Fix the wheel defect and end the MTB tour

Stefan Frey

· 08.09.2015

Photo: Daniel Simon

Fix the wheel defect and end the MTB tour

Fixing a side run-out, fixing the freewheel or aligning the brake disc - you can do this during the tour and make it home on two wheels.

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You can also make a makeshift fix for lateral runout without a centre stand. To do this, turn the bike upside down. Attach a cable tie to the chain stay or suspension fork so that it can no longer slip. Turn it almost to the rim. If you now turn the wheel slowly, you can localise the lateral run-out. Tighten the spokes step by step. Tighten the spokes that counteract the lateral runout in a clockwise direction. Only tighten a quarter turn at a time, then check the lateral run-out again. As long as you can still detect lateral runout, you must repeatedly tighten the spokes. Do this until the wheel runs true again.

If the wheel is badly damaged in the form of a chip, no spoke spanner will help. The only way to get the wheel to fit through the frame or fork again is to use brute force. Find a firm surface and stand on the side of the rim. If possible, hold on to a tree somewhere with your hands and jump until the wheel runs reasonably smoothly again. With this method, it is helpful to have a second person standing opposite you on the wheel.

If the freewheel lives up to its name and slips when pedalling without the pawls engaging, cable ties can help. Lash the cassette spider to the spokes. The more cable ties, the better the force can be distributed. Caution: The cassette can no longer rotate freely, from now on you must always pedal with it!

If the brake disc no longer runs through the brake calliper after a fall, only force will help. Use both hands to carefully bend the disc in the desired direction. Do this until it fits between the brake pads again. Always check the result. Caution: Risk of burns: Always allow the disc to cool down first!

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Photo: Daniel Simon

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Stefan Frey

Editor

Stefan Frey is from Lower Bavaria and loves the mossy, loamy trails of the Bavarian Forest as much as the rugged rock of the Dolomites. For technical descents, he is prepared to tackle almost any ascent - under his own steam. As an accessories specialist, he is the first port of call for questions about equipment and add-on parts, while as head of copywriting he sweeps the language crumbs from the pages of the BIKE print editions.

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Fix the wheel defect and end the MTB tour

Stefan Frey

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