Very Common Repairs
It's now April 2026
We've been running Gravesham Repair Café for over two years and some types of repair have cropped up many times.
Bicycle brakes
It might be that brake pads or blocks have worn down and need replacing. but it's pretty usual that they are rubbed smooth or out of alignment. A bit of sandpapering can roughen them up temporarily and adjusting their position can fix the alignment. Another common issue is the brake cables stretching over time and they need adjusting to take up the slack.
Bicycle chain and gears
Bikes are lightweight for obvious reasons so the metalwork isn't particularly strong. We often receive bikes that have been dropped or knocked over resulting in misaligned gears and chains. This might require a bit of brute force bending things back in place but usually just needs adjustment.
Bicycle punctures
Unlike car tyres bikes have inner tubes inside their tyres. When these are punctured they can be patched with a sticky patch or entirely replaced for a better solution.
We all know that batteries run down and need replacing, but not everyone checks they are making good contact in their compartment. Battery terminals in the item easily become corroded especially when a battery has vented its internal gas or even leaked chemicals. At Repair Café we often find ourselves cleaning away the corrosion. It's easy to do with a little vinegar to neutralise the chemicals and brushing or scraping the terminals.
Flexible cords on vacuum cleaners, table lamps, food mixers, garden mowers and so on are easily damaged by repeated banding or accidents. Often a whole new cable is required - we keep rolls of cable. Occasionally, if the damage is near one end we can shorten the cable removing the damaged part.
Broken cable switches
This happens a lot. The little switch in the cord of, say, a table lamp no longer works. DIY shops sell replacement 'inline switches' we can use to bring the item back into working order.
Modern jug kettles often have levers near the base that spring up when the kettle boils. They rely on the steam being fed down a hidden pipe to the switch. Sadly this heat causes the plastic parts to deform over time and the thing stops working. Replacement switch gear is often available from Internet shops, but the cost is usually as high as a cheap off-the-shelf kettle. Replacement mechanisms are obtainable if the kettle owner thinks the cost is worth it.
You might meet switches than are unreliable, working sometimes. Or perhaps a volume control that makes scratchy noises when used. These effects can be a case of dust, damp or grime on the little electrical contacts inside the switch. Few switches can be dismantled and cleaned but fortunately it's often possible to apply a few squirts of switch cleaning fluid into the switch to wash away the contamination.
A zip that doesn't slide easily might benefit from some lubrication. Rubbing the zipper teeth with a candle deposits some slippery wax so the slide moves more easily. Naturally if some zip teeth are missing it means a new zip needs sewing in. It's pretty obvious that a lost button needs a new one sewn on. If we're lucky we'll have one that suits.
Torn fabric
Our expert sewing machinists are frequent menders of pockets and seams that have come adrift. They might even manage to mend a tear if it's not too bad.