The Handy Tip thread

[johnrobholmes]

I would like to share a little tidbit of knowledge I learned today, but where to put it? We should gather our random bits of knowledge that we experience, for laughing and learning later on. Be it about electrics, other mechanical advice, or just daily life lessons, let's share!


Today I tried to use carb cleaner for slipping grips from my handlebars. 30 seconds later I had a grip that looked like a split hot dog bun and black gunk on my hands :lol:

I should go back to using compressed air or rubbing alcohol.

 

[DAND214]

I use Windex. It works great!
Dan

 

[AussieJester]

Yup compressed air blows handle bar grips straight off the bar!

Before anyone else mentions it
DUCT TAPE!

KiM

 

[Lenk42602]

....back when I was in high school Guns N Roses was the band, and the chicks all rocked high hair, denim jackets, etc.


They used Aqua Net SUPER HOLD. Squirt that inside the grips, they slide right on, take a few hours to dry, and NEVER move again.

Len

 

[spinningmagnets]

You are not saving any money by waiting till later to buy a $10 voltage meter, or a cheap soldering iron. On RC builds, low-ESR capacitors are about $2 each, add 4 of them as a start. If you "save" $8 by not using any at first, or "save" $4 by only using two you are risking a fried ESC.

When soldering a diferent connector to a batteries positive/negative red/black cable set...do one at a time and complete that side before removing the insulation off the other. You are not saving anything by trying to be careful and keeping the two bare leads from touching while soldering. If they accidentally touch (as they sometimes do) the battery is likely fried, which you will see after most of your vision returns a while after the plasma spark.

When presented with a choice, I have never regretted buying the higher-quality tool.

 

[dogman dan]

Yeah, you also learn not to touch your eye. When you roast a 50 pound bag of green chile, then you have a big task to shuck the skins and the seeds. The really hot part is the placenta where the seeds are. Pretty soon you are tearing up, and pretty soon you wipe your eye without thinking.

 

[Ypedal]

Pump up those tires about once a month (I like 45 psi) , they may " feel " right but most tires loose some range robbing pressure..

Always wear gloves when riding, when ( not if ) you go down, hands are usually the first thing to take the hit.

When possible, always have 2 of every tool.. or more.

use Lipo.

working with hot spicy foods, wear latex gloves !! ( I make hot beef jerky all the time, spices stay in your skin for hours on end if you dont.. )

Always have beer in the fridge.

 

[Lebowski]

whenever you build an interface / driver circuit for power transistors using opto-coupler isolation,
make sure the power transistors are off when the led part of the opto-coupler is off.

Not a very fun tip but a usefull one...

 

[Pure]

If you have a freezer or fridge that isn't slap full to the rim, use gallon or quart containers full of water to fill them. Freezers and fridges, use less electricity when full. In the event of a power outage, they will help keep things cold longer, also they make for a great backup supply of drinking water.

 

[Lebowski]

buy chocolate before you come to Switzerland

 

[Ykick]

This is long winded but here's my humble contribution to fast balance charging lipo. I'm sure it's common with advanced users but it's made my life much simpler and faster to balance Lipo bricks.

Here's the connector. Easy enough, if you don't understand how to make one then forget doing this.
View attachment 5

Cell Log measuring a low #1 cell in this 5S brick that's normally bulk/serial charged on a daily basis. Not too bad but 'feel much better if it's topped off with the rest in the pack.
View attachment 4

iCharger setup screen 1.5A rate 1S Lipo which is conservative but please be mindful of the thin gauge wire balance leads. The cells can take 10A rate easy but the small wire may become noticeably warm above 2A.
View attachment 3

Charge cycle display - note that I use a 4.1V/cell top charge cutoff which is adjustable in iCharger settings for each chemistry. You can use the standard 4.2V/cell but that's better left for other discussion.
View attachment 2

The pigtail connector inserted into cell #1 position. These bricks tend to be numbered consistently but with all things from China do enough testing with your DVM and hopefully Cell Log so that you know for certain which pinout to use to reach the desired cell.
View attachment 1

13 minutes and roughly 250mAh later the low cell is now happy and tighter spec with the rest of the brick.


