Bike DIY Hero or Zero?
Are you looking to save money and have a crack at your own repairs & parts replacement? Are you scratching your head with the next step?
Try using our Ask The Mechanic Service and talk to Joe by dropping us an email, blog post replyor phone call. We will use our expertise to guide you through the process to the best of our abiltiy.
Hi
I wonder if you can help. I’m building a bike from scratch for the first time. I’ve made several compatibility mistakes so far but this one I can’t fathom :
The frame is a Dawes horizon 2002 with a built in derailleur mount. I’ve bought a Shimano RD2200 rear derailleur. The anchor bolt wont. fit. It is marginally too big. I thought this would be a standard compatibility. Are their different gauges of anchor bolt or am I missing something? Is there any way round the problem?
Your advice would be much appreciated.
Ross Donald
hey ross, thanks for getting in touch, sound a bit strange this one as all gear mechs and frame hangers have the same thread.
dont rememeber ever having an issue with threads unless there is a problem with the threads on the frame itself and maybe we would have to re-tap them, check again and make sure the threads are ok on both the frame and mech itself. if your local enough drop in any day with your frame and mech. we will gladly check it and give you more advice.
joe.
hi, can i convert my 27 speed racer in to a single speed bike ??? i find i am not using more than 2 or 3 gears at most for my 10 mile commute. how easy is it to convert ??
cheers guys
tom
hey tom.
its fairly easy to do, first of all you need to purchase a “single-speed converter kit @£17.99″, this will allow you to remove the 9 speed cog from the rear and replace with one cog, (normally there are 2 cogs supplied , 16 tooth and 18 tooth, we would recommend the 16), fit spacers provided, chose what ring at the front you want to use, remove other rings, cut chain to length, and test ride. keep your eye on the “chain line”, this is the line from the rear cog to the front cogs…if not in line, try moving the rear cog with the aid of the supplied spacers. any worries give me a call or drop in. good luck..
joe.
Hi ,
I have hayes nine hydrolic disc breaks and my front break in particular is feeling a bit loose.
I assume its because I have lost the cap that sits on the bleed hose port ( I think some one stole it.)
I was going to try to bleed the brake myself and have saw some videos on the internet of people re-bleeding the hayes systems and it looks fairly easy but I have also herd many horror stories of this proceedor going wrong .
How is it i do this taskand how hard is it to do?
It works out for me to buy the nessecary equipment for £30 ; would it be easier , safer and more importantly cheaper in the long run for me to bring the bike to you ? Thanks
hi stewart
yes, the bleed plug on the brake lever is critical !!
drop it in anytime, it will only cost you £10 to have it put right…including
a new plug !!!
cheers
joe
Hey joe,
I am a dirtjumper, (please dont hate me
and I have changed to single speed, very good choice, however I ride a kona shred which has vertical drop-outs and I am currently running an ugly chain tensioner, I have been told off various people that I can just take links out of my chain and then hook the chain onto the first spike of my front ring then “crank it up like never before”, would you advise doing this ?