, then for a semi-integrated ball bearing column it is necessary to replace worn balls on time. A clear signal to replace a part is considered to be the characteristic creak of the head tube and the difficulty with turning the wheel.

Bicycle repair is not complete without fork maintenance, namely, changing oil, oil seals, pistons or springs, as well as regularly cleaning the legs and anthers from road dirt. Experts note that in the process of caring for the suspension, it is extremely important not to damage the ring springs, which will serve as a kind of protection for the fork from foreign dirt and dust particles.

Suspension - the mechanism is quite delicate and requires special attention, therefore, the masters do not recommend sorting or repairing it yourself. And if the owner himself can carry out the current care, then the bulkhead of the cartridges should be entrusted to a professional master.

The bike chain is the second part that needs regular care... If there is a special lock on the chain, removing the chain is not a problem, but even if it is absent, it can be easily removed using a special chain squeeze. Cleaning the chain from dirt, lubricating the rollers and checking the tension is an elementary but necessary maintenance of the chain.

The system is cleaned, as well as the chain, using a special solvent. And when assembling it, it is extremely important to observe the correct setting of the stars: so that the special pin on the middle star looks at the carriage.

Cassette, that is rear sprocket set, also needs regular cleaning with a solvent from dirt and dust. With the help of a special device - a puller, the process of removing and installing the cassette is not difficult even for an inexperienced cyclist.

For bulkhead ratchet a similar principle works: an industrial bearing is simply washed and relubricated, and a ball bearing is checked for damage to the balls, changed if necessary, washed and lubricated. This maintenance guarantees a significant improvement in the overall performance of the bicycle mechanism.

Since the ride comfort depends on the switches and their adequate operation, their bulkhead should be carried out especially carefully. The correct positioning of the mechanism relative to the system and the cassette stars, as well as the correct adjustment of the screws limiting the foot travel - the required minimum adjustment after the bulkhead. In addition, it is important to lubricate and clean the torsion and tension springs of the rollers in time, and also to check the degree of tension in the cable.

Carriage design, both integrated and cartridge, considered virtually non-separable, but in practice, craftsmen sometimes disassemble them for routine care. When rebuilding the carriages, it is important to remember the location of the parts: two cups of an industrial bearing must occupy the strictly designated places.

Maintenance of shifters consists in regularly cleaning the mechanism and replacing the lubricant with a new one, and since this mechanism experiences low loads, it is enough to service it once a season. It is important to pay due attention not only to the shifter itself, but also to the cables, rubbing them with oil and guaranteeing a soft slide inside the mechanism.

Bicycle brake system.

Since the brakes are a guarantee of traffic safety and the preservation of the life of the cyclist, timely maintenance of the brake system can be considered essential in the process of rebuilding a bicycle. It is carried out in three directions:

• Bulkhead calipers, checking the condition of the pistons and replacing them, if necessary, with new ones. Difficulties in the work of calipers are noticeable to the naked eye: usually it is not strong enough and too long braking and the failure of the handle. Finding the cause and fixing it will solve all problems.
• Brake Lever Device primitive: body, handle and piston - but there can also be difficulties here, for example, with o-rings. If necessary, the craftsmen replace both the pistons and the O-rings.
• Bleeding brake fluid in the brake line - this is a normal process for rebuilding a bicycle. Loss of homogeneity of the pumped liquid can lead to disruptions in the adequate operation of the braking system, and a timely replacement guarantees the safety of the cyclist and reliable operation of the entire braking system.

• A reliable brake is the key to your safety. Learn how to adjust and tune your brakes. Discover.
• Are your bike brakes squeaky? Find out how to get rid of this problem.

It is the bicycle pedals that are considered the most delicate mechanism, therefore they wear out faster than others. It is as simple as possible to check their work: for this, it is enough to turn the pedals a couple of times. Cranking too slowly or stopping quickly is a sign of insufficient lubrication. The pedals should be disassembled traditionally: from the end, sorting out the already familiar ball or industrial bearings according to the standard scheme.

ADVICE! For contact pedals, it is important not to forget about the obligatory lubrication of the springs, otherwise the shoes will snap too tightly, which will create difficulties when riding.

