BSA Tour de France

[midlife]

First thing I would look at is for any spacers on the axle that can be removed. If so you might be able to just open the frame a bit to get the wheel in rather than actually spreading the frame.

 

[EltonFrog]

First thing I would look at is for any spacers on the axle that can be removed. If so you might be able to just open the frame a bit to get the wheel in rather than actually spreading the frame.

There are no spacers as such, unless the two nuts on each side ( the darker one near the cog) are spacers?

 

[midlife]

There might be some spacers between the dark nuts and the cones. Is the freewheel on tight or can you remove it. If removing spacers you have to remove from both sides so the wheel stays in the middle of the frame.

 

[EltonFrog]

There might be some spacers between the dark nuts and the cones. Is the freewheel on tight or can you remove it. If removing spacers you have to remove from both sides so the wheel stays in the middle of the frame.

OK, I'l have a look.

 

[midlife]

If not I'm sure companies like Weldtite do replacement solid axles, maybe they do a 120mm one? Usually about a fiver.

 

[EltonFrog]

On closer inspection it looks like the real difference is about 5/6 mm, I maybe able to with a neighbour pull apart the the chain stays and fit the wheel. I'll give that some thought. In the meantime I have emailed the supplier of the wheel to see if they will swap it with one the correct size. Can't do much more today, I'm waiting for a replacement pin for my chain tool so I'cant put the chain on yet, plus there other jobs to keep me going for now.

 

[EltonFrog]

If not I'm sure companies like Weldtite do replacement solid axles, maybe they do a 120mm one? Usually about a fiver.

Panic Over. The Fragrant Mrs P has just come home and pulled the stays apart whilst I offered up the wheel, it fits!

Many thanks for your help and advice, I was panicking I think. I really do not have any idea about what I am doing, it's all trial and error.

Oh, and I have found the brake levers... they were in the airing cupboard.

 

[EltonFrog]

Right then, wheels notwithstanding, I've made a bit of progress today, started putting things back on the frame.

Short mudguards as supplied by @walkman-man everything else so far as original on the bike, except new cotter pins on the cranks and brake blocks.

View attachment 433887

One of the things I’ve learned today is that you can put a cotter pin in the wrong way round.

 

[midlife]

All coming together if I was being picky I'd say the saddle clamp is the wrong way round.

 

[simon the viking]

All coming together if I was being picky I'd say the saddle clamp is the wrong way round.

View attachment 433898

Oh good spot sir!

 

[midlife]

Oh good spot sir!

If I had a pound for each saddle clamp I have messed with...

Back in the day it was the done thing to buy the biggest bike you could for your child so they would grow into it. Lol. You can flip the saddle clamp around and also upside down so the saddle goes as low and as far forward as possible. Then screw wooden blocks to the pedals

 

[EltonFrog]

All coming together if I was being picky I'd say the saddle clamp is the wrong way round.

View attachment 433898

Yep, you’re quite right, thanks.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Those of us who insist on riding steel bikes don't need to worry about springing open a frame by a quarter of an inch to make a wheel slot in. It's the carbon fibre and aluminium devotees whose frames may crack or work-harden who are going to have a problem if replacement bits aren't an exact fit.

 

[EltonFrog]

There are no spacers as such, unless the two nuts on each side ( the darker one near the cog) are spacers?

View attachment 433863

There might be some spacers between the dark nuts and the cones. Is the freewheel on tight or can you remove it. If removing spacers you have to remove from both sides so the wheel stays in the middle of the frame.

OK, I'l have a look.

If not I'm sure companies like Weldtite do replacement solid axles, maybe they do a 120mm one? Usually about a fiver.

Panic Over. The Fragrant Mrs P has just come home and pulled the stays apart whilst I offered up the wheel, it fits!

Many thanks for your help and advice, I was panicking I think. I really do not have any idea about what I am doing, it's all trial and error.

Oh, and I have found the brake levers... they were in the airing cupboard.

Before I posted with the wheel problem, I had contacted the company I bought the wheels from; Baldwin Cycles; an eBay seller, they are going to send me some thinner nuts FOC, that should sort out the the problem with out the faff of resetting the rear fork.

 

[simon the viking]

Is this a keeper then @CarlP are you planning on riding it?