When you first get your engine do you ever take a bike frame tube and tape course #80 grit emery cloth to a chunk of correct size frame tube and sand the mounting lugs on the engine to get rid of any imperfection on the mount as I've done this on all of mine and yet to have a engine fall off or come loose along with the other frame mounting technique I use and employ.
Something to ponder.
Norman
Something to ponder.
Norman
Buy yourself a ski mask, not a mechanical tip but still an excellent thing to have. One of my best 2 buck purchases. Except it does a number on your peripheral vision
Today I was working on the giant mountain bike and I decided to fit the 24" sissy schwinn wheel the the huge mtb even though the tube was missing. I removed the tire as well since it was in the way. You guessed it the rim stip came apart.
I went looking for one but of course the only one I could find was at the bike store and I have already been out today. I began researching and found that many of the bike shops no longer use rim strips as such. they put down two layers of duct tape instead.
I just happened to have a roll of black duct tape. So I started the strip of tape and found it was too wide. I made the end rip and of course a half wide strip rolled off for me. I made one round the started again with the other half. I have a very nice little pad for the tube when it arrives and it doesn't slide around. Far as what I can tell from what I read it will work just fine. I'll let you know if it doesn't
I went looking for one but of course the only one I could find was at the bike store and I have already been out today. I began researching and found that many of the bike shops no longer use rim strips as such. they put down two layers of duct tape instead.
I just happened to have a roll of black duct tape. So I started the strip of tape and found it was too wide. I made the end rip and of course a half wide strip rolled off for me. I made one round the started again with the other half. I have a very nice little pad for the tube when it arrives and it doesn't slide around. Far as what I can tell from what I read it will work just fine. I'll let you know if it doesn't
I use plastic electrical tape 2 wraps around the wheel and no rubber rim strip on regular tube and tires nothing fancy, one tube on my ratbike is 18 years old and I supect Uncle Sam will be sending a slective service notice to it soon.
Norman
Norman
Good to know guys. The one thing that surprised me was that everything I read said use rim tape. That is until I stuck duct tape into the search. Then everything I read said duct tape was better. Really seems to be anything to take the edge of the spokes will do.
yes and a power wire wheel brushing in the rim where the tape goes will knock down or off rust and fine pointed things that like to poke your tube when your on a 12 mile ride and they do like to want until your way way out there to poke the tube.
check out the lights for your bike on my site
Norms Iron Works
check out the lights for your bike on my site
Norms Iron Works
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Well put, only thing I can think to add it to check for loose parts after each ride and again before you take off. My forks loosen up often and I even had my crank loosen up. My son ran one till the exhaust almost fell off, he is not very mechanically enclined.
Not sure this is worth much but I just rode my bike. The mirror had to be readjusted twenty times. When I got home, I finally managed to get to the auto store to buy a convex mirror. You know one of those "its closer than it looks things." Well to be honest that isn't a problem, If anyone is behind me no matter how close or far, I'm waiting for him to pass before I do anything. I just want to know someone is back there. Those mirrors are more or less always in adjustment.
The one I got is a peel and stick the same size as my regular mirror, so I just covered it up. I added a turn of tape around the edge just in case.
The one I got is a peel and stick the same size as my regular mirror, so I just covered it up. I added a turn of tape around the edge just in case.
Re: take a tip...leave a tip...or a bunch of 'em
I'll be refering to my own advice soon....kits are on the way!
I'll be refering to my own advice soon....kits are on the way!
hey the way i solved my clutch handle problem is i took a electric hacksaw a grinded little grooves in the metal so when i pull the clutch it sticks in the grooves after awhile it operates smoothly.
I know this is pretty simple, but I had to fill a space in the frame last night. I had almost the right amount of space between the bars for the engine but it was just a little too much. The studs would fit but if I tightened the one on the seat post side the other wouldn't quite reach. I just used 1/3 of a piece of heater hose inside the motor mount. I slipped it between the motor and the frame then tightened it down. I had to do the same on the down rod, but it tightened right up. Heater hose is a nice thick piece of rubber and there is no tread like on a bike tire. the mount makes full contact.
Lesson learned in the first install that work on the reinstall.
Lesson learned in the first install that work on the reinstall.
Heater hose should dampen a lot of the vibrations as well. Let us know how the hose holds up.
Lots of excellent tips here. It would have been great to have this resource for my first build. Not that I don't enjoy learning the hard way...it tends to stick with me longer.
Lots of excellent tips here. It would have been great to have this resource for my first build. Not that I don't enjoy learning the hard way...it tends to stick with me longer.
I used the heater hose on my first build since the rods were to small. Had to beef them out a little and the hose worked great. As a matter of fact it's the same hose I'm using on this build.
I also found a good use for heavy hose like that. I got sick of buying and installing handle bar grips. I just cut me a piece of hose the right length split it and removed a section to make it small enough then ran a couple of courses of electrical tape on it. Next time I need to take off a brake lever, I'll just slit the electrical tape.
The hose doesn't have the little knobs for finger grips but I like it better without them for some odd reason.
The hose doesn't have the little knobs for finger grips but I like it better without them for some odd reason.
Great idea...heater hose for grips. I'm constantly changing handlebar configurations, levers, etc. and removing the grip is a pain. I can imagine the hose rubber would make a comfortable grip.
Does anyone else snap their clutch levers on a semi-regular basis?
Does anyone else snap their clutch levers on a semi-regular basis?
The best thing to me is that the grip can be removed without taking the mirror off. My mirror is in the end of the handlebar.
When I bought that mirror it would only go up not out, so I modified the holder so the mirror sticks right straight out. I'm afraid to take it out of the handle bar end. If I do I might have to do something else to it and it works now.
When I bought that mirror it would only go up not out, so I modified the holder so the mirror sticks right straight out. I'm afraid to take it out of the handle bar end. If I do I might have to do something else to it and it works now.
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today I received a chain breaker I bought on ebay for 7bucks with shipping, I tried it on the 3/16 415 motor chain and it works beautifully. I had no idea that it would when I bought it. It is a summit brand and it is one big mutha. Just thought I would pass it along. I broke the first chain a minute ago to test it and it worked beautifully. Cant speak to how long it will last yet but it broke the motor chain without breaking a sweat.