Pull spark plug and verify fuel in cylinder. Pull starter with spark plug out. Note if the resistance is any less with spark plug out. You could also unbolt the exhaust to eliminate a variable.

Ok thanks I'll check in tomorrow

Lemme ask a question I should probably already know the answer to - without a primer bulb and without a fuel pump, is it really just the piston stroke that's supposed to draw that gasoline all the way up the straw, through the carb, and into the cylinder?

Feel like that would take quite a seal

It would think its gravity fed. Try a little starting fluid in the carb

Anybody know how to check if a clutch cable is broken? Geo tracker. I went to leave this morning, pressed the clutch and heard a snap. Now it won't go into gear at all. It feels like it's been stretching the past couple weeks as its progressively gotten harder to shift. Did I answer my own question.. I've done extensive work on it, but have no experience in dealing with the clutch. Thanks.

@Sonic#0818 how much play in the pedal?

There is obviously 2 ends to the cable one at the pedal and one at the bell housing. Get some one to press the pedal in and out while you watch the other end to see if it moves the clutch fork.

@Sonic

Thank you. The cable's broken. I'll be replacing it. At least it's only $30 for a decent one 👌

Not bad at all.

Anybody know of any good guides for tuning up a bicycle? I want to repair my old bike, but I"m pretty sure everything needs to be replaced and both the breaks and gears are fucked up and need fixing.

I know zip about bicycles, unfortunately but I will @everyone this so we can find out who does

@Gaius Mucius Scaevola search YouTube. If you can't find anything there search google for bicycle forums.

I'm a huge bike nut, as you might see from my avatar. YouTube has every maintenance topic covered. The most popular is GCN. Art's Cyclery is also good.
<https://www.youtube.com/user/globalcyclingnetwork/>
<https://www.youtube.com/user/wwwartscyclerycom>

I learned one step at a time, researching each time a new maintenance task came up. If you're starting from square 1 and need a full tune-up, it will be far easier to bring it by a shop. Bike shops only charge like $15 an hour for their labor rate, so they're far more affordable than a car mechanic and they can get a lot done in an hour because they're experts. You could spend days trying to figure out all the various components you need to order that are compatible with your bike. And if everything is worn, it can be cheaper to buy an entirely new bicycle than to replace all of the worn components on your current bike.

@Gaius Mucius Scaevola

@Tanner - SC I know it'll be easier to pay it to get fixed but I also really want to learn how to fix it myself, so starting from square one and fully fixing up my bike I think would be a good way to learn. Where would you personally recommend I start?

With the tune uo

@Gaius Mucius Scaevola What kind of bike? If you bought it from Walmart, it is not worth fixing. You’ll probably need chain rings, cassette, chain, tires, tubes, brake pads, wheel truing, shifter cable and housing replacement. That’s all before you even start “tuning”. The wheel hubs might need a rebuild from loss of grease and gain of rust.

It could literally cost you two bicycles and weeks worth of effort to get it running like new.

I can take a picture when I get home

I know I got it off of Craigslist and it's at least a halfway decent bike

Truing wheels alone is a complicated art form.

Easiest would be to buy a whole new group set from eBay, then let the bike shop handle the wheel truing and any bearing replacements. You will need to buy tools and accessories too.

How long has it been since you last rode it?

Months, if not more than a year

I was recently added, am also a Bike Mechanic.

@ me for slow response.

Also @Tanner - SC and @Gaius Mucius Scaevola ParkTool has a YouTube channel with a video archive for almost every repair.

@Gaius Mucius Scaevola Are you still looking for some bike help?

@Freiheit - CA yeah definitely

once the weather gets a bit warmer I want to fix up my bike

not just to have a bike to ride, but to learn how to fix a bike in the process

Let me know when ready. Can give pointers.

Posting a PSA in here, please let me know if its too graphic / breaks any rules and I’ll remove. Any of you guys that are in an industrial field no doubt get your PPE policies drilled into you over and over. But it’s all too easy to neglect that when you’re working at home. Almost lost my thumb this weekend, taking apart an automatic louver/damper motor, and I neglected to relive the tension from the spring inside. Had I been wearing gloves it probably wouldn’t have been as bad.

Friday night trip to the ER for a severed tendon and artery, severed the nerve also, Dr says I probably won’t get the feeling back, at least not fully. Stupid mistake.

I'm sorry to see it, bro. Great point, though. Just because it's at your house, doesn't mean it's a toy

Yeah, just an oversight. Could have been way worse. Could have flown up and hit me in the eye or something permanent. Or another 1/4in I would have been picking my thumb off of the garage floor