Bicycle Repair Mistakes To Avoid!

[@msagoo29]

My dad used to be a mechanic for Simtek and Williams F1, and also rode XC. Literally the whole town comes to him for these kind of jobs lol

[@gmbn]

That's cool! It's always handy to know a mechanic! 👍

[@andrewince8824]

Avoid sealant explosions by fitting the tyre first, pumping it to set the bead then just fill through the valve. It's a lot cleaner and offers a chance to check the tyre is good before things move to the messy bit. A few years ago there was an issue with some Maxxis TR tyres being slightly wonky, most people didn't find out until after they were full of sealant and getting a refund was made awkward by some vendors as a result. (Note: these issues seem to have been due to early production, Maxxis haven't displayed this issue since to my knowledge).

[@hawgietonight]

Great ones Niel! The backwards tire has happened more than I can admit :) Another wheel issue, maybe not that common, but if somebody comes in with a broken spoke, it's very possible that other spokes are about to explode... so if the customer only wants to change the broken spoke instead of all spokes, be sure to true & stress the wheel BEFORE putting cassete, strip, sealant and tire back on. I've had a spoke nipple break on the test ride, and have to take everything off again :( Another minor one is changing cables without screwing in the barrell adjuster. It's frustrating when you just need a few clicks to get the shifting right and find out the adjuster is already all the way out!

[@topdsm0138]

SNT: Standard Navy Torque. Tighten it untill it breaks, then back it off a quarter turn. 😂😂

[@joshuadaggerhomeaccount6224]

thanks for the new tips neil im working on doing more bike fixing myself rather than take it to the shop keep up the great content and info love it

[@gmbn]

Glad to help, learning to repair bikes yourself is a really great skill to have!

[@ThisIsTranquil]

To me, my biggest mistake is to do bike maintenance or assembling/disassembling my bike without watching or looking for proper instructions for it.

[@IGGY1969]

Tyres on wrong way round, forks on wrong way round after I serviced the lowers, removed a internally routed gear cable which didn't have the full outer sleeve running through the frame 😞. Think that's everything. The thing about making mistakes, apart from the fact that it shows your human, is that you always remember next time.

[@BreakawayB]

😅 You know your bolts are at the correct torque when you hear the carbon crack a little bit.

[@BreakawayB]

Disclaimer: dear god please don’t do this, it was only a joke.

[@brian_jake]

Yooo😲

[@gmbn]

Great point! 😂😂☠️

[@denistuohy6420]

Steel frame with an aluminium seat post causes galvanic corrosion which is when moisture gets between the two it actually creates a basic battery. The aluminium gets transferred to the steel to create the voltage (very low voltage) and they literally weld themselves together. So if you don't grease the seatpost then you may have to end up getting a new frame.

[@andrewince8824]

Or just regularly wiggle the post. It's working for me.

[@lpsellyou]

I'm a mechanic, sometimes people come to me asked why the chain noise is getting louder 🤣 Always the chain isn't in the correct position when passing through the rear derailleur pulley 🙈

[@markwilliams5654]

You can run tyres backwards depending on the terrain and grip

[@MTBMOR]

OMG, I've had more then one shop put the tire on backwards....but I'm guilty tooo

[@JonathanWDuvall]

Well, I just made a stupid mistake - replacing a DU bushing in my kashima shock and turning the wrong end amd scratching the hell out of the piston. Should have had a shop replace it for $20. Now I have to spend $170 with fox for a new piston and service. Painful mistake. At least I don’t make that many

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Pedal mistake backwards: Make sure the pedals are tight enough. If you feel that wobbly soft feeling under the feet, it‘s too late and the thread is gone. Ruined an expensive XTR crank that way.

[@DB-zh4vw]

I have an aluminum dropper seat post, which stopped working, cold welded inside a carbon mtb frame. It's impossible to remove and no bike shop will touch it for fear of damaging the frame. I've been able to secure it in place so its no longer a dropper post, which sucks, but the bike is still rideable. I now make it a regular habit to remove and grease appropriately my seat posts.

[@TheProjectX3]

I had my silhouette painted on the wall after sealant explosion. Pump pressure gauge was not calibrated.

[@colinl2908]

Over pressurizing brake lever seals, pushing from the caliper. Ouch!

[@TheButlerNZ]

I still run a tyre deliberately on backward.... I run Maxxis DHF's so mount the old front on the rear backward... relying on the design of the front to only have load in one direction (Under braking) I mount it on the back backwards to have the strength in drive (I'm not worried about braking in the back, its either sliding or locked near airborne... and light breaking for corners doesn't matter).

