# Almost Pro Bike Mechanic **URL:** \ **Category:** Pub\ **Created:** [October 3, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868 "2013-10-03T16:17:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 33
**Author:** ![HeavyMetalCyclist](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/heavymetalcyclist/32/209_2.png) [@HeavyMetalCyclist](https://fixed.org.au/u/HeavyMetalCyclist)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 5:58am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/641 "2021-01-06T05:58:17Z")
historians will mark this as the precise moment that fixies died. But it was a beautiful death, after so many good times. ---
**Author:** ![Stovepipe](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/stovepipe/32/188_2.png) [@Stovepipe](https://fixed.org.au/u/Stovepipe)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:37am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/642 "2021-01-06T07:37:23Z")
Yeah it’s Summer of Tinnies for me now. …Once I install a new trailer hub assembly of course… ---
**Author:** ![swuzzlebubble](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/swuzzlebubble/32/3766_2.png) [@swuzzlebubble](https://fixed.org.au/u/swuzzlebubble)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 3:02am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/643 "2021-03-23T03:02:40Z")
Someone selling a 4 arm Ultegra crank set with right crank only. I have an older 5 arm set with worn ring I don’t think I want to replace. Can I use the left crank from mine? The splines would be the same? ---
**Author:** ![MikeD](https://fixed.org.au/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/ed655f/32.png) [@MikeD](https://fixed.org.au/u/MikeD)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 8:05am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/644 "2021-03-23T08:05:53Z")
Yes ---
**Author:** ![jaseyjase](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/jaseyjase/32/187_2.png) [@jaseyjase](https://fixed.org.au/u/jaseyjase)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 2:49pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/645 "2021-03-23T14:49:43Z")
Cutting down a fork and forgot about moving the star nut lower. Evveerr so slightly shaved the top of the starnut as I trimmed the steerer. Threads still worked. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![WestToastPete](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/westtoastpete/32/996_2.png) [@WestToastPete](https://fixed.org.au/u/WestToastPete)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 4:33am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/646 "2021-03-24T04:33:50Z")
I’ve cut down star nuts to use as fender mounts before ---
**Author:** ![diddy](https://fixed.org.au/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@diddy](https://fixed.org.au/u/diddy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2021, 11:11pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/647 "2021-09-11T23:11:22Z")
Not really a pro mechanic story. But after spending a night swearing in my shed I’m just putting my dislike of pressfit BBs out there. BBs wear out, a regularly replaced or serviced component, who the hell thought it was a good idea to make them so fiddly to install and then impossible to remove. What’s wrong with a threaded BB? Takes a minute to take out. Don’t need to bring a hammer to your fancy carbon frame. SRAM seems to have figured out how to use a bigger spindle and bearings with DUB if that’s a reason. Rant over. The story is I got a new frame, ordered the BB (takes 2 weeks with covid mail), mashed the bearings on the install (too many pro mechanic beers), ordered a new BB (now I wait two more weeks), then had a hell of a time removing the mashed one (in fact it’s still in there, another job for today). ---
**Author:** ![ryanryanryan](https://fixed.org.au/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@ryanryanryan](https://fixed.org.au/u/ryanryanryan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2021, 6:37am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/648 "2021-09-12T06:37:43Z")
Oof. I never had any issues installing them back when I rode BMX… This wasn’t on carbon frames though. ---
**Author:** ![P\_N20](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/p_n20/32/177_2.png) [@P\_N20](https://fixed.org.au/u/P_N20)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2021, 6:56am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/649 "2021-09-12T06:56:33Z")
> [@diddy](#): > > (too many pro mechanic beers) Next beer name sorted. ---
**Author:** ![diddy](https://fixed.org.au/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@diddy](https://fixed.org.au/u/diddy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2021, 11:34pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/650 "2021-09-12T23:34:01Z")
Sunday clear head and it turns out it may not have been my pro skills at all, but buying a cheap ebay BB with poor tolerances and flexible nylon cups. When I took it out, bearings spin perectly; put it back in carefully, bearings don’t move at all. Time to try a better quality BB, and maybe relax on the pro mechanic beers and late night bike maintenance. ---
**Author:** ![jaseyjase](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/jaseyjase/32/187_2.png) [@jaseyjase](https://fixed.org.au/u/jaseyjase)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 12:39am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/651 "2021-09-13T00:39:14Z")
I feel this is relevant for here. I took the BMC in to a reputable LBS, needed the steerer chopped and the topcone replaced, as well as some spacer adjustments. Nothing i cant do myself, but couldnt be arsed with the internal hydro cables through the bars again. They bike came back without the 10mm spacer i asked for, effectively slamming the stem as well as super spongy brake levers. To their credit the bikeshop did offer to buy a new fork if i wanted. Bit disappointed about the brakes though, i went home and rebled to get it nice and firm again. ---
