Check your nuts

[RobF]

I had a couple of false changes on the Alfine 11 hub on the Rose during my ride today.

No probs, just realign the little yellow dots on the hub changer as per Shimano's instructions.

Except they didn't seem to be responding correctly to the barrel adjuster on the handlebar shifter.

Odd, I thought, but I noticed a bit of slop in the chain so decided to adjust my chain tensioner.

That didn't want to work correctly, either.

When I loosened it there was play up and down, which there should be, but also play side to side, which there should not be.

Next port of call was the dome nuts on the axle, which were both only finger tight - eek.

Tightened those - fortunately I carry an adjustable spanner - the chain tensioner then tensioned the chain as it should and, surprise, surprise, I was able to adjust the gear change.

Poor maintenance on my part, I do go round the bike with a multi-tool but I've never bothered to check the tightness of the dome nuts.

The moral is clear: check all the fixings on the bike, not just the ones you can do easily with one tool.

 

[EddiePJ]

I've had the rear wheel on the Haibike come out from the dropouts on three separate occasions. The problem was down to crap market stall quality OE nuts. The problem stopped the momment that I replaced both nuts with quality items.

 

[RobF]

I've had the rear wheel on the Haibike come out from the dropouts on three separate occasions. The problem was down to crap market stall quality OE nuts, and once replaced with quality nuts, the problem instantly stopped.

Irrationally, I'm not keen on dome nuts.

I prefer to see the thread emerge as you tighten the nut.

On the Rose, they lock - or not - onto one of those lipped thick washers, green in my case.

I wonder if those washers offer much grip to the nut.

 

[axolotl]

Sage advice.

I came off my bike not long ago due to the handlebar adjustment bolt working loose. Didn't break any bones but ended up scuffed and bruised. A salutary lesson in bike maintenance.