Mechanics and Fixing Any Questions Answered

Underneath the saddle clamp will either be a normal cap head allen screw, or a crown nut and a schrader valve. Here's a screenshot from a random service manual.

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That's what my OneUp? has.

Nice I have gone and ordered a new one from my lbs mostly because they're lending me a normal seatpost for a ride I'm doing tomorrow. But I am keen to try and service the one I have. Doing a quick Google it seems the replaceable gas doodads are available online, so I'll just disassemble this one, try and find the part number on it and hopefully have it up and working in a week or two.

A huge shame that the industry seems to want me to just throw this in the bin.

Thanks!

Not steel, but Alpkit/Sonder have camino ones going cheap on ebay at the mo

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226190158366?mkpid=2&emsid=e90001.m162179.l174999&plmtId=700008&mesgId=3017&ch=osgood&bu=43105099788&trkId=efb55203-2fad-3e7c-ba02-dc86d8100ec0&cnvId=700003&recoId=226190158366&recoPos=1

Disassembled the dropper post. I've found the product code for the cartridge but it seems nowhere online can sell me a new one. Hotlines are the distributor ( https://www.hotlines-uk.com/brand-x-ascend-dropper-replacement-cartridge-598808?106092195 ) but none of the cartridges are in stock. So if I follow the advice of my shop, that's the whole thing going in the recycling, which I'm really displeased about. I've sent them an email asking hotlines if they can estimate a restock.

I found this thread https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/where-to-get-parts-for-a-brand-x-ascend-xl-200mm/ where someone went down the rabbit hole of trying to fix it. The best they found was this https://na.tranzx.com/collections/service-parts/products/replacement-cartridges?variant=32036313858083 , a third party dealer who sell bits that do look like the cartridge I pulled out of the seatpost. But there's no guarantee I'll be able to pick the right one that will be compatible with the post and it'll be $75 plus post down the pan for nowt.

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It might not be the cartridge, if it's still returning and going down again. Check the actuator on the bottom of the post, I recently worked on one that was just corroded and sticking. Cleaned up and it sorted it.
I'd be tempted to upgrade to a better, more serviceable dropper if that's not the case though, OneUp have been flawless for me, and their customer service is amazing

Ah yeah, you need the 200mm cartridge too.

I reckoned/research suggested a 170mm cartridge might fit and I could manage with less drop and less of the post inside the frame but dunno if that’ll work for you.

I did give it the old gt85 and rag treatment but no change. I didn't notice anything odd cosmetically and nothing seemed stiff or out of sorts.

The shop rang me just before the end of the day offering me a pro (shimano) dropper with lever for 165 which I will say yes to unless any strong opinions warning against them. The shop did me a favour in lending me a proper seatpost for the weekend without charge so I can go ''''bikepacking'''' which was jolly decent of them.

In today's episode of 'Suprise me, bicycle maintenance', what's the best not-got-the-right-tools way of taking the bearing off this Campagnolo ultra torque bottom bracket? My initial thoughts are to insert a cone spanner in the gap and hammer it off, but is there a more subtle/less dangerous way?

Obvious follow-up question will be how I install the new ones.

Ta.

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how I install the new ones.

With a press. A less optimal alternative is a crankshaft sized pipe with 90deg flat cut on one end, a soft but firm anvil-like surface, and a hammer. Failing that, a crankshaft-sized hole in a table or similar, generous grease, and a rubber mallet.

I once succeeded with this improvised puller and press. It surprisingly worked on first try.

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Yeah I used to butcher these off with a screwdriver, very much better getting a skinny jaw 3 arm puller. Cable tie the arms to stop them splaying

You can install the new ones, using a normal bearing press. Drift the two halves into the BB shell, one at a time and that will pull everything together.

I have a look 785 huez rs. The bb is pf86.5 and the non drive side is working itself out under efforts.

Do I fit it without grease, add a wave washer, locktite it in (and if so what locktite) or buy a bb infinite one piece?

Get a Wheels MFG threaded one?

Anyone successfully brought one of these back to life? Schmutz to the max.

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Replace was my only option.

My old man runs a Di2 9070 RD with 11-28T cassette and 50-34T DA cranks up front. He needs a 32T rear cog.
Can he go with a Wolf Tooth Roadlink and install a 11-32T without issues? Should he try without a roadlink, just maxing out on the B-screw? He never really cross-shifts, but I guess the chain will still be a bit loose every now and then. Any other options? He's also considering this, but we're after a simpler solution.
(I already told him to just get a medium-cage Ultegra RD but he's reluctant. :P )

Should he try without a roadlink, just maxing out on the B-screw?

Surely this is at least worth a try in the workstand?

Cheers

99% chance you won't need a Roadlink with a 32t cassette. You can fit the longer cage plates from an RD6800GS to give it extra capacity but they'll need to be modified.

Re: Seatpost dropper references.
I found this table which links Syncros dropper posts, to the OEM number and available service kits from Syncros which should be available through a Scott dealer or via Westbrook online. The OEM number (JD-YSP23 for example) should be lasered somewhere on the seatpost.
They might have different fixings on the top, like a stud rather than a threaded hole, but they should be compatible.

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I cut down my fork today and it slightly frayed, done it lots before without issue and followed the same steps as usual but maybe the blade was a bit old or my tekkers wasn’t what it usually is. Was just thinking to seal with a bit of nail polish… any other thoughts/am I going to die?

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omg , that is you on a bad day? Flip upside down and rub on some wet n dry?

Can’t tell what your insinuating by “this is you on a bad day”?