Mechanics Tips (Women)

I'm wondering if this warrants it's own thread because there might be extra / different tips for us females doing bike mechanics.

For example the super lovely and helpful Nic at LMNH taught me that when undoing a bolt or similar, make a triangle with your arms because women (generally) aren't as strong as men and we need all the leverage they can get. This has been an invaluable tip so I was wondering if there are any more.

So post your questions here if you think it's relevant.

Now, any tips on how the hell I can get a freewheel sproket off with a (remover tool and) and fairly long wrench?
It's just not budging and keeps slipping out.
Sick of going to the lbs and asking if they can just loosen things for me.

I am not so sure there is a need for this one

There are plenty of weak men who could benefit from such tips.

You can always add leverage by putting a tube over the handle of a tool

Truespeak, seatposts and old frame tubing make useful levers.

get a man to do it :)

Now, any tips on how the hell I can get a freewheel sproket off with a (remover tool and) and fairly long wrench?
It's just not budging and keeps slipping out.
Sick of going to the lbs and asking if they can just loosen things for me.

Try holding the freewheel tool on by doing up the q/r track nut, then once the freewheel has budged 1/4 turn remove the nut or q/r so you can finish unscrewing the freewheel.

get a man to do it :)

Oh dear

get a man to do it :)

Closet gay.

I was just thinking that we might have gleaned more info and tips over the years that we could share.
I also thought that if I posted it in the general 'mechanics and fixing' then I'd get a torrent of htfu replies.

But I'm happy for a hippy merge if need be.

City Gent and TheBrick's tips are fantastic however. Will do both. Cheers, much appreciated!

get a man to do it :)

ignoring this.

Do not let Murtle near your bike, it would require a loving touch to repair the damage.

I don't know about tricks for freewheels, but generally speaking BB tools slip out of the cups too, here's a tip for that:

Take a crank retention bolt to your local DIY store, and ask for a 1 inch long version (so, same threadcount and diameter) and some washers. Put on the BB tool, then use your new bolt and washers to hold it inside the BB cup as if it were a crank, whilst you tighten.

I think the most useful bit about going on mechanic courses is learning where to place yourself, how to hold the tools, and the bike, and yourself around it, in a safe way that won't allow slippage/straining muscles.

Since doing one and watching the guys in the workshop on my lunchbreak, I have learnt how to avoid my most common mechanic injuries that were results of slipping off tools and into sharp crank teeth, etc.

Totally agree. This is what I'm talking about.
See you at 6.15pm for freewheel removal then matey? ;)

Hammer.

Clamp the tool as per Tommy's post and tap with a hammer, to get over the initial tightness. If it still dosent budge, spray with something like WD40 and leave for a while.

I'm not sure there's much difference in the sex's when it comes to bike mechanics. Men (well me at least) can be more pig headed I suppose, and less able to take a pause from an irritating problem (home mechanics tip No 1). But things should'nt be over torqued when being put together anyway, and if bits dont want to be removed. Patience is usually to answer not brut strength.

My 2p

Get a man to merge it.

No really, are there any specific women's wrenching tips? It's all the same parts and most of the chicks on here are stronger than the skinny jeaned hipsters so you should have no trouble.. :)

Can anyone remove the lid of this jar for me?

+1 to citygents comments

See the ctuk mechanics courses thread

Wicksie set to ignore for ignoring the fact that I suggested a leverage.

Can anyone remove the lid of this jar for me?

Lick its ear, I've heard that gets things off.

Can anyone remove the lid of this jar for me?

Take a rolling pin and tap round the edges of the lid.

+1 to citygents comments

See the ctuk mechanics courses thread

Wicksie set to ignore for ignoring the fact that I suggested a leverage.

Ha, I didn't ignore entirely, I knew about that which is why I didn't acknowledge. My apologies and thank you for reminding me.

Would like to do the mechanic course.

No really, are there any specific women's wrenching tips? It's all the same parts...

all the ladies whose parts i've seen have different ones to me...

Wow I sound quite zen-ish^

Cant have been long ago that I anounced to an innocent hybride frame, that would'nt give up an old BB. "you want to be a f*cked bike, I'll f*ck you up" Before taking a 800W drill to the BB bearings. Might have been OK if I'd left over night soaking in WD40.

Can anyone remove the lid of this jar for me?

What's in it? Can I eat it? Will I like it?

Serious top tip of the day, if a jar lid is tight just tap firmly around the edge of the lid with the back of a knife and it will open with two fingers. Brains > braun.

all the ladies whose parts i've seen have different ones to me...

I've not played with other blokes so was only judging other women's parts.
Maybe I need to get out more?