Bike Tuneups
Smart Solutions : Episode SSL-920 -- More Projects »
Bike expert Jimmy Lizama explains how to get an old bike that hasn’t been used in a while back into working condition.
- Start by checking the chain. Grab the bike at the fork leg in front and seat tube in back (figure A) and turn it over for examination. Stabilize the bike with a 2 x 4 underneath the handlebars. Now crank the pedals and have the chains go through all the gears. If you hear any clicking or grinding sounds, that often indicates a problem in one specific link or pin.
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Figure B
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Figure C
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Figure D
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Figure E
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Isolate the damage and correct it by washing and oiling the link. To do this, you need to disengage the brake caliper. Grab the head of the cable on the brake and pull it out of the slot (figure B).Remove the wheel by undoing the quick release on one side of the wheel and loosening the nut on the other side (figure C). Push up on the spring-release derailleur to create slack in the chain and pull out the wheel (figure D).To clean, dissolve two scoops of laundry detergent in warm water. You will need a large heavy-duty scrub brush, some old toothbrushes and a large screw driver. On the derailleur there are pulleys that collect gunk. Stick the screwdriver head into the space where the chain slips through (figure E) and rotate the pedals. This should dislodge a lot of gunk. Next scrub the chain and gears with the brush and soapy water. You may need a de-greasing agent as well.Replace the wheel and the oil the bike, using bicycle oil around the gears. After oiling, crank the pedal to distribute the oil along the chain. Change the gears to make sure the oil is evenly distributed.Check the pressure in the tires. Fill them up and wait a few hours, then recheck to make sure they are holding air. Check for holes with a visual inspection, also checking to see if the inner tube has slipped out of the rim.To change the tube, make sure the tire is completely deflated by pressing on the pin in the air valve. Remove the tube and inspect for holes. Over-inflate the tube and then check around the circumference, listening for a leak by the sound of released air.To patch the hole, make a one-inch incision in the tube around the hole. Using a funnel in the incision, pour in a can of condensed milk (or commercial goo), which will leak out of any future punctures and seal the tube. Sand down the incision and cover the hole with a tire patch.Put the tube back in the tire, re-inflate, and spin a few times to distribute the milk and evenly coat the inside of the tube.Check the surface of the brakes. If the teeth are worn down, they should be replaced. Use an 80- and 100-grit sand paper to sand off a thin layer of the pad and create more friction.Clean the wheel rims with rubbing alcohol to help brakes perform better.Remove visible rust with steel wool. Use a combination of fine and course steel wool to get into all the nooks and crannies.
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