Diamondback Bicycle - Page 7

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calibrated torque wrench. A professional bicycle mechanic with a torque wrench should
torque the fasteners on your bicycle. If you choose to work on your own bicycle, you must
use a torque wrench and the correct tightening torque specications from the bicycle or
component manufacturer or from your dealer. If you need to make an adjustment at home or
in the eld, we urge you to exercise care, and to have the fasteners you worked on checked
by your dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING:
correct tIghtenIng force on fasteners – nuts, Bolts, screws – on your BIcycle Is Important. too
lIttle force, and the fastener may not hold securely. too much force, and the fastener can strIp threads,
stretch, deform or Break. eIther way, Incorrect tIghtenIng force can result In component faIlure, whIch can
cause you to lose control and fall.
2. Make sure nothing is loose. Lift the front wheel off the ground by two or three inches, then let
it bounce on the ground. Anything sound, feel or look loose? Do a visual and tactile inspection of
the whole bike. Are there any loose parts or accessories? If so, secure them. If you’re not sure,
ask someone with experience to check.
3. Tires & Wheels: Make sure tires are correctly inated (see Section 4.G.1). Check by putting
one hand on the saddle, one on the intersection of the handlebars and stem, then bouncing
your weight on the bike while looking at tire deection. Compare what you see with how it
looks when you know the tires are correctly inated; and adjust if necessary.
Tires in good shape? Spin each wheel slowly and look for cuts in the tread and sidewall.
Replace damaged tires before riding the bike.
Wheels true? Spin each wheel and check for brake clearance and side-to-side wobble. If a
wheel wobbles side to side even slightly, or rubs against or hits the brake pads, take the bike
to a qualied bike shop to have the wheel trued.
CAUTION:
wheels must Be true for rIm Brakes to work effectIvely. wheel truIng Is a skIll whIch requIres
specIal tools and experIence. do not attempt to true a wheel unless you have the knowledge, experIence and
tools needed to do the joB correctly.
Wheel rims clean and undamaged? Make sure the rims are clean and undamaged at the tire
bead and if you have rim brakes, along the braking surface. Check to make sure that any rim
wear indicator marking is not visible at any point on the wheel rim.
WARNING: BIcycle wheel rIms are suBject to wear. ask your dealer aBout wheel rIm wear. some wheel rIms
have a rIm wear IndIcator whIch Becomes vIsIBle as the rIm’s BrakIng surface wears. a vIsIBle rIm wear
IndIcator on the sIde of the wheel rIm Is an IndIcatIon that the wheel rIm has reached Its maxImum usaBle lIfe.
rIdIng a wheel that Is at the end of Its usaBle lIfe can result In wheel faIlure, whIch can cause you to lose
control and fall.
4. Brakes: Check the brakes for proper operation (see Sections 4.C). Squeeze the brake
levers. Are the brake quick-releases closed? All control cables seated and securely
engaged? If you have rim brakes, do the brake pads contact the wheel rim squarely and
make full contact with the rim? Do the brakes begin to engage within an inch of brake lever
movement? Can you apply full braking force at the levers without having them touch the
handlebar? If not, your brakes need adjustment. Do not ride the bike until the brakes are
properly adjusted by a professional bicycle mechanic.