Maintence Question????

[nd11nc]

Can anyone give me some advise on when I should have maintence done on my 2008 full suspension Mnt. bike? More spacific question would be about going through the crank, head, etc. for repacking bearings. Is that necessary on a newer bike with about 600 miles on it?
Also, should I get it into someone who knows what they are doing on shift issues? I noticed on my second ride of this year my bike won't shift when I want it to, will ghost shift and when climbing, feels like it skips(almost like it's shifting)but does not shift. I don't have experience in this, but think I should learn. Thoughts? and thanks for the informative posts on this site.:hail2thechief:

[cachehiker]

My primary mountain bike gets a tune-up twice each year. That's about once every two or three hundred miles or once every 15 rides. I check and adjust the shifting and brakes, clean and lube the chain, replace any frayed inner wires, apply tri-lube to the fork stanchions, and whatever else I find that needs attention after hosing it down and cleaning it up all sparkley like.

I have been proactively replacing the chain at 0.4%-0.5% elongation or every 800-1000 miles. The wheel bearings and the rest get repacked about every other time I replace the chain. For me that's only about once every 3 years.

Learning to adjust your own shifting will save you a pant load of money. Paying somebody else to do it is like paying somebody else to lube your chain. It's just not that hard to do. Check out the Park Tool website for starters. If the adjustments aren't working, go upstream to the shifter cables and clean/lube/replace inner wires and housings. New inner wires and housings will always settle in and require readjustment after a few hundred miles too.

[nd11nc]

Why thank you very much. I will check the site out and see what I can do myself. Thanks again!

[downhillin4life]

if you are going to hose your bike down you also are going to want to take of your cranks and bottom bracket and clean them out and grease every now and then it will keep you from getting unwanted water in your bike and keep your parts lasting longer.

[greyhair biker]

I charge $30 to $45 for a tuneup. I also teach people how to tune their rig. Most people could do this themselves if they just took the time to learn but if you dont have the time then find a good reputable shop that your friends recommend and take it in the start of the season. Get in the habit of checking your rig out before you ride it - every week. Regular lubing goes a LOOOONG ways. I go through mine every time it gets more than a little wet, or every time the chain needs lubed. I strip it down completely in the fall and check every inch of the frame & bearings...every stress point. Subscribe to several bike magazines that have sections on maintenance - most are pretty darn good advice.
...Any more than that and there are tons of excellent bike mechs on here.