biggs682
Touch it up and ride it
- Location
- Northamptonshire
@ChrisEyles have you tried turning your old crank around ?
I'm going to get in trouble for this... but I think it's worth it :)
- Thread starter ChrisEyles
- Start date
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ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
No, I hadn't even thought of that! I had assumed the longer side of the spindle would have been facing towards the drive side of the bike to give the chain ring the clearance it needed... and the shorter end of the spindle would probably make the non drive-side crank contact the chain stay if I'm mistaken.... but this is definitely worth a quick check!
biggs682
Touch it up and ride it
- Location
- Northamptonshire
its a trick that my lbs have used from some of my builds
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ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
Damn, no, turns out the spindle was already the "right" way around, flipping it gives a very hefty contact between the drive side crank and the chain stay.
I think I've found a suitable replacement, though it's tricky to tell as there seem to be a few different ways of measuring cottered axles... it's only £2 on ebay though so it's gotta be worth a go!
I think I've found a suitable replacement, though it's tricky to tell as there seem to be a few different ways of measuring cottered axles... it's only £2 on ebay though so it's gotta be worth a go!
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ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
Also ordered new tyres/tubes, chain and cotter pins. Will be good to get the bike going and give it a proper ride!
ocianbricles
Active Member
ocianbricles
Active Member
"I just won this cracker" . . . and you'll get one! Voice of experience speaking.
You sure have, and if you don't get that hub changed to a proper fixed wheel hub [I've never seen a fixed wheel, single-sided gear hub that's been dished]. Take my advice and either put a single freewheel or get it changed to a proper fixed hub complete with a proper lock ring that goes on anti-clockwise. I sorry to be so blunt but maybe it's a proper fixed hub after all. At the moment chain line it the least of your worries!
You sure have, and if you don't get that hub changed to a proper fixed wheel hub [I've never seen a fixed wheel, single-sided gear hub that's been dished]. Take my advice and either put a single freewheel or get it changed to a proper fixed hub complete with a proper lock ring that goes on anti-clockwise. I sorry to be so blunt but maybe it's a proper fixed hub after all. At the moment chain line it the least of your worries!
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ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
@ocianbricles it's a double sided hub, I assume for a geared freewheel one side and a fixed sprocket on the other (at least that's what my similar vintage ten speed has on the back). I'll check the lock ring when I have the rear wheel out (since I may need to flip the sprocket over in any case to get the right chain line).
The owner put some new aluminium rims on the old hubs (the original steel ones were pretty rusty, and I'm certainly not complaining about the upgrade to alloy rims) which may explain if there's an unusual dish on the wheel?
No worries about being blunt, as I said earlier this is my first foray into fixed gear riding so any potential issues are useful to know about. Since I've got front and rear brakes on this one I don't anticipate doing a huge amount of backwards resistance on the pedals to brake, but I guess it's always safer to do things properly. I'm definitely keen to keep it fixed rather than freewheel.
The owner put some new aluminium rims on the old hubs (the original steel ones were pretty rusty, and I'm certainly not complaining about the upgrade to alloy rims) which may explain if there's an unusual dish on the wheel?
No worries about being blunt, as I said earlier this is my first foray into fixed gear riding so any potential issues are useful to know about. Since I've got front and rear brakes on this one I don't anticipate doing a huge amount of backwards resistance on the pedals to brake, but I guess it's always safer to do things properly. I'm definitely keen to keep it fixed rather than freewheel.
ocianbricles
Active Member
Hi Chris, I couldn't tell from the photo if it was a s/sided or dbl/sided hub. If you need a cottered axle I have a few and you're welcome to one of those for a postage stamp. The bluntness was just an old granddad's concern for your welfare!
In the early 'fifties most clubmen changed over to fixed-wheel for the winter season. Mainly about a 69in gear--in I my case. Mudguards, saddlebag, [Musettes for the League Boys] cape, knee-length socks, caps. Mind you, those were the days when cyclists greeted each other with a milkman's-style "yodel" if they were NCU clubs, or an "Up The League" greeting if they where BLRC lads. The response usually being: "Yer. Right Up".
In the early 'fifties most clubmen changed over to fixed-wheel for the winter season. Mainly about a 69in gear--in I my case. Mudguards, saddlebag, [Musettes for the League Boys] cape, knee-length socks, caps. Mind you, those were the days when cyclists greeted each other with a milkman's-style "yodel" if they were NCU clubs, or an "Up The League" greeting if they where BLRC lads. The response usually being: "Yer. Right Up".
