Rode through deep water, now what?
08-25-21, 10:49 AM
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Rode through deep water, now what?
Yesterday I had to ride through 18" deep water for about 30-40 feet. This morning I woke up thinking that perhaps water had got into the frame (steel frame, all external cables), so I pulled the bottle mount screws on the underside of the downtube and sure enough 3-4 tablespoons of water came out.
Now I wonder if I need to do more than leave the screws out and let things dry out. Does the crank need to get pulled? If so, then what? I'd appreciate any thoughts
Now I wonder if I need to do more than leave the screws out and let things dry out. Does the crank need to get pulled? If so, then what? I'd appreciate any thoughts
08-25-21, 12:33 PM
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Jeeze, that’s gotta be some story, am I right?
Sounds like something out of a James Bond movie.
Inquiring minds want to know lol.
Sounds like something out of a James Bond movie.
Inquiring minds want to know lol.
08-25-21, 12:53 PM
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Not much of a story I'm afraid. Riverside trail was overrun with high water after heavy rain (outskirts of Henri) - I could ride through or turn around and go ~18 miles back. In hindsight, carrying the bike might have been the better option, my feet were underwater p;edaling anyway.
08-25-21, 12:55 PM
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Depends a lot on the condition of the bike before you went fording with it.
Bare minimum, shoot some WD40 into the tubes via the bottle cage bolt holes, and leave it out in the sun for a day. Oil your chain, too since it went under water, and get some lube down the cable housing loop at the rear derailleur.
The bottom bracket could be different, depending on a number of things. If it’s a sealed-cartridge bearing (like a majority of modern, mass-market bikes) they’re designed not to need much service.
If you’ve got an older (or very inexpensive) bike with a cup-and-cone ball-bearing BB, then you may need to open it up and clea/check/add some grease on the bearings.
When I rebuild a bike with one of those style BBs, I pack it full of the blue ‘trailer’ grease from the auto parts store. It’s waterproof, and lasts for years under typical riding conditions.
Bottom Bracket (crank bearings) can be difficult to access, and may require specific tools, so I’d rather watch it for a while before I decide to pull it out. If it turns smoothly and quietly, it’s probably ok, especially if this is just an ‘around town’ bike
Bare minimum, shoot some WD40 into the tubes via the bottle cage bolt holes, and leave it out in the sun for a day. Oil your chain, too since it went under water, and get some lube down the cable housing loop at the rear derailleur.
The bottom bracket could be different, depending on a number of things. If it’s a sealed-cartridge bearing (like a majority of modern, mass-market bikes) they’re designed not to need much service.
If you’ve got an older (or very inexpensive) bike with a cup-and-cone ball-bearing BB, then you may need to open it up and clea/check/add some grease on the bearings.
When I rebuild a bike with one of those style BBs, I pack it full of the blue ‘trailer’ grease from the auto parts store. It’s waterproof, and lasts for years under typical riding conditions.
Bottom Bracket (crank bearings) can be difficult to access, and may require specific tools, so I’d rather watch it for a while before I decide to pull it out. If it turns smoothly and quietly, it’s probably ok, especially if this is just an ‘around town’ bike
08-25-21, 12:59 PM
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SO where do ya live. After pulling off your seat post and inspecting the drain holes on you forks and stays you could just hang it up and let it dry out. But that's if you live in a dry area like Death Valley or El Paso. I guess the next question is what kinda grease did ya use at your last rebuild. And another question would be how clean was the water.
But ya know a repack is never a bad idea. If nothing else its good practice...
But ya know a repack is never a bad idea. If nothing else its good practice...
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