Before I get started I wanted to mention that Hugh`s Bicycle Blog now has a FaceBook page. I think this will be an asset, as readers will now have a place to post their projects. And I hope it will be a place where we can exchange ideas and answer questions. The link is posted right at the top of what was once called the "Bicycle Related Links" section. For now it is called "Hugh`s Bicycle Blog on FaceBook and other Links". Please check it out and please click on LIKE to show your support.
Left Click on Images to Enlarge & Focus. Use Back(<)Button to Return Above: The front wheel cleaned-up quite nicely. I used the Turtle-Wax Chrome Polish & Rust Remover and also a brass detail brush. I also did the sides of the rims (braking surface) with the wheel brush. As for the fenders and the rest of the painted surfaces, after everything got wiped down with Armor-All Cleaning-Wipes I used Maguiare`s Cleaner/Polish. I do not usually get off this easy. But underneath the dirt and grime the paint was in wonderful condition.
Above: The rear wheel was not so easy, evidently it was in a much damper area. That may sound funny, but I see it a lot. One wheel much rustier than the other. I imagine the rear wheel was nearer a door. This pic shows two things. First, how much pitting was left behind after brushing. And second, how much rustier the bottom (the area closest to the floor) of the wheel is. If you look t the right of the brushed area you can see the rust was much less severe. If you were doing a "show bike" you would want to replace it. But this is just a fun-bike that won`t cost a fortune when finished, and will still look really good.
Above: The front caliper on the left "Barn Fresh" as they say. And on the right ,the rear caliper after dismantling and polishing each part. The chrome parts were cleaned with the wheel-brush mounted on the rechargeable drill. And "as always" the rear caliper got a new pair of Jag-Wire brake shoes. Also "as always" I only took apart one caliper at a time. This is so I could use the other caliper as a reference. These two calipers had lots of spacers/washers. So I was glad I did it that way.
Above: I decided to go with a more aggressive KENDA tire on this bike. I know that many students ride pretty much year round. And with the winters we have here, a little extra traction will come in handy. I thought I had a set of tires for this bike
in stock, but the tires ISO number was wrong. These are I believe a 26 x 1-3/8inch tire with a 590 ISO. I believe the tires I have in stock are a 597 ISO. So watch those ISO numbers especially with Old 3 speeds.
Above: Here is the other "first time used" product I installed. The first being the Kenda tires with the aggressive tread. I also installed a BELL handlebar-mounted water-bottle cage. I must admit when I first saw these, I though they looked stupid. But as my water bottles always seem to get all gritty from road spray. It occurred to me one day that having the cage mounted up high would keep the bottle much cleaner. Ok, So now I`m sold. They are not stupid. I don`t know that I would want one mounted up there on a Road Racer. That I think "might" look stupid.
Above: The finished project. I think the real cork grips give it a vintage look.
I Shellacked them to protect them from the weather. I used the Permatex (hardening)
gasket sealer to keep them securely in place. I smeared some sealer inside the grips then slid them on. You will want too wear a plastic glove for that part.
Above: The Port side view of the Brittany. I was surprised the rack cleaned-up as nicely as it did. It was much rustier than the rack on the step-through Brittany.
It was labor intensive brushing the rack, but well worth the effort.
Well that about covers it for this project. I would like to apologize for the delay in showing the finish pics of the "Parliament Custom Built Made in England". I am not 100% pleased with the paint touch-up color match . But here it is just before I re-installed the original rear wheel (shown in foreground)
Above: The unfinished Parliament. Until Next Time RIDE SAFE and Remember to Always RESCUE, RESTORE & RECYCLE
Cheers, Hugh
Wow, Hugh's magic shop does it again what a stunner! The paint the chrome- just gleam and the shellacked cork grips look so good with the rest of the bike. A perfect fit with those North road type bars. If that isn't a "sold in one day" bike I will be stunned. Thanks for the Parliament "teaser shot" look forward to hearing more about that one.
ReplyDeleteI am curious as to what your process is with the 3 speed hub- cleaning greasing set up etc. I plan on picking up a nice old english 3 speed at some point but the IGH has me a bit intimidated.
Hey Ryan
ReplyDeleteThanks, Yeah it came out better than I expected. It set a new record for sales. The buyer actually pulled-up while I was taking photographs of the bike for Craigs-List. It sold before it was posted. (Sweet!)
I do not mess with the inner workings of a three speed hub. I like the old Sturmey-Archer hubs with the oil port. You can lube it without actually having to get in there.(Pure Genius!) This one has a Shimano 3 speed hub.(no port that I could find) I cleaned the outer hub,cog and chain and sprayed a little Tri-Flo on the works. And that was about it. If a bike has a broken 3 speed hub, I either replace it or pass on it altogether. I`m O.K. with getting the cable tension correct. But I have no desire to take apart a three speed hub. At least not at this point anyway. The good news is, The Sturmey-Archer 3 speed hubs are very reliable. They usually just need a good cleaning and lube. And I do have at least one (maybe 2) three speed parts bikes handy.
I always tell people if you want to know how to rebuild a Sturmey Archer hub, don`t call me.
I usually refer them to Steve at re-brit.com
I hope I have not disappointed you. But it`s true (no matter what my wife says) I can`t fix everything. (: Hey,we have a separate facebook page for the blog now. You can go to the bicycle related links section (now re-named) and jump right to it. If you could go there and click on "Like" I would appreciate the support. Cheers
Not disappointed at all- glad I am not the only one intimidated by all those little IGH cogs ;-) I have liked on the new FB page-looks good btw. Thanks on the tip for looking for a 3 speed hub with oil port I will keep that in mind when searching for a English 3 speed to attach my Raleigh knock off pump to. Selling a bike while taking the pictures for the CL post - that is incredible! but not surprising seeing how beautiful that bike looked.
ReplyDeleteRyan
Thanks Ryan,
ReplyDeleteIt`s just fear of the unknown, I`m sure after we have worked on 20 or 30 of those IGH hubs they will be "no big deal". LTMS Hey, Will you do me a favor and see if you can post a pic of one of your bikes on the Hugh`s bicycle blog face-book page?
I`m assuming anyone can, But I will feel better once I see one. I`m hoping once my son installs the "quick link button" on the blog, readers will use the face-book page for posting their bikes and projects.(like on OTSG)
And Thanks for the positive feed-back on the 3 speed project.
Cheers
Hugh, I have to agree with Ryan (as usual): the level of your work is stunning. I'm heading over to FB to see what you are talking about.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I ran across some VERY detailed PDF files somewhere discussing IGF hubs and their inner secrets somewhere, complete with shop drawings and so on. It may have been Sheldon related.
Hey Tim Joe,
ReplyDeleteThank you I appreciate that. Yeah I think that is on Sheldon Brown/Harris Cyclery. I remember seeing it a while back. Looks like a little transmission in that hub, does it not? One of these days I`m going to take one apart, just to see for myself. The internal 3 speed hub is really quite amazing. Especially when you consider how long they have been around. Thanks for the info.
Cheers