Broken Bike, Any Advice?

ianianian

Afternoon all,

I'm hoping you can help! I bought a specialized rockhopper disc (there's my entire biking knowledge used in that line) to cycle to work on a few months ago.

T was a revelation! I couldn’t tell you whether it was a good bike as I have no point of reference, but cycling than halved my journey time to work, saved money and got me fit!

However, I recently decided to go 'off road' (only just, down a little mud track!) and my bikes had it! Admittedly I left it with mud on it for a day or two, but I thought after spending hundreds of pounds on a mountain bike it would be able to take this kind of thing in its stride. Instead, the chain and gears have rusted and the gears next to the pedals no longer work!

1/ Is this all my fault or should the bike be able to cope with mud?
2/ I'm assuming specialized will have given me the standard warranty. Will this cover this or will I have to fork out for it to be fixed/ new pieces?

Thanks

Ian

-liam-

You need to clean the drivetrain (Gears, front and rear mech, chain and cassette) everytime you get it wet and muddy. A chain will go rusty over night if not maintained.

Get some hot soapy water on everything and scrub it clean then oil it.

So, in short....Yes, it is all your fault and no warranty will cover careless ownership

-liam-

Have a nose at this thread...

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... highlight=

ianianian

Dear me, thanks for the advise!
I have tried cleaning it, but it doesn't seemed to have worked! I guess i'll just have to scrub harder!

Appreciate it's my fault, i should have looked into it first, but my bike has gone from being one of the best investments i ever made to a joke! Dear me, i can't believe a mountain bike dies in the cold and wet! Oh well, best get scrubbing!

-liam-

lol !

Metal doesn't like water. They could make everything out of plastic but I doubt it would last very long

5 minute job when you have finished using it and it won't let you down.

nicklouse

have a read through this about cleaning.

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=85

llamafarmer

You can probably clean up the rusted parts by giving them a scrub with some GT85. Then wipe off and relube afterwards with some proper chain lube. Your bike hasn't had it, but it is pissed off with you and you need to buy it some flowers and say sorry

Stephen-Hawking

Make WD40 your friend.

antfly

You probably didn`t have enough oil on or the wrong oil and a cheap chain.Better chains are more rust proof.

turpinr

Stephen-Hawking wrote:

Make WD40 your friend.

yeah,make wd40 your friend,throw it the bin and get gt85

MrChuck

Not sure what you expected to happen here! It may be a mountain bike but that doesn't magically make it impervious to rust and having its moving parts (front deraiileur it sounds like- next to the pedals ) clogged up with mud.

Give it a bit of a clean as others have suggested and it'll be fine. Obviously mud on the frame, tyres, wheels etc doesn't really matter but it's likely the drivetrain (chain, gears etc) will need some attention after every proper off road ride unless it's very dry. All part of the fun.

supersonic

Yep, part of your warranty terms is that the bike is kept serviced, cleaned and lubricated. That includes making adjustments to gears and so forth.

Gears often 'bed in' then need readjusting.

Hopefully all your bike needs is a clean, lube and adjustment.

GT85 should be kept away from the bike for the most, especially around the disc brakes.

llamafarmer

supersonic wrote:

GT85 should be kept away from the bike for the most, especially around the disc brakes.

Can you clarify that please ss? I've heard it said before and I know GT85 shouldn't be used as a lube, but I'm unclear as to where exactly it should/shouldn't be used. I'd currently spray some on the drivetrain after washing my bike and then wet lube it afterwards. Is this the wrong thing to be doing? I also wipe a bit on the bolt heads that usually like to rust.

supersonic

it is more a water dispolacer than lube. It has its purposes, as you say, but ensure you lube properly afterwards, and keep off the forks and disc brakes. And tyres.

llamafarmer

Good stuff, as long as I'm not doing anything really dumb!

turpinr

gt85 cleaned my xt casette up and it looks like new.

cjw

supersonic wrote:

it is more a water dispolacer than lube. It has its purposes, as you say, but ensure you lube properly afterwards, and keep off the forks and disc brakes. And tyres.

I knew about keeping off the brakes (I cover them with plastic bags), but what's the problem with forks and tyres. Have been using on these parts (not explicitly spraying on the tyres though, but certainly not avoiding them) for ages with no problems.

cullen_bay

fork grease is the best for forks, especially in the winter.

ok im a bit of a bike tart, but what can y'do? :roll:

shaun23

once you have been out on your bike, all I do is get the hosepipe onto a jet setting and spray around any area that could do damage if mud is left and dries like in your case. It saves cleaning your bike every time as the mud should wash straight out if you've been riding. I've learnt this from doing what you have done (Many times! lol

supersonic

cjw wrote:

supersonic wrote:

it is more a water dispolacer than lube. It has its purposes, as you say, but ensure you lube properly afterwards, and keep off the forks and disc brakes. And tyres.

I knew about keeping off the brakes (I cover them with plastic bags), but what's the problem with forks and tyres. Have been using on these parts (not explicitly spraying on the tyres though, but certainly not avoiding them) for ages with no problems.

It can penetrate the fork seals, rot them, thin out the oil in the foam rings, and kill them too.

Also may degrade some rubbers in tyres.

robertjmiller

If you rinse mud off your bike with water be sure to use a low pressure spray because a high pressure spray can force dirt deeper into your bike's components.

shaun23

well yes der