Posted by WD on August 04, 2003 at 11:03:15:
In Reply to: Maintenance 2 posted by David K on August 04, 2003 at 06:49:58:
It is a bargain basement price, don't expect the manual to be right. The daily checks are common sense, something modern consumers are sorely lacking. The bolt and nut tension checks are basically pointless, IF the assembling monkey at your dealer remembered to put threadlock on the parts. Otherwise, checking the frame and suspension pieces makes sense. If you see blue or red crust on the exposed bolt end threads, leave them the F#$% alone. I've worked in the bike industry long enough to see even high end bikes ruined by owners following poorly translated model manuals (factory), or poorly written service manuals (aftermarket, publisher doesn't matter, they both suck). If the consumer doesn't know squat about what he's buying, and the factory doesn't practice the good old fashioned policy of CYA, then all of us end up losing. Ignorance = lawsuits = no more grown up toys. Too bad the publishers can't get it right, it would save us all a bunch of headaches and sleepless nights. Same goes for the ignorant, low down, thieving, lying, cheating, snake oil peddlers pawning themselves off on us as "dealer mechanics", most of whom don't know a socket from a light bulb.
Piss on 'em.
That's my opinion, I could be wrong. (Yes, I watch and like Dennis Miller)
-WD