Gear shi(f)t
Aug. 4th, 2020 07:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
offcntrI had today off from pottery while the kiln cools--famous last words, right?--and had a few errands to run. To the bank, deposit checks; BiMart, for meds and canning supplies; maybe even down to Farmers' Market for some produce.
Fortunately, I decided to limit the bike ride part of the trip to just the first two, because while I was in the parking lot at the Credit Union, I heard a spang! and found myself coasting up to the automatic teller. The rear chain had broken. I did my banking, collected my chain off the blacktop, and walked my wheels home. Fortunately, it's not that far--about a 20 minute walk--but it's awkward leading a big trike one-handed down the sidewalk.
Close examination showed that the transfer and rear axle gears weren't lined up properly. When I'd shifted the transfer hub back to take up slack in the front chain, I'd not done it evenly. One side was a sixteenth-inch further back than the other, so the gear was angled slightly, just enough to twist the chain and pop it apart.
More hammering--rubber mallet, this time--lots of measuring, and I finally have what I think is correct alignment. Sprayed silicone on the gears and chains while I had it upside down, as I hadn't in a while. Think I'll take it on a--short--test ride tomorrow.
Fortunately, I decided to limit the bike ride part of the trip to just the first two, because while I was in the parking lot at the Credit Union, I heard a spang! and found myself coasting up to the automatic teller. The rear chain had broken. I did my banking, collected my chain off the blacktop, and walked my wheels home. Fortunately, it's not that far--about a 20 minute walk--but it's awkward leading a big trike one-handed down the sidewalk.
Close examination showed that the transfer and rear axle gears weren't lined up properly. When I'd shifted the transfer hub back to take up slack in the front chain, I'd not done it evenly. One side was a sixteenth-inch further back than the other, so the gear was angled slightly, just enough to twist the chain and pop it apart.
More hammering--rubber mallet, this time--lots of measuring, and I finally have what I think is correct alignment. Sprayed silicone on the gears and chains while I had it upside down, as I hadn't in a while. Think I'll take it on a--short--test ride tomorrow.