jpjpjp

So I've been working on a '74 Raleigh Gran Sport and just realized that I'm missing a dust cap on the non-drive side crank.

Now, it isn't entirely necessary that I find a matching Stronglight dust cap, but I was wondering if anyone on here knows of any good sources for them, or has any. Ebay is pretty limited, it seems.

Thanks!

jpjpjp

Here's a picture of the drive side cap.

TenGrainBread 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stronglight...IAAOSwxeleVrhW

$15 and free shipping. Probably the best you're going to get. Pre-80s Stronglight stuff goes for big $$.

You could also become a member here and post in the C&V sales forum. Maybe someone has an extra they would let go of.

philbob57

Or ask in the ISO/trade thread, except, probably, the same people who would respond in the trade thread are probably looking here already. Good luck.

BTW, you might try European ebays.

bertinjim 

jpjpjp -

Unbranded but stylistically the same dust caps are available here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stronglight...MAAOSwExJXofZB

tiger1964 

Wow, those are prettier than OEM.

jpjpjp

Thanks all! Decided to go for that spare single dustcap on eBay... though pretty surprised there aren't more around!

3alarmer 

...I've been switching over to these for the past four or five years. It's just easier and does not offend my sensibilities.

3alarmer 

Clarks Allen Key Crank Bolts

bulgie 

You can always leave them off. That's what all the cool kids (pro racers and wannabees) did, BITD. Lotsa racers wouldn't be caught dead with the dustcaps installed -- they felt that was a newby or fred thing to do.

Even though I was a racer and hung out with racers, I wasn't nearly so dogmatic about it. I like the finished look with the caps on, and they do provide some slight service to justify their weight. But honestly they're mostly for looks, and bikes without them work just fine. When they're installed too tight without any lube on the threads and then allowed to corrode until they cold-welded in place, then they're not very happy-making. So don't do that!

Mark B in Seattle

jpjpjp

Good to know!

Funny that you mention it... I just tried taking the one that's on there off and surprise, surprise, it seems to be stuck in place. Any suggestions towards getting it out of there?

3alarmer 

...like any unpainted interface on a bike, the most reliable method involves heating with a propane torch, then dribbling in some penetrating oil around the thread line. If it dos not work the first time, don't strip out the wrench hole, but heat and cool and oil again. After a few cycles of this, it will break loose. If you do strip out the wrench opening accidentally, you can still usually salvage the cap by drilling two holes in it and using a pin spanner to twist it off.

this is exactly why those one piece bolts I linked with an integral cap are so appealing. They never do this.

Duke7777

I unfortunately didn't notice this thread until just now, but I have three spares I would be happy to sell. $18 for all three, shipping to US included.
To remove your stuck one, penetrating oil, heat on the crank arm, gentle tapping on the cap, and patience should work.

noobinsf 

Is that self-extracting? No compatibility issues with the Stronglight threading?

3alarmer 

...it's not a self extractor. It;s just a plastic collar that fits onto a flange on the bolt, so it has no threading. See the following post link to look at them. You still need a suitable Stronglight puller.

bulgie 

The only one-key release bolts for 23.3 mm that I know of were made by Amir Avitzur in Israel. I have a set:


The aluminum block in the middle of the green foam is the pin tool for installing/removing the "cap". That's a little rough, like a prototype, but the rest of the parts are beautiful.

I got these years ago and I sorta doubt he still has any for sale, but you could ask him if you have contact info for him.

Mark B in Seattle

KenNC

I have purchased both the Stronglight and TA replacement caps from this gentleman (Bespokechainrings) on eBay and have been very happy with them. Sometimes eBay goofs up his shipping costs and marks it 22 USD, which is incorrect. The actual shipping costs are more like 4 USD. Don't be put off by that and just ask him to correct it if the wrong price is listed.

noglider 

No one can tell that your cranks (or dust caps) don't match, because they can't see both at once.

desconhecido 

I would know and it would keep me awake at night. It would be like having an MKS touring pedal on one side and a Campagnolo SL on the other. Or, one blue eye and one brown. Or, two left feet. Wouldn't that be fun at the shoe store.

This is true. I bought a long unused Mercian last night. SN indicates it's a 1985. The one bad pic I had of it seemed to show a Tricolor 600 RD but I couldn't tell much else. Turns out to have what I believe is a C Record crank and front derailleur, SR (I think) brakes and levers without hoods. The left DT shifter is the one that came with 6 speed C Record Synchro (I think) and the right 7 speed indexed shifter is 600 Tricolor. OY! Front rim is Mavic G 40 and the rear is some kind of Weinmann. Hubs front and rear have no easy to identify markings but the QRs are Miche. Stem is Cinelli 1R about a mile long with near mint 66 42 bars and the wrap is old, old, shrunk, shrunk leather. Jeez, what a mess. I can't imagine using those mismatched shifters without creating a singularity. Top tube has an area of pretty bad rust -- looks like sweat induced rust that wasn't properly addressed and progressed under tha paint I think it's repairable. But, the price was mucho bueno, so what can you do?

desconhecido 

Man oh man, that's beautiful. I just love this sort of stuff. A bunch of years ago, somebody was turning handlebar plugs out of, I think, stainless. I think I remember who, but I'm not sure. Somebody else was turning a LED lamp housing out of, I believe, maple. And then there are the frame building guys aroung the country always doing something wonderful.

jpjpjp

Funny you say that - I know someone with one brown eye and one blue. I wonder how she would feel about differences on either side of a bike.

Thanks all for the input on dustcaps. Keeping an eye on those slick ones from Australia!

desconhecido 

So did I. We discussed it in ninth grade biology along with blood type. Nobody made an issue about it, it was just sort of interesting.

amirinisrael

Thanks for the mention Mark. I still have a set or two. Fun project.
I can be contacted at avitzur.amir@gmail.com if anybody's interested.

Amir

JaccoW

You don't happen to have a similar set for Specialites TA do you?

I'm still in the process of checking whether or not my Stronglight cranks require the special extractor but I got a dual TA/Stronglight extractor a few years ago from Poland.

amirinisrael

Sorry, all out of 23mm (TA) SECBs.
A