[@vetdadof2101]

What was that torque wrench set up you used?

[@rupedog]

Some tyres are multi directional... E. G. Hans dampf

[@bobothericefarmer1878]

Casually has a bike in the middle of a track 💀

[@mariusreiter9493]

Greasing the seat post is a mistake I made once. I was wondering why my seat felt a bit low after a few weeks, and realised that the post had been wiggled in by several centimetres! Tightening the clamp didn’t help, post was still sinking into the frame over time. So I completely degreased the seat post and the inside of the seat tube, put some assembly compound on, and that stopped the seat post from working its way in.

[@Durwood71]

Maybe you just didn't have the seat post clamp at the proper torque? I lightly grease my seat posts and have never had a problem.

[@pwiles1968]

Repair mistake my first ever lower leg service I had everything back together came to fit the wheel and realise nooooooo I had put fork lowers on backwards LoL.

[@drbigmix7752]

Overtightened a post mount disc bolt and ripped the thread actually out of my fork. Helicoil sorted that out though. 😮‍💨

[@maciejbrozek4666]

Hi Neil, cool stuff as always. One thing I noticed - are you sure you can clamp your bike to a service stand by the upper leg of a dropper? Many (if not most) manufacturers clearly forbid that. Cheers!

[@45graham45]

Yes you can. Make sure it's clean.

[@halnogaies1256]

Using CRAPPY torque wrenches!! I was replacing a rotor and the bolt broke. I had to take it to the shop for them to easy out!

[@brendontaylor7420]

I was trying to seat my new tire on and was pumping it up with my compressor. The tire blew off along with the sealant, buckled my wheel and my ears rang for 20 minuets after.

[@ish474]

I actually had a shock canister fly out of my hand can damage the seals. I did in fact let the air out of it bat the valve stem but I didn't cycle the shock so there was still a little error ahead of the packing. Luckily it only hurt seals on the bottom of the canister but I was installing a volume spacer and it was a brand new shock.

[@rupedog]

And remove the valve core as per manual

[@hansmaker1236]

in germany we say: nach fest kommt ab! i did that way to often ;)

[@anitalandkroon]

Great video 😃 tires 😏 yep I did that wrong once . and an explosion 😬 I did that once .😳

[@gmbn]

Thanks, Anita! Tubeless explosions are not the best! 😂😬

[@steffgofpv9681]

Watched this video on 1,25 speed and only noticed a difference on the transition screens and music... Neil seems to talk normal in 1,25 speed 😅 But tubeless explosions happend to me too...

[@AshfordMTB]

Repair mistake: maintaining your bike on a stand on a pump track.

[@nobody_noob2694]

my tire was on backwards, i had to switch wheels then i put it back on backwards again. to lazy to change it

[@gmbn]

Haha! It's an easy mistake to make and it's always a faff to change! 😂

[@jonnysnakes5417]

Haha i was changing tyres in the kitchen and one blew off made a nice line of sealant all the way around the room and straight down the washing that was hanging up to dry, the other half was not impressed

[@M3PH11]

4:31 also make sure there is no air in the syringe. Don't ask me how i know. 5:15 or just buy a chain cleaner and use it regularly

[@michaelbatey348]

Gd tip for hill climbs turn your rear tyre so it's rotation is backwards. Test it.

[@rupedog]

And clogs with mud? Guess the designers don't know what they are doing!

[@nomad-pq4yw8iy7v]

I ruined a perfectly good Oneup dropper because I didn't take it out once a year to lube it. I ride all year round so with the salt it is a must! I was replacing it with longer dropper but still to ruin a perfectly good dropper GRRR!

[@lochness_sasquatch]

#AskGMBN Would it be over the top to have two chains, one for dry lube and the other chain for wet lube and swap them out when needed? Thanks very much for all the great content!

[@mariusreiter9493]

If you can afford to buy a new quick link every time you change the chain (as they are single use and not meant for being opened and closed multiple times) then why not?

[@X41N3]

my mistake was buying a used bike with a shitty front brake twice. Both times the pads were completely ruined cause of oil. Almost replaced the pads before i found out it was leaking at the caliper... And you only find out that the threads on the fork are shit when your trying to install new brakes.. And you can ruin brakes by forcing the cilinders in the caliper back..apparently you have to open the bleed valve before doing so.

[@bikesnrovers]

Using a good lube, like T9 you don't have to use two different lubes. The biggest thing with any lube is wipe off the excess! I hate bikes with grimy dirty drive trains!

[@dongescaner5873]

My biggest mistake is not using a proper tool in removing or putting back of bearings. There is a big chance that you might destroy the bearings if you don't have a proper tool.

