Fixing your bike can be a pain and takes a lot of time. Some people can't visit a shop but don't have knowledge to fix what's wrong. So here's how to fix some common problems.
Loose Fork
If your front end seems to wiggle around when you ride your headset is most likely loose. You need to loosen the allen bolts on the side of the stem them tighten the bolt on top so your headset tightens.
Putting on 3 Piece Cranks
To put on 3 pc cranks you need to remove your old cranks, if u had unsealed one 1 peice before then you can easily remove then with a large crescent wrench an open 15mm wrench (or a pedal wrench). First you wanna take the old cranks off this will tell u how to take 1 piece cranks off. First take the pedal off on the left side. Then loosen the bolt on the bottom bracket. It is reverse thread so turn it to the right to loosen. The bolt will come off then there will be a spanner piece that hold the bearing in, loosen that too. Take out the bearing and wiggle the cranks so the bearing on the right side comes out too, you might have to use your hands to pull the bearing out, it should come out easily. Then slide the cranks off. It takes a little angling to get them out since there 1 pc. Once you get them out you'll need to take the chain wheel off. You get the spanner piece off with a hammer and a screwdriver. It should become loose after a few solid pounds. Your chain wheel should slide off easily. Then you'll need to get the cups out You need to use a screwdriver or a piece of wood to smash them out. Then you'll need to put the 3 peice cranks in using a cup press, or a block of wood and a hammer. For the hammer method you put a bearing in on one side then the next. Don't forget to put the spacer in. I recommend using a cup press, because using wood and a hammer can damage the bearings. Cup presses you put the bearings in at the same time by slowly squeezing them in. Its alot quicker then the hammer method and a cup press costs around 50 dollars. Then you'll need to put the spindle in. Its a big long bolt that that cranks attach to. You'll need to use a rubber mallet to slowly tap it in. Then You can put the chain wheel on by tighting the bolt on the part above the hole where it goes onto the spindle. Tighten all the bolts and put on your pedals. 3 piece cranks use a different size pedal then 1 piece.(3 piece use 9/16 and 1 piece use 1/2)
When you Pedal your chain makes a lot of noise.
You either need to lube your chain, or your chain wheel could be bent, or the chain wheel and freewheel are out of alignment. First lube your chain to see if that fixes it, then check if the chain wheel is bent. Your chain could also have a few bent or mangled link. If you try all this and it still seems messed up buy a new chain suitable for the type of riding you do.
When your bars slip around in the stem even though you've tightened them all the way.
Take the bars off and look at the part that rests in the stem, it should get roughed up, if it had become smooth, then there stripped and you'll have to buy a new pair. If there's still grip take a cloth and wipe and the shards of metal out of the step and check to make sure there's nothing in there. Put them back on and tighten them. If you need new bars go to your local bike shop and they'll help you find a pair for you.
Back tire rubbing
Either your rim is bent pretty bad, or your wheel is crooked. Take your wheel off and see if the rim is bent if its not then you could try to straighten out the wheel or get a pair of a pair of chain tensioners.