Since the wheels are considered to be the most loaded part of a bicycle, then a little more attention should be paid to them. A timely bulkhead and maintenance of the bike guarantees not only comfortable riding, but also a long service life of the mechanisms. Industrial Bearing Bushings can be sorted out rarely, once in two seasons is quite enough: this can be explained by a large margin of safety. But mechanisms with ball bearings should be sorted out once a season in order to replace the balls with dents or scuffs if necessary.

In the pursuit of bike lightening, manufacturers often skimp on rims, making them less and less durable. This can lead to such an unpleasant phenomenon as rim runout: for example, traditional axial (figure eight) or radial (in which the wheel resembles an egg). This problem is corrected using a special key for the spokes: after removing the tire, the spokes are pulled in the direction opposite to the curvature.

ADVICE! In this case, it is important to tighten the spokes on one side and loosen them on the other: this will guarantee the normal rigidity of the wheels.

• Is your wheel bent and don't know how to fix it? The article "How to fix a figure eight on a bicycle wheel" will help you.
• How to tighten your bicycle spokes. Discover.

In addition to routine maintenance and unscheduled breakdowns, the bike also has a so-called natural wear and tear, that is, a certain part becomes unusable and needs to be replaced after a certain number of kilometers. Experts advise paying attention to the wear of the following parts:

Bicycle repair and proper care will prolong their life and guarantee safe and comfortable movement. For many cyclists, self-care of their bike becomes not only interesting and rewarding, but also a pleasant experience, allowing them to feel their worth and independence.

• It is best to repair a bicycle if you have a special rack at home for such procedures.
• How to get rid of the squeakiness of the bike when pedaling? Discover.
• How to clean a rusty bike: my.housecope.com/wp-content/uploads/ext/3085/rzhavchina-na-velosipede

At first glance, it may seem that the rear and front hubs of a bicycle have a complex structure, and it is not an easy task to repair and service them yourself at home. But it is not so. Of course there are some design differences, but most of them are the same. Therefore, in this article we will touch upon such topics as: types and arrangement of bicycle wheel hubs, their disassembly / assembly, repair and maintenance, and also consider what, how and with what frequency they should be lubricated. We will try to present the material as briefly as possible in the form of detailed instructions, and in some moments we will add a video for clarity of disassembling the sleeve.

At the moment, there are several types of bicycle wheel hubs on the bicycle parts market: with free wheeling, without free wheeling (used on fix bikes), as well as with a built-in foot brake, with a built-in dynamo machine, and the so-called planetary bushes. There are two types of bearings that can be used in freewheel designs: cone-cup type (mainly from Shimano) and industrial bearings. Since free-wheeling hubs with integral brakes are the most popular, we will discuss their design below.

This type of bushing is one of the most common in comparison to the rest and is often used on road, mountain, road and other types of iron horses. It can be used on both the most budgetary bikes and professional bikes.An adherent of this design is Shimano, which produces exclusively bushings with loose bearings (well, planetary bushings). According to them, the cone has an advantage over the bushing on industrial bearings, namely, the best roll. It is difficult to say whether it is true or not, but this is not the purpose of this article. Next, consider the design of a typical tapered bushing.

As we can see, a bushing with cup-cone type bearings consists of: body, axle, cups, balls, anthers, flare nuts, washers, anthers, locknuts (and a drum if we consider the rear bushing).

The design of this type of bush is very similar to the previous one, except for the use of industrial bearings instead of loose balls. Because of this, it lacks components such as balls and flare nuts, and the bearing is a one-piece design. The advantages include the ease of assembly and disassembly, as well as the uselessness of adjusting the tightening of the cones. This type of hub can also be used on almost all types of bicycles.

This type of hub is mainly used on single-speed city bikes. Its main feature is the brake, which is installed inside its body and is activated by the movement of the pedals backward. Due to this, it is slightly larger and heavier than its competitors. Below we will give a picture with the design of this sleeve.