Be careful and make sure you understand the settings of your RC charger before going down this road. It's quick and relatively easy - basically a more advanced version of wall wart single cell charging but with a much smarter charger.

 

[Ypedal]

or make one of these :

 

[Ykick]

Damn Y, what Anderson color do you NOT have? LOL... You got the pro harness there!

 

[snath]

Make a vertical band saw from a Harbor Freight portable band saw http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-variable-speed-bandsaw-47840.html The saw cost about $80 and you can often get a 20% off coupon online. The other stuff I dug out of my "i never throw anything away pile"
I made my son this handy accessory for his birthday and liked it so much i made one for myself even though I have several ways to cut metal.
The post is 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x.065 square tube, the table is 1/8 CR, and the foot is 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 3/16 angle.
The saw is not as sturdy as a Dewalt or a Milwaukee but with a good blade (immediately throw away the blade that comes on the saw) it cuts like a house afire. I use .20 portaband blades from Lenox or Starrett.View attachment 3View attachment 2View attachment 1

Snath

 

[Dee Jay]

Yup compressed air blows handle bar grips straight off the bar!

Before anyone else mentions it
DUCT TAPE!

KiM

For handle bar grip removal… Armor All is best!

Use the plastic tube that comes with carb cleaner, slip that sucker inside the grip as far as you can, then drip down some Armour All, pull the plastic tube out and start twisting grip to work the armor all around inside and the grip will slip right off! And it will moisturize the grips from the inside 8)

to avoid slippy grips.. Use a dry rag to remove the armor all, or absorb it maybe with baby powder.

 

[auraslip]

***edit by ypedal ***


A neat trick for making bacon wrapped, cream cheese, garlic, and pineapple stuffed jalapenos is to coat your hands with the bacon grease before slicing the jalapenos. The caspsican bonds to the grease and washes right off with soap (or something) Then throw them on the grill. Delicious.

 

[Ypedal]

I cleaned up in here, it was either that or move the thread to OTD, there is a lot of good tech tips in here so i'd rather keep it going... I admit guilt, i started with the sex comment, i edited myself also

if you guys want to start a social tips thread in OTD , have at it ! lol..

 

[TylerDurden]

Thank you Ypedal and Mods.

TIP:

Stuck freewheel?

- Clamp the freewheel tool vertically in a bench vise
- Set the wheel + freewheel down onto the tool
- Grip the wheel at the rim and turn firmly while keeping the rim level.


Some cheap bikes (kids' notably), have hubs that have been painted before freewheels are installed. They may require mild heat (propane or heat gun) to soften the paint. Too much heat will trash the hub and the freewheel. They might not be worth the trouble anyway.

YMMV


Edit for clarification.

 

[rebelpilot]

Thanks ypedal, I always smile when you step in and fix a problem, and off to the right is your avatar in the flame suit with his hands on his hips

 

[Ypedal]

On the topic of removing stubborn threaded on stuff..

if you have the old style hub motor with a threaded adapter for the disk brake, it can be on there REALLY hard...

a piece of angle iron and a heavy hammer makes quick work of it !

 

[oatnet]

When buying a forum to productize, check first to make sure the community won't toss you out on your ear.

-JD

 

[Holocene]

roflmao :lol:
Never get out of the boat...
Don't cross the streams...
Look both ways before crossing the Forum

 

[dennyt]

buy chocolate before you come to Switzerland

And buy beer before you go to Canada! I went up to Squamish for a climbing weekend, yikes, I've never paid that much for cheap beer.

 

[mud2005]

when soldering wires together ----don't forget to slip the heatshrink over the wire before soldering!----

 

[Kingfish]

when soldering wires together ----don't forget to slip the heatshrink over the wire before soldering!----

Often caught by that one :lol:

Although I too am guilty of this, RTFM before asking questions. Same applies to the Forum; Search first!

It never hurts to have spare parts, especially controllers. Just about applies to everything that can go wrong on the bike…

Always carry a pump in yer bag, especially if running Slime in the tires.

Although the value can be defeated by poor reception/remote location, it never hurts to carry a cellphone.

Always be polite when folks are asking questions about your cool ride (although I hesitate to include Orange People).

Life is like a wheel: Help those that you can, and profusely thank those that help you, especially when On the Road. 8)

~KF