50th

 

A big family and me in the Deep South grape

 My mate from font/uxbridge wanted some coaching and luckily we had half the wall to ourselves (and his 7 kids)

Orbea Occam - Main Pivot Upgrade

When I was servicing my Occam 2017 I noticed that the main pivot Expander Bolt (1) was loose then as I checked further I found the Main Pivot Axle (4) was not tightly screwed in. After I found they were loose I decide to strip and check the pivot and lube the bearings, while I was poking around I noticed that the inner race of the driveside bearing (9) had worn a groove in to the carbon composite chainstay (circled red below).

Diagram & Table below from Orbea Blue Papers

Photo Below: wear to the carbon composite chainstay caused by the inner race of the driveside bearing. 

As the inner race of the bearing is clamped between a shoulder on the main axle and the chainstay, with time and the forces from riding the bearing has worn the chainstay. (I think the newer Occam model has an aluminium chainstay)

The fit of the bearings on the axle and axle tightness should be carefully checked on any bike using this system.

Even after the Main Pivot Axle had been tightened this was going to keep wearing so I decided to reinforce the area. As there was a raised shoulder of carbon composite around the threaded axle hole it was possible to remove the shoulder by careful filing and replace it with a stainless steel shim washer (15 x 22 x 1mm) glued in to place with epoxy. The filing was done with the main pivot axle removed and rear triangle still attached to the frame, though it would be easier to work on with it removed completely.

To keep the filed face parallel with the bearing (perpendicular to the main axle) the axle was used as a guide by threading it in from the outside of the chainstay and comparing the filing progress with the end of the axle.

Photo Below: The carbon composite chainstay with shoulder filed off

The stainless steel shim washer was thoroughly scuffed, spirit wiped then glued in place with a 2 part epoxy adhesive (Araldite Standard) it was held in place using the shoulder on the axle taking extreme! care to avoid getting adhesive on the threads.

Photo Below: The chainstay with shim washer glued on

Font Birthday Visit...... & Easter

Portland for fingers

Sport climbing on the south coast has been on the menu for a few years now but it's been a while since I spent any time on the longer routes there.  Loved it - and the slight randomness.  shame about my finger...............

Matt's camera lying through its teeth.........

You know who you are!

Someone stealing from you? but you don't know how they're getting in?

I was shown some items from a carrier bag, not really my sort of thing - hats with bears on them and teddy bears, one of the bears was fairly heavy as it was stuffed with beans. Then I was shown a PAIR of slippers from and unknown location. I was sure it was some kind of joke, I looked at the person showing me the stolen items to see if there was an imminent punch line. There was not, it was a fact, along with all the other hats and toys their cat had dragged one sparkly slipper in through the cat flap then gone back for the other one.

full screen the slide show

OFFroad