I have been finding my that my cycling is more challenging so I watch for things on the bike to make it easier. Last year I was riding on low tires which took much more effort. So the other day I was looking for dragging brakes, bent wheels or anything else that would slow me down.
I looked at the swing which moves the chain from the big sprocket to smaller sprockets. I noticed that the swing may have been rubbing on the chain. I looked at it and thought it would be easy to make an adjustment. Just shorten or lengthen the cable like the brakes. Wrong!
I shortened the cable and tried it. The chain went off the front sprocket. That's not right. I lengthened the cable. I couldn't get into the lowest gear. Okay I'll get smart. I'll put the chain just off the slide on the big sprocket. That didn't work. How about line the chain up with the slide on the small sprocket. It's still badly screwed up.
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| Two adjustment screws and joints |
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| The slide that swings and moves the chain from one gear to another. |
I began to slowly realize that this job was more complicated than I thought. I had neglected to notice the four movable joints in the slide. I had neglected to notice the two adjustment screws on the top of the slide. I hadn't noticed the adjustment screw on the gear shift.
Now what have I done? I've made myself a big mess. Aha! The Internet! On to the computer and look up Shamano swing adjustment. There it was! A step by step method to adjust the swing slide.
Chalk one up for the Internet. It got me out of a jamb.
Do you use the Internet for information to repair things?
Congratulations. This is a horrendous job.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful place is the internet.
How did we ever do without it?
Deleteoh, hooray for a good save! :) i'm terrible at fixing things. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm no wonder in the fixing department.
DeleteYay! I am glad the internet was helpful! I use it a lot to find out stuff or how to do something.
ReplyDeleteI use the internet for recipes.
DeleteI'm terrible at trying to fix things!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I use the internet to look up a lot of things. Even how to cook stuff on the BBQ! It's awesome!
Cheri
I look on the internet for anything I don't know how to cook : Potato soup (Many recipes) Ginger carrot soup. Curried carrot soup...
DeleteMy husband looks up stuff all the time. In the olden days an owners manual might have had that information:)
ReplyDeleteIn the olden days there would good manuals.
DeleteNo I always bring my bike to the local bicyle shop and he fixes mostly in one or two days my problems.
ReplyDeleteIf you have a good bicycle mechanic it's a good idea to get a tune up for safety.
DeleteI take it in to my mechanic, tough for me to read directions. I laugh when I think of getting a universal wrench with my first bike and thinking it all would be easy. I get a tune every two years. Nice you found an easy for you solution. LOL
ReplyDeleteTune ups are a good idea for safety reasons.
DeleteOh Dear Red - I use YouTube frequently to fix things. You got yourself into a right pickle there - glad you got going in the right direction with a step by step method. I am just guessing you went to YOuTube or perhaps you went right to the Shamano site where you downloaded a pdf file to read? Whatever, it worked, right. One For The Internet. Now, I needed new elec wire for lamp and plug, so went to kents and bought this and new thingy for light. Didn't know how to do it, so went to youtube and step by step video instruction - Yep, I repaired it and it works and now I know how to do this. Whatever are we going to do when our instructional internet disappears - learn from an olde guy.....maybe?
ReplyDeleteI just found a site that gave eleven easy steps.
DeleteNow that was smart. I was already heading to the nearest bike shop to ask for help, and you ended up doing it yourself, using the internet. And yes, I ask it questions quite often and it usually helps me out. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's a good idea to get your bike checked for safety reasons.
DeleteWay to go Red if you remember I learned how to operate a backhoe on the internet and yes it is a wonderful tool ind of like those books for dummies:) Not that you are a dummy just a reference :). HUG B
ReplyDeleteI use the dummy books all the time!!!
DeleteMy sister suggested that I go on the internet to find a repair movie for my wine cooler. Yeah, like that will every happen!
ReplyDeleteThe wine cooler is getting a little specific. For common things there are many sites to choose from.
DeleteMy admiration began when you actually knew the name of the parts you were working on!
ReplyDeleteWow! I'd never thought of that before!
DeleteNope. I use the phone to call on friends who have skills in the needed area of repair. Also whine a lot to remind them of my ineptitude.
ReplyDeleteand some friends like doing stuff like that. You probably do things for them in areas you are talented in.
DeleteSmart thinking! There is a wealth of information on the internet. I use it for many things! I especially love to search for helpful hints on YouTube.
ReplyDeleteI'm not video kind of person. I like to see something written out with some diagrams.
DeleteI got lost just trying to read this. In this case the Internet would not have been much help to me - right over my head. I have gone online for other problems though, usually electronics.
ReplyDeleteThe internet can definitely help sometimes! I guess everything has good and bad.
ReplyDeleteMost jobs end up being bigger than we think. I'm not particularly handy and I'm not big on making repairs, not that i don't try from time to time. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteYou are so brave to try this! But then, you've had marvelous adventures! And a wealth of experiences.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Red. I saved myself hundreds of £s and lots of time and effort when the self-raking mechanism on the tailgate of my station wagon (we call it a tourer) failed. I can't even imagine what life was like before Google.
ReplyDeleteYae! Good for you! Art always looks up "how to do" things on the Internet.
ReplyDelete