Your maintenance disasters.

[RustyMTB]

Inspired by Doddy on GMBN tech talking about various ways he's wrecked bikes over the years, I'm reminded of the time I stripped an old Specialized Rockhopper & had the frame powder coated. Putting it all back together, I had a blank moment & stuck the chainring crank in the non drive side & then couldn't get it out again. This led directly to me wheeling it over to the LBS where they had a good chuckle & then relieved me of twenty quid.

Please tell me I'm not alone in my incompetence.

 

[Tim1023]

I had to take my bike to the LBS once because I couldn't get the bloody peddles off. Most embarrassing. They didn't charge me anything, so I tipped the guys a fiver.

I now take the peddles off and grease them every six months like clockwork.

 

[maynard]

When my hub exploded I think it was cos I didn't do cassette up tight enough. Or could of been crap roval hub .

 

[steve_sordy]

I used Gorilla tape on my rims instead of proper rim tape. Eventually it backfired on me. I revealed the gory details on here a few months ago and entertained the Forum for a week.

 

[Marley]

Happened in early 80's and still painful.......cut the steerer to short on brand new Manitou XC fork, rendering it useless.

 

[Sidepod]

Anything involving Cotter Pins. Still wake up screaming!

 

[Stihldog]

I’m taking notes and adding to my long list of faux-pas.
Don’t do any repairs during a power outage or in the dark.

 

[RustyMTB]

Happened in early 80's and still painful.......cut the steerer to short on brand new Manitou XC fork, rendering it useless.

That one gets me in the feels.

 

[Stihldog]

When your eyesight deteriorates like mine has, it makes not a blind bit of difference whether the lights are on or not. ?

It’s kinda nice when your hearing and memory deteriorates at the same rate as our vision. Excuses get easier.

 

[roboticinvesting]

I had one this summer - I was doing a new build on a non-ebike and was installing the XT cassette. I was tightening the lockring that holds the cassette on and was using a Amazon-sourced torque wrench. Unfortunately that torque wrench was crap and I ended up overtightening it which wrecked the metal washer and stripped the lockring. Ended up buying a whole new cassette as I could not find the lockring at the time (was able to sell the "old" cassette to recoup some loss).

Cost me even more because I promptly bought a new Park Tool torque wrench - don't regret that at all as it is very well built and I trust it. Morale of the story for me was not to trust those Amazon torque wrenches AND never overtighten anything as bad things happen!

 

[Sander23]

Last year replaced my wheel bearings, as i put my front wheel back in my bike it made some crazy loud noice, after spending hours and hours i went to the lbs fixed it, but costed me 65 euro. Still dont know what i did wrong..

 

[The Hodge]

A few years back I had my bike upside down ( cleaning bits you can't get to when its upright ) ..to this day I don't know why this happened as I was well aware of the danger ..but cleaning the rotor on the front disc brake I allowed the first finger on my right hand to get dragged into the caliper and sliced right through ..cue lots of blood me swearing loudly and grabbing the attention of my neighbour who drove me down to our local surgery ..where a temporary dressing was put on and they sent me off to our nearest hospital for stitches ..a few more visits over the next couple of months and it got back to as normal as its going to be..
Still slightly deformed and "dead " at the very tip ..but a painful lesson learnt ..?

 

[Zimmerframe]

A few years back I had my bike upside down ( cleaning bits you can't get to when its upright ) ..to this day I don't know why this happened as I was well aware of the danger ..but cleaning the rotor on the front disc brake I allowed the first finger on my right hand to get dragged into the caliper and sliced right through ..cue lots of blood me swearing loudly and grabbing the attention of my neighbour who drove me down to our local surgery ..where a temporary dressing was put on and they sent me off to our nearest hospital for stitches ..a few more visits over the next couple of months and it got back to as normal as its going to be..
Still slightly deformed and "dead " at the very tip ..but a painful lesson learnt ..?

Millions of lady's are lucky you didn't train to be a gynaecologist.

 

[RustyMTB]

Found my dodgy Rockhopper. Behold the innovation.

?‍

 

[The Hodge]

Chainless motion & shifting with a reversible cassette ...you might be on to something there ?

 

[Tone461]

After working on all my bikes over the years, you would of thought at some point you achieve a zen like level where by all mistakes are long behind you..............
Doing a bit of work to the e sommet I let the air out of the back shock to get better access. Job went swimmingly and full of pride and smugness was I, yes siree.. Pumping the shock back up, carefully cycling it up and down as per fox specs I unscrewed the shock pump to the sound of escaping air........and more air and more until it slowly sank. I stood there slightly confused then looked across at the valve core sitting on the bench.......

 

[Sidepod]

After working on all my bikes over the years, you would of thought at some point you achieve a zen like level where by all mistakes are long behind you..............
Doing a bit of work to the e sommet I let the air out of the back shock to get better access. Job went swimmingly and full of pride and smugness was I, yes siree.. Pumping the shock back up, carefully cycling it up and down as per fox specs I unscrewed the shock pump to the sound of escaping air........and more air and more until it slowly sank. I stood there slightly confused then looked across at the valve core sitting on the bench.......

Ah yes, the old “valve core on the bench” trap. Classic.

 

[Jackware]

Found my dodgy Rockhopper. Behold the innovation.

View attachment 52579

?‍

I'm disappointed you didn't go for the reversed forks as well for that full Gumtree bike look

 

[Zimmerframe]

I'm disappointed you didn't go for the reversed forks as well for that full Gumtree bike look

And the reverse stem for Short "sporty" reach ?

 

[Timochka69]

A few years back I had my bike upside down ( cleaning bits you can't get to when its upright ) ..to this day I don't know why this happened as I was well aware of the danger ..but cleaning the rotor on the front disc brake I allowed the first finger on my right hand to get dragged into the caliper and sliced right through ..cue lots of blood me swearing loudly and grabbing the attention of my neighbour who drove me down to our local surgery ..where a temporary dressing was put on and they sent me off to our nearest hospital for stitches ..a few more visits over the next couple of months and it got back to as normal as its going to be..
Still slightly deformed and "dead " at the very tip ..but a painful lesson learnt ..?

Done this, bearing the scar. It seems a bit of nerve damage causing sharp pain sometimes.

 

[RustyMTB]

Just for the record, it did get sorted & went on to greatness. I really loved that bike, Spesh make a decent whip.

 

[Stihldog]

Yesterday’s project.
Two new brake levers to install so I decided to bleed the brakes at the same time. I was due for a brake bleed and it’s a fairly easy procedure when you have the tools and a little bit of knowledge. So I thought.

Front brake install and procedure went without a problem. Got the rear brake system ready for a brake bleed. Syringe full of mineral brake fluid and attached to nipple, funnel in place with stopper in. Ok. Start injecting mineral oil.

Nothing....press syringe harder…nothing…press syringe har…(hose blows off of syringe)…noooooo…f¥<# me. Mineral oil splatters everywhere.
I forgot to remove the stopper in the funnel to allow fluids to exchange. What a mess and a good lesson. 30min cleanup with iso alcohol.

 

[Marley]

Ma

Manitou been around that long? ?

Had to ask my wife as she has a telegraphic memory.
I stand corrected, it was 1993. Lol