Mainentance?

[Jason Scott]

I'm a newbie with bike maintenance, not knowing my cassette from my rear stays. I presume ebike maintenance is similar to standard bikes but is there anything in particular I should pay attention to? I see frequent mention to drying and lubing the chain. Does that require some care for Bosch mid drives?

Also, is the Haynes bike manual any good?

 

[EddieH]

Also, is the Haynes bike manual any good?

Borrow it from your local library, then you can make up your own mind if t is any use to you. (I've just ordered it from my library to see what it is like)

 

[Alan Quay]

There are lots of good videos on Youtube.

Here's what Sheldon Brown (a superb resource) has to say about lubing chains:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

 

[Lancslass]

I got my bike about the same time as Alan but I don't doubt I have done nothing like the mileage that he has done!
I found this an interesting point in the Sheldon Brown article:

"New chains come pre-lubricated with a grease-type lubricant which has been installed at the factory. This is an excellent lubricant, and has been made to permeate all of the internal interstices in the chain.

This factory lube is superior to any lube that you can apply after the fact [well, unless...see below -- John Allen].

Some people make the bad mistake of deliberately removing this superior lubricant. Don't do this!

The factory lubricant all by itself is usually good for several hundred miles of service if the bike is not ridden in wet or dusty conditions. It is best not to apply any sort of lube to a new chain until it is clearly needed, because any wet lube you can apply will dilute the factory lube."

With that in mind I will be leaving my chain unlubed until it looks like it needs it (unless someone on here has better advice).

 

[anotherkiwi]

I live by the seaside... Anything greasy attracts sand like flies to cow manure...

So a new chain is cleaned of the factory lube which is replaced by dry lube.

I am on my second chain in 2600 km because the first one died an early death because of greasy lubrifiant.

 

[Alan Quay]

I got my bike about the same time as Alan but I don't doubt I have done nothing like the mileage that he has done!.

I'm not sure you did. First bike c.1975 (Raleigh Budgie), first Electric built in 2011. (Maybe you're confusing me with someone else?)

Anyway yes, I always leave it alone a for the first few hundred miles.

 

[Lancslass]

I'm not sure you did. First bike c.1975 (Raleigh Budgie), first Electric built in 2011. (Maybe you're confusing me with someone else?)

Anyway yes, I always leave it alone a for he first few hundred miles.

Apologies, I'm thinking of another Alan - with a Big Bear. Silly me!

 

[Jason Scott]

Thanks for the links and replies. We'll get our bikes serviced by a local shop once per year and will probably do about 20-30 miles per week (not much but we have a short commute).

 

[Alan Quay]

Thanks for the links and replies. We'll get our bikes serviced by a local shop once per year and will probably do about 20-30 miles per week (not much but we have a short commute).

Out of interest, how much will you have to pay for a service?

 

[Jason Scott]

I need to talk to again (BikeSpace in Plymouth) but I think it's about £60.

 

[stumpy150]

I use a chain cleaner - the one like a small car wash with the little brushes that clips onto the chain...Use a citrus cleaning fluid, dry off then a good spray with GT85

 

[Alan Quay]

I need to talk to again (BikeSpace in Plymouth) but I think it's about £60.

Ouch!

A good service on a half decent bike is really only about cleaning and adding some lube. Possibly pulling up a cable or two. On a really bad day you may have tweak a derailleur.

I'd advise you to buy some tools and DIY. It's really not that hard.

 

[Croxden]

I did five thousand before putting any was lube on, now eight thousand miles and then only wax, not oil.

 

[soundwave]

Standard Service – £39 (Plus Parts)

• - Frame & Fork wipe down and alignment checked
• - Headset & bottom bracket checked for free movement and adjusted
• - Wheels, hubs & tyres checked for wear damage
• - Allen bolts checked & tightened to correct torque
• - External adjustment of all bearings
• - Lubrication of chain, mechs & cables
• - Adjustment of brakes & gears
• - Safety Check (fittings, mudguards, racks etc.)

Premium Service – £79 (Plus Parts)

• - Steam clean
• - Bike stripped and alignment checked
• - Headset & bottom bracket removed, inspected & rebuilt or replaced as required
• - Brakes removed, pads & rotors checked and replaced if required
• - Drivetrain checked, cleaned and lubricated
• - All other fittings removed, checked for wear, cleaned and greased
• - Cables replaced if needed
• - Gears indexed, brakes aligned & adjusted
• - Final wax and showroom polish

from my local bs tho will not do my bike as can use there tools for 20 quid and do it my self pmsl.

 

[Lancslass]

I did five thousand before putting any was lube on, now eight thousand miles and then only wax, not oil.

That'll be 25 years down the line for me then!
In fact I won't ever have to lube my bike cos I probably won't be around anymore
We have one of those little oiling machines as well, don't know why I bothered!

 

[D C]

I agree with Alan on this, it's not hard to learn how to look after your bike and well worth taking the time to do so.
An annual service is fine but in real life you end up with lots of little adjustments and small repairs to carry out in between times, if you take the bike in for these it will cost a fortune as well as being inconvenient.
It's also worth learning how to deal with a puncture at home if you've never done one, just remove a wheel, tyre and inner tube then re-fit. It's far better to do this for the first time at home in the dry than 10 miles away in the rain. It's good to carry at least one spare tube along with a good puncture repair outfit and hand pump.
The internet is your friend and will have videos on most bike repairs.
Dave.

 

[EddiePJ]

my local bs tho will not do my bike as can use there tools for 20 quid and do it my self pmsl.

Hence the need to use cable ties to hold it together.

£20.00 is a lot of money for some side cutters.


.

 

[Jason Scott]

I hope e-biking will be a lifetime thing so getting good at maintenance myself will be beneficial. Is a bike workstand recommended? Presumably we need quite strong models to take the extra weight. (I would obviously remove the battery! )

 

[soundwave]

mine was 30 quid from ebay tho lidl might have some left @25 quid

 

[Jason Scott]

Yeah I fear we've missed the Lidl specialbuy but will check.

We have easy entry / low step bike so would need to attach to the stand some other way, maybe the seat post.