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Appreciation post: My quick stem alignment trick kept a bike from the scrap heap
Sometimes a gentle tap with a rubber mallet is better than a full disassembly.
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ray1732mo ago
Calling it a 'gentle tap' is a stretch. The rubber mallet just keeps you from scratching things up while you whack it.
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drew_patel2mo ago
Last summer, my buddy's old pickup truck had a sticky tailgate. We tried the rubber mallet trick from a forum post. @ray173 is right about preventing scratches. But we whacked it too hard and bent the latch. Had to replace the whole thing. Cost us a weekend and a case of beer.
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My version of a gentle tap usually ends with me buying a new part. There's a fine line between persuasion and destruction, and I've definitely crossed it more than once. That rubber mallet trick is a lifesaver for folks like me who lack a delicate touch. It's nice when a simple fix actually works instead of creating a whole new project.
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