990 Refresh Part 11...

Ok, I've been neglecting this journal. Mostly because I am lazy AF, but then again, I'm also "somewhat" easily distracted. This time it was due to getting back into cycling after a unexpected toe injury finally healed, but it could have easily been a shiny bottle cap or pumpkins (that last is a shout out to a friend of mine who has better things to do than read this idiocy).

Anyhow, the struggle continues. This isn't as hard as working in a coal mine or combing hair, but it can be slow at times. Today was easy at least. I had to finish the rear brake, install the rear wheel, remove the chain and front sprocket and then clean the bike....again....like the maniac I am. I love large, but that's just the donuts speaking.

First up, reinstall the brake and some new brake pads...

The Scott's Shrarkfin goes on first

After greasing the brake caliper sliders, the caliper just slides right on.

And the the new pads go on, Galfer sintered pads.

The old pads still had some life in them, but I am replacing most other things, so why not do it and not have to worry about it for awhile?

Once that was done, I slid the rear wheel in , making sure to grease the threads of the axle.

Then I made sure the wheel was centered in the swing arm by setting the axle adjusters to the same measurement out on both sides....

...and then tightened the axle nut.

With the chain reinstalled, I rotated the wheel to find the master link and then bent down the safety washer with a chisel and hammer to remove the sprocket nut.

The nut wasn't very tight, thank dog for that safety washer! It spun right off with the bike in nuetral. Then it was time to use my new cheapo Porter angle grinder to grind down one of the pins on the master link.

Even a cheap angle grinder makes that job easy. Then it was time for yet another new tool, a Motion Pro chain tool

Then the nut, washer and sprocket came off to reveal....a whole new area to clean!!! I would get depressed about it, but the bike is really starting to look clean these days.

So I wheeled it outside, and got to work removing this latest layer of crud....an hour later...

That swingarm is a little ground down right there. I wonder if the chain was a little loose at some point?

Hmm....still some dirt hiding in there...

While the bike was outside I swept the dirt of the garage floor and when I was done and the bike was back inside, I looked down and saw this. I swear I swept it outside. Maybe it has decided to stay? Pet rock? Is it the 80's again?? I am guessing Clay rode somewhere up near Roswell, NM at some point and picked this up.

Anyhow, that seemed like enough work for one day. So I packed everything up and went inside to fix my wife a margarita. She likes them with no mix at all. Just straight tequila. She insists we call them margaritas though.