**Author:** ![diddy](https://fixed.org.au/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@diddy](https://fixed.org.au/u/diddy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 12:48am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/652 "2021-09-13T00:48:11Z")
Oh man, don’t get me started on internal cabling routing … ---
**Author:** ![jaseyjase](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/jaseyjase/32/187_2.png) [@jaseyjase](https://fixed.org.au/u/jaseyjase)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/653 "2021-09-13T01:07:36Z")
I actually googled up a few handy tips when i was installing it the first time myself. 1. using some fishing line and some brake cable ferules, you can make a handy DI2 cable routing tool. 2. using some inner brake/gear cable, you route that through the handlebars first, then insert the inner cable into the hydro cable, hence acting like a guide when you try and push the hydro cable through the handlebars. still fiddly as fuck, but worked pretty well if i do say so myself ---
**Author:** ![heavymetal](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/heavymetal/32/69_2.png) [@heavymetal](https://fixed.org.au/u/heavymetal)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 4:11am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/654 "2021-09-13T04:11:42Z")
> [@diddy](#): > > What’s wrong with a threaded BB? I had to deal with a pressfit BB on a neighbour’s bike. What a pain in the arse that was. I happily only own bikes with threaded BBs. No mess, no fuss. ---
**Author:** ![HeavyMetalCyclist](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/heavymetalcyclist/32/209_2.png) [@HeavyMetalCyclist](https://fixed.org.au/u/HeavyMetalCyclist)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 4:58am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/655 "2021-09-13T04:58:32Z")
endorsed, curse those bulging, creaking nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![2wheels4cam](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/2wheels4cam/32/1616_2.png) [@2wheels4cam](https://fixed.org.au/u/2wheels4cam)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 3:23am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/656 "2021-10-01T03:23:43Z")
Stripped thread on crank arm so my crank puller wasn’t helping. angle grinder to the rescue. ![image](https://fixed.org.au/uploads/default/original/2X/7/793bce1b00d614def17ee88d568d6c79dfab68a6.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![WestToastPete](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/westtoastpete/32/996_2.png) [@WestToastPete](https://fixed.org.au/u/WestToastPete)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2023, 4:47am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/657 "2023-05-30T04:47:22Z")
The cheap Shimano hydraulic disc brake calliper on the back of my Spicy Curry blew out and I picked up a set of near new modern SLX brakes to replace them all with. The SLX had a banjo connection, but the local MTB shop fortunately had a 2m long B90 banjo hose so all good. I swapped it all out and realised that the newer style levers weren’t going to work with the shifter that I had cos of the way they connect to the bars, so I had a quick look around and then ordered a new one and a new tandem length gear cable. I also miscalculated that the grips would be too short so I cut one down, but the lever geometry is really different to the old ones so there was no need, so I ruined a grip for no reason. I had heaps of trouble getting the rear with the new hose to bleed properly. I was reverse bleeding with a syringe at the bottom, pushing upwards, and I must’ve tried like 8-9 times and it just wasn’t bleeding out. I should’ve stopped and had a bit of a think about it much sooner because when I eventually did, I realised there was probably a fair bit of air in the calliper after swapping the hose out. I remembered a fair bit of fluid leaked out of the disconnected calliper. Anyway, a regular bleed the other way sucked a heap of air out and I was like woohoo! But then I went to seal it up and realised I’d stripped the thread in the bleed port on the lever, so it was never going to seal up again. I was so pissed at myself. It should’ve been so straightforward. Anyway, I left it for the day and went back in the morning to swap both levers to the shitty old ones with the new 2-pot callipers and it went together like I expected and bled through first go no worries. It meant I could use the old shifter too. New grips though. I felt like such an amateur. It’s been ages since I’ve done some half difficult bike mechanics and I totally made a mess of it and took ages doing it. I wonder if I could even build a bike these days. I like to think I could setup some cantis quick smart but who needs those skills these days ---
**Author:** ![P\_N20](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/p_n20/32/177_2.png) [@P\_N20](https://fixed.org.au/u/P_N20)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2023, 9:53am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/658 "2023-05-30T09:53:33Z")
You lost me at banjo. ---
**Author:** ![heavymetal](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/heavymetal/32/69_2.png) [@heavymetal](https://fixed.org.au/u/heavymetal)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2023, 11:21pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/659 "2023-05-30T23:21:31Z")
What’s the difference between a banjo and a trampoline? You take your shoes off to jump on a trampoline. Pete, I relate to your experience. I love working on bikes but I’m at the point where I basically only do maintenance, so when I need to do something more complicated I tend to fuck something up. I nearly ripped the dynamo wiring apart on my NFE while servicing the headset last week… ---
**Author:** ![HeavyMetalCyclist](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/heavymetalcyclist/32/209_2.png) [@HeavyMetalCyclist](https://fixed.org.au/u/HeavyMetalCyclist)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 1:42am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/660 "2023-06-01T01:42:09Z")
love to fuck shit up [Previous page](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868.md?page=32) [Next page](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868.md?page=34)