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ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
Just checked and the sprocket is definitely on a fixed thread (lock-ring is lefty-tighty with a step in the threaded sections of the hub), which is great. It actually looks like this hub is fixed/fixed rather than fixed/geared freewheel as I assumed, though it also looks like the threads on the unused side have seen better days.
@ocianbricles thanks a lot for the offer! If the spindle I've ordered on ebay isn't a good fit I'll take you up on that
Let's see, 46t chain ring and 18t sprocket with a 27" wheel is a spot on 69" gear. Mudguards and saddlebags also a definite yes..... not so sure about the cape/high socks/cap combo though!
I'll work on my yodel for when I'm out on the road
@ocianbricles thanks a lot for the offer! If the spindle I've ordered on ebay isn't a good fit I'll take you up on that
Let's see, 46t chain ring and 18t sprocket with a 27" wheel is a spot on 69" gear. Mudguards and saddlebags also a definite yes..... not so sure about the cape/high socks/cap combo though!
I'll work on my yodel for when I'm out on the road
biggs682
Touch it up and ride it
- Location
- Northamptonshire
sounds like you are getting there
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ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
All the bits and bobs arrived this morning - very fortunately I had an unexpected day off and was in when they came, which saves a lot of faffing around picking them up from the post office
First job was to replace the BB spindle, which all went fine. Unfortunately I think the fixed cup is not as smooth as it could be but it's well and truly stuck in there and is live-able with in any case. The spindle seemed a tiny bit of a thicker diameter than the one that was fitted previously, I had to tap the cranks onto it with a hammer, which is the first time I've had to do that with cottered cranks. Anything that helps them stay on can't be a bad thing though!
Had to file the cotter pins down to get them to fit, and they're still not in quite as far as they should be... but the flat face is fully in contact with the slot in the spindle, so I guess it should be fine from a functional point of view.
The chainline is now just as good as it was before changing the spindle, if not better.
Most importantly, however, there is now a sensible amount of clearance between the drive side crank and the chain stay without resorting to hamers/vices and crimping the frame
First job was to replace the BB spindle, which all went fine. Unfortunately I think the fixed cup is not as smooth as it could be but it's well and truly stuck in there and is live-able with in any case. The spindle seemed a tiny bit of a thicker diameter than the one that was fitted previously, I had to tap the cranks onto it with a hammer, which is the first time I've had to do that with cottered cranks. Anything that helps them stay on can't be a bad thing though!
Had to file the cotter pins down to get them to fit, and they're still not in quite as far as they should be... but the flat face is fully in contact with the slot in the spindle, so I guess it should be fine from a functional point of view.
The chainline is now just as good as it was before changing the spindle, if not better.
Most importantly, however, there is now a sensible amount of clearance between the drive side crank and the chain stay without resorting to hamers/vices and crimping the frame
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ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
Having some new tyres is a bit more confidence inspiring than the tattered old ones. These Schwalbes aren't going to set the world alight, but I've used them before and got on with them fine, they are a nice cheap and cheerful 27 x 1 1/4 option.
Took the bike out for a short spin this evening and it felt lovely. The frame is a teeny bit smaller than I usually ride, but the drop from saddle to hoods is a bit larger, which compensates nicely and makes it feel a bit more sprightly, encouraging you to give it some more beans, which seems to suit riding fixed.
Unfortunately I managed to throw the chain on the way home - guess I hadn't put enough tension on it. It made a bit of a "bang", so hope I haven't ruined a new chain, that would be annoying! I'll have a check on all the links when I play around with the chain tension. The chain ring is not the roundest, and there is one serious tight spot to contend with. I might have to live with the chain binding a touch on that spot to maintain a decent tension the rest of the time.
Took the bike out for a short spin this evening and it felt lovely. The frame is a teeny bit smaller than I usually ride, but the drop from saddle to hoods is a bit larger, which compensates nicely and makes it feel a bit more sprightly, encouraging you to give it some more beans, which seems to suit riding fixed.
Unfortunately I managed to throw the chain on the way home - guess I hadn't put enough tension on it. It made a bit of a "bang", so hope I haven't ruined a new chain, that would be annoying! I'll have a check on all the links when I play around with the chain tension. The chain ring is not the roundest, and there is one serious tight spot to contend with. I might have to live with the chain binding a touch on that spot to maintain a decent tension the rest of the time.
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ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
Also ordered some black fake leather bar tape to finish the bike off (found some very cheap indeed on ebay from china - monstrous shipping time, but I'm not in a rush). Couldn't help but eye up some of the old Brooks saddles there too... but will probably save that for another day unless a great bargain comes along.
