Mechanics and Fixing Any Questions Answered

Yeah, I agree. Doesn't look right at all.

I'm going for the condor tektro ones for lazyness and on sale

on those cnc planet x ultra light brakes what men’s of adjustment do i have to make the non-cable side stay away from the rim? i have tried the tiny little spring adjust (the tiny black cradle it sits in keeps pinging off, very annoying)

Loosen the mounting bolt, clamp the brake on, tighten it back up?
I used to have a set years ago, don't remember them being particularly tricky to get centred. They were, however, fucking rubbish at stopping.

oh dear , reason i bought them is that my old calipers didn’t have enough headroom for the tyre i wanted to run, stupid palaver

Are they’re short reach caliper brakes?

Trying to replace the stem on my new Aethos. Seems to be a standard setup, but when I remove the top cap and loosen the stem bolts the stem is still rock solid on the steerer. Didn't want to force anything, so I've re-assembled and rung the shop I bought it from. They're going to look at it on Monday, but just wanted to check this isn't normal? Stem should just lift off when the bolts are loosened, shouldn't it?

1 Attachment

Give it a decent wiggle and pull, easier with the bars on fire leverage.

Also wheel in for holding the fork still

Give it a decent wiggle and pull, easier with the bars on fire leverage.

Didn't want to do that to avoid scratching the steerer (it's on show at the back of the stem). Also, how do you adjust the pre-load on the bearings if the stem is that stiff on the steerer?

I know you should need to, but I can only remove the stem on my carbon Columbus forks if I loosen the expander bung.

I know you should need to, but I can only remove the stem on my carbon Columbus forks if I loosen the expander bung.

Yep, sounds plausible. Maybe they tightened the bung too much in the factory?

So you tighten the bung back up before re-fitting the stem? Presumably the stem is then tight on the steerer with the stem bolts loose? Isn't it then hard to adjust the bearing pre-load with the top cap?

In my case the stem moves around that on the fork, just not lift off, so preload isn’t an issue, I’m sure someone will be along in a minute to say I’m in store for certain death.

In my case the stem moves around that on the fork, just not lift off, so preload isn’t an issue, I’m sure someone will be along in a minute to say I’m in store for certain death.

Ha ha, hopefully not!.

I'm going to let the bike shop sort it on Monday, but I want to have a look at the steerer when the stem is off to make sure it's not damaged and check that the new stem fits freely on the steerer with the stem bolts undone.

Also, how do you adjust the pre-load on the bearings if the stem is that stiff on the steerer?

Once it's seized on you'll struggle, but if you take it off, clean and grease it then it should be fine. Just give it a pull and wiggle, it's exactly what the shop are going to do. I was going to suggest loosening the bung but those specialized ones are a bit odd and will stay put unless you know how to remove them, although maybe backing it off a little will help, just don't do it too much and lose the nut down the steerer.

Thanks, good to understand the issues before I get the shop to sort. It’s an expensive bike that’s less than a month old, so I’d rather they screw it up and be liable than me.

less than a month old

That's quite weird then, if it's the shop you got it from then probably a good idea.

if it's the shop you got it from then probably a good idea.

Yep, it’s the shop I bought it from

Cannot get my new brake housing to pop out through this hole! I have the old inner to use as a cable guide but still no joy. Any tips?

1 Attachment

So, my bike fell in the canal (I live on a boat). Don’t ask… it was fully submersed for prob one minute. It’s a steel frame (all city space horse), disc brakes. What, if anything, is going to need disassembling/reassembling once it’s dried out…?

Specialized, replace that compression bung as soon as you can!

Tried putting the housing in from there, rather than out of there?

Specialized, replace that compression bung as soon as you can!

Do you mean the design is flawed in general? Or do I need to replace the one on my bike?

Yes, the design is flawed.

Actually, any expansion bung which is installed incorrectly could cause an issue so yeah, this one is more particular, especially subject to the above.

Actually, any expansion bung which is installed incorrectly could cause an issue so yeah, this one is more particular, especially subject to the above

Thanks, I’ll be having a close look at the steerer when they get the stem off. If there’s any damage I’ll be asking for a replacement fork, I guess.