Tuning up a bicycle

Tuning a bike for sale, after evaluation

Any steps in italics could reveal a fatal flaw that would warrant abandoning work: Take time to evaluate throughout!

Lay bike on LEFT side (chain up)

Using Tri-flow oil, lubricate front hub bearings right side, headset, left pedal, front and rear brake pivots and barrel adjusters, shifters (if friction), bottom bracket right side, front derailer pivots (8) and limit screws; rear derailer pivots(8), limit screws, barrel adjuster, springs and jockey pulley wheel axles; rear hub bearing right side, and freewheel bearings.

Lay bike on RIGHT side Using Tri-flow oil, lubricate rear hub bearings left side, right pedal, bottom bracket left side, front hub left side.

Clamp bike tightly in workstand by seatpost and do preliminary assessment:

Clean or replace chain, if necessary (it probably isn’t -- ask if unsure) and/or lubricate

Shift carefully through all the gears to check derailleur limits, wiggle derailers to check for excessive wear, esp. if indexed. Check chainrings for wobble, check wheels for hops

Remove both wheels from bike: inspect tires, tubes and rim strips and if needed remove now; replace after cleaning and truing.

Assess both hubs and adjust bearings if necessary. Assess freewheel and replace if needed. Tighten cassette lockring if present. Grease axle nuts or quick release skewers (and oil q/r cams, and replace springs if needed).

(Following 4 wheel steps can be done on bike in workstand in some cases)

Clean light corrosion on rims with wire wheel.

In truing stand, lubricate spokes ends in nipples with one drop of Tri-flow each.

Clean rims with cleaner and/or alcohol

True and tension wheels, replace rimstrip (with cloth tape), tubes and tires if needed

Assess bottom bracket and adjust if necessary.

Assess headset (final adjust later with bike on floor).

Assess brakes and brake pads. Replace pads if needed.

Using Tri-flow oil, lubricate all cables by removing housing from stops, or loosen stand clamp and carefully rotate bike upside down.

Clean frame with cleaner on rag.

Shave and sand rust on chrome and frame and touch up paint if warranted

Reinstall wheels on bike

Replace brake or derailer cables if needed. Tension cables with barrel adjuster ¼ of the way out, check that cable binder bolts are tight.

Adjust brakes: Tighten mounts, ensure that axles are fully seated in dropouts before checking alignment and centering

Adjust derailers: double-check limit screw settings

Repair and secure or remove any accessories and install kickstand if needed

replace seat and grips if ripped; remove bar tape if ripped and replace plugs (tape after sale)

Check all fasteners esp. brake mounts, pedals, crankbolts, axle nuts, levers, bars, stem and seatpost for tightness.

Wipe excess lube from chain, and any grease from seat, grips, frame, etc.

Remove bike from stand.

Adjust headset.

Safety check your work, then request a key volunteer to do the same.

Test ride: pedal hard in all gears to check for worn cogs (chain skips), ride no-hands to check for bent fork, shift under moderate load to check derailer adjustments.

If test ride is OK fill out a red sales tag: put S/N and your name on one side, size (seat tube/toptube c-c in cm) and price on the other side, and loop tag on handlebar at stem.

Leave work sheet on handlebars with work you’ve done checked off, esp. if tune up is not finished.

Go Back

• Shop Manual