[@Scott.Hadley]

I hope Peaty's isn't too upset with you guys releasing this old Muc-Off ad just now.

[@BizBBiz]

I ALWAYS put my front tire on backwards on purpose because the only time you need rotational-grip on the front tire is when you're braking. As such, I want the bitey side grabbing the ground.

[@mariusreiter9493]

That’s why tyres are already designed in a way to give you more traction when braking (take a look which side of the centre knobs is the sharp side), so by mounting it backwards you actually reduce braking traction.

[@codyadam6048]

i dont have to deal with any of this other than the chain lube because i live and Florida and the weather is always pick and choose

[@psychonaut038]

I use Squirt lube or boeshield year round. Don't know if it's available there.

[@prusak26]

I only use one lube. I live in Scotland.

[@codyadam6048]

@@prusak26 which lube?

[@prusak26]

@@codyadam6048 the wet one 😆😆Muckoff to be precise.

[@craigbest8644]

Surprised Peatys Lube wasn't somehow Photoshopped in 😜

[@richardbridges7664]

Biggest mistake, video release after change of sponsor 😊

[@Paulklampeeps]

Whats with the low brightness?

[@chibani_gl]

"My brakes are squeeky, let's lube them" 🤦

[@Durwood71]

To be fair, it does stop the squealing.

[@chibani_gl]

@@Durwood71 unfortunately, it doesn't stop the bike 😬

[@gmbn]

Nooooo! 😂

[@choppercam01]

It amazes me, still, how many bikes I get come in for fixing and the tyres on the wrong way. What makes me laugh more is that they are always tyres with the arrow of rotation on 🤣. I'm currently fighting with a set of really rusted peddles on a Muddy Fox Recoil 24, I've brought out the big guns, the heavy-duty adjustable spanner, just got to let the wd40 do its work first 🤣🤣

[@emdeel5709]

I had a similar issue with a set of pedals, tried everything, hammering etc, though initially I had also turned them the wrong way over tightening them. I even broke a torque wrench trying to get them off. In the end I got a 24” cheater bar, pedals came off so easily 👍

[@FraserRobertTorpy]

If all else fails, take off the crank, disassemble the pedal (if its seized on it probably needs a rebuild anyway...), clamp pedal spindle in a vice and use the crankarm as a lever to unscrew the pedal spindle. This will work and save you from having to use clumsy tools on the annoying little flats some pedals have, or worse, round out the hex socket.

[@gmbn]

Haha! It's an easy mistake to make! We've all been there! 😂

[@choppercam01]

@Fraser Torpy if they won't come off, I'll just change them for a new crank set. Luckily I have a few in stock that I can replace it with, I can then work on them at a later date.

[@mattgies]

The zeroth repair mistake to avoid: Setting up your repair stand in the middle of a trail.

[@Velo1010]

Anyone else rotate their tires, front to back, back to front?

[@rupertnorris5461]

"Don't use your delicate little tool!" 🤭🤣 Please say I'm not the only one who heard that?? #mindofa12yrold

[@gmbn]

Oh dear, oh dear!😅😂

[@Pies.]

how am i this special i made all of them like 50 times

[@denistuohy6420]

The more you know about bikes means the more you know when you mess up

[@Durwood71]

Another easy way to loosen stubborn pedals is to point the crank straight down, insert the hex wrench so it's pointed towards the front of your bike, stand on the pedal, and then use your arm and body strength to pull the wrench towards you. Unless the pedal is welded on, it's guaranteed to come loose.

[@carlosgil697]

I'd say using chain lube is a mistake in itself. Go wax or go home

[@j.albertogratacos2076]

Not having the right tool!

[@jaysee2213]

I got a bike with air forks, decided to check the pressure, removed the filler nut....only the nut isn't what you remove is it, it's the cap on top of the nut 🤣🤦‍♂️ then I found out that a normal pump with guage doesn't bloody fit so had to go buy the proper pump- f*ck sake haha

[@anbudrew]

Bob is not my uncle

[@userbarny6271]

The biggest mistake is to think that the junk from canyon can be repaired, the best solution is to take it to hazardous waste

[@NRGPL]

You mean the frame right?

[@NRGPL]

Tires wrong way - that's my biggest guilt 😂 Funny enough, my friend bought a new bike with tires installed in opposite way - seller told him that it should be like this 😂😂

[@gmbn]

Yeah, that's an easy mistake to make! 😂😅

[@joshuawesteros5345]

As noob as it sounds I use a sharpie and put an arrow in the wheel for which way it spins. Lol. That helps avoid backward tire.

[@joshuawesteros5345]

On the wheel, not in it.