20-07-14, 04:34 PM
A lot of enthusiasm + lack of knowledge + not having right tools + monkey fist * stupidity = disaster(s). Woops!
Okay, so my bike is a bit of a mess. The more I look the more issues I find, and unfortunately the more I try to fix it the more I make it worse...
Trying to adjust the chain, undid the rear axle nut, but both nuts on the chain adjuster bolt on the right side were well seized, and yes, I broke the bolt! It's still long enough for the first nut, just no room for the locking nut. On the plus side that adjuster nut that is there is now turning, so I have set the chain slack right (I hope), but when a new chain goes on I will to get a new bolt in there. I hope that's not too hard / expensive job.
Then I upped my antics, and lifted the front of the bike up putting axle stands somewhere close to where the main stand would be.. ish. And I found that the front calipers are fairly tight on the disk and the wheel is barely turning, and trying to manhandle it out the bike moved a bit, slipped from the axle stand, and somehow it got to the 'water pump outlet hose' thingee (according to the manual) at the left side of the bike, and it's put a hole there. Double Doh!! It spits out coolant if I run the engine. Anyone know where to get one of these, they look easy enough to change - two clamps and should be straight forward right? And new coolant of course. In the meantime would it be worth trying to wrap it in some self-amalgamating tape?
Something like this: http://www.halfords.ie/motoring/auto-par...pe-25mmx3m
The brake pads looks bad. I could see uneven wear - thinner at the front of the pads, thicker at the back. Not much life left anyway. Pistons are not moving all the way back. I don't know how to really service calipers. I guess I will hit youtube and see if there's any good videos about it.
On the plus side I am learning... something... I hope I am. And my dad, an ex-army engineer, on skype from India had a hearty laugh at the mess I got myself into. His advice: advice: get a new bike.
Okay, so my bike is a bit of a mess. The more I look the more issues I find, and unfortunately the more I try to fix it the more I make it worse...
Trying to adjust the chain, undid the rear axle nut, but both nuts on the chain adjuster bolt on the right side were well seized, and yes, I broke the bolt! It's still long enough for the first nut, just no room for the locking nut. On the plus side that adjuster nut that is there is now turning, so I have set the chain slack right (I hope), but when a new chain goes on I will to get a new bolt in there. I hope that's not too hard / expensive job.
Then I upped my antics, and lifted the front of the bike up putting axle stands somewhere close to where the main stand would be.. ish. And I found that the front calipers are fairly tight on the disk and the wheel is barely turning, and trying to manhandle it out the bike moved a bit, slipped from the axle stand, and somehow it got to the 'water pump outlet hose' thingee (according to the manual) at the left side of the bike, and it's put a hole there. Double Doh!! It spits out coolant if I run the engine. Anyone know where to get one of these, they look easy enough to change - two clamps and should be straight forward right? And new coolant of course. In the meantime would it be worth trying to wrap it in some self-amalgamating tape?
Something like this: http://www.halfords.ie/motoring/auto-par...pe-25mmx3m
The brake pads looks bad. I could see uneven wear - thinner at the front of the pads, thicker at the back. Not much life left anyway. Pistons are not moving all the way back. I don't know how to really service calipers. I guess I will hit youtube and see if there's any good videos about it.
On the plus side I am learning... something... I hope I am. And my dad, an ex-army engineer, on skype from India had a hearty laugh at the mess I got myself into. His advice: advice: get a new bike.