Originally Posted by oldbobcat
By the time you acquire the tools, parts, and knowledge to effect the kind of upgrade alfeng envisions, you will be several hundreds of dollars in the hole and the bike might be ready to ride by next fall. Alf is a very smart guy who has spent more years learning how to do this stuff than you've spent as a sentient being; he has tools you never heard of, spare parts in his basement, hot links to his hobby horses on the Sheldon Brown web site, he knows where to buy stuff cheaply, and he would like nothing more than to make you his acolyte.
If you're inclined, use the Le Tour to learn about bike repair, at a pace you pocketbook and other obligations can tolerate. Start with something easy like fresh cables, brake pads, tires, and handlebar wrap.
HMmmmm ...
Doesn't it seem as though we need fewer-and-fewer
bike specific tools now than in the past?
While not everyone has what I would currently consider to be
standard household tools (
e.g., screwdrivers, pliers, hammer, etc.), 'I' think that for the upgrade which I have suggested that the only non-household tool (
that is, people should probably/eventually-or-already have the others!) is a
T-25 Wrench which has a 4" shaft or a
5mm Wrench which has a 4" shaft ...
AFAIK, only Campagnolo's V3 shifters would need a T-25 Wrench ...
4" long T-25 bits which can be used in the type of screwdriver handle which accepts separate tips are generally available for less than
1/4 the cost of a dedicated T-25 Wrench ...
A pair of HARBOR FREIGHT's
orange handled Needle Nose pliers or "Dikes" (
they are sold together in a set which includes several other useful pliers) will be more than adequate for snipping the cables to length ...
A
standard size Flat or
a half-round file will be beneficial to debur the cable housing.
At this point, if I didn't have the specific Freewheel tool for the Freewheel that is on the bike then I would see if an LBS could do it (maybe they will do it for "free" if the replacement SunRace Freewheel is bought at the shop ... maybe, not) OR 'I' would
grind it off (
kids, don't try this at home!!) ...
- removing a Freewheel by grinding it off involves only grinding off the locking rings ...
- if a person is capable of removing those rings in a more gentle way, then more power to them!
- the Cogs will slide off ...
- and then, the core can then removed with a "standard" pipe wrench
- BTW. I wouldn't buy a new Freewheel tool for the OLD Freewheel which is on the bike since the tool will more-than-likely become a paperweight.
I don't know what type of brake levers the OP has ... I would think that either a
flat bladed screwdriver or a 4mm Allen Wrench will be required ... but, I suppose an appropriately sized socket & driver might be required.
A
3mm Allen Wrench will typically be used to mount the auxiliary downtube cable stops if a an old clamp-on cable stop isn't used ...
- a set of inexpensive, METRIC, L-bend Allen Wrenches will certainly suffice
What else is there other than some
tape &
scissors +
some light grease (
to lube the cables)?
As far as the knowledge that is needed, the
heavy lifting has been done [
i.e., Chris Juden's matrix] ... and, almost any info which doesn't seem obvious will probably be available on YouTube.
Winter IS a good time to work on a bike even if it is just re-wrapping one's handlebars!
Even if an individual has only limited DIY skills, if s/he is methodical then the component change can certainly be done on a weekend afternoon AFTER all the components are on hand ...
I think it is possible that MORE time could possibly be spent re-wrapping the handlebars THAN the rest of the process.