Brooks B-72
01-10-09, 11:45 PM
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SE Wis
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Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
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Brooks B-72
While cleaning up the B-72 on a '68 Raleigh Sprite I recently acquired it seemed that the nose was twisted. It appears the sliding adjusting piece was canted in the nose piece. One side had a raised edge to slide the other did not. After looking at some other Brooks (not B-72), they had raised pieces on both sides to slide along the nose for adjustment. Closer inspection looks like there is chrome there making me wonder if I'm wrong. Could someone check out their saddle and see if the raised edge is on both sides. If it is I'll build it up with weld and file in a reasonable match to the left side. I also noticed some letters stamped onto the underside in ink "TAF". Any signifigance to these?
Thanks
Thanks
01-11-09, 03:15 PM
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The nosepiece in my B72 is symmetrical, with the notch on both sides. It looks like yours was not stamped properly at the factory. I wonder if you could file a notch in, and bend in the "rails" a bit?
01-11-09, 05:29 PM
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The other possibility is that someone fell hard on the saddle and bent the rails in the back. I know because I did that very thing to my B72. I made a hard stop on a wet street (dog ran in front of me) and I skidded and fell sideways and landed with my butt