Bicycle planetary hubs are very similar to a small gearbox from a car and have a complex design and dense arrangement of parts. Inside this structure, there are many gears, with the help of which gears are shifted. Difficult to repair and maintain. Can often be used on city folding bicycles.

Bushings with a dynamo inside the body are, roughly speaking, a small generator from which you can power various electrical appliances on a bicycle. For example, it can be lighting lanterns. Basically, the dynamo is located inside the front hub of a city or road bike.

Before proceeding to disassembly, let's decide when to service the bicycle hubs. First of all, it should be noted that the service is periodic and forced.

It implies preventive measures for cleaning and lubricating all the hub assemblies of the bicycle in order to avoid their failure, thereby reducing the cost of purchasing new parts and problems with repairs. Many bicycle masters recommend replacing the bushing bearing grease every 5000 km, but as practice shows, a lot depends on the road surface on which you ride and the quality of the bushing itself (the anther design itself). Therefore, the need for maintenance may arise earlier.

If, while riding or checking the rotation of a bicycle wheel, you find backlash, extraneous noise and crackling inside the hub, or there is a difficult rotation of the wheel, then this may indicate several possible reasons:

• Incorrect tightening of the tapers (in the case of a taper-cup bearing).
• Lack of grease or heavy contamination.
• Failure of cups, balls or bushing cone (in the case of a cone-cup bearing).
• Failure of industrial bearings (in the case of a slip on a slip).

In this case, the wheel should be repaired and serviced as soon as possible. And what needs to be done for this we will consider below.

We will disassemble and replace the grease using the example of a sleeve with cone-cup bearings.

ATTENTION: When disassembling, clearly note the sequence for removing the bushing components and how they are installed. Also, parts on the left side cannot be installed on the right side and vice versa. The latter is because the balls, cups and cones rub against each other and will not fit well if you move them to the other side.

First, let's disassemble / assemble the front hub of the bike.

1. Remove the wheel from the bike, remove the eccentric from the hub axle and unscrew the disc brake rotor (if it is naturally present). This is to prevent grease from getting on the brake rotor and to simplify the disassembly procedure.
2. Remove the anthers on the right and left sides. To do this, carefully pry them with a minus screwdriver.

Next, we'll look at how to disassemble and lubricate the rear hub of a bicycle wheel. In principle, there is not much difference from the method for disassembling the front one (so you can read it first, there are moments that we did not repeat in the description for the back one), except for a few minor differences.

1. We remove the wheel, eccentric and dismantle the disc brake rotor (if any).
2. Remove the boot on the left side of the rear bushing with a screwdriver. There is no outer boot on the right side (where the cassette is).

If for any reason you need to remove the cassette, then this can be done literally immediately using a special tool.

Any heavy type of automotive bearing grease can be used to lubricate the bearings in the front and rear bushings of a bicycle. For example, Litol-24 or TsIFTIM-201,158 is a good fit. Of course, no one forbids you to buy specialized bicycle bearing greases, for example, from Shimano, which do an excellent job with their tasks. But to be honest, I did not notice much difference (except for the price).

But what you can not lubricate the bearings of the bushings on a bike: WD-40, motor oils for cars, oils for sewing machines, for lubricating bicycle chains and other liquid lubricants.

When working out its resource or premature breakdown of such parts as: axle, cone, bearing balls, and cups, they are replaced with new ones. And if there are no special problems with the first ones on this list, then with the cups it is not so simple. There are several problems. Firstly, buying new ones specifically for a specific sleeve is unlikely to work (unless you find the same used one). Therefore, you will either need to dance with a tambourine and order a cup from a turner, or look for a donor, knock them out and insert into the victim. Which does not always work out. There is another option. Knock out the cups from the bicycle wheel hub and put the industrial bearings in their place. But here, too, you need to clearly select everything in size and not everything can go as you would like. So if the cups break, you will most likely need to buy a new sleeve.

I would like to note that when replacing balls, you should change everything at once, and not several pieces.

In case of failure of industrial bearings, they also change without problems for new ones.

As for the rest, clean and lubricate the bushings in time, check them for backlash (if necessary, tighten as described above) and the bike bushings will serve you for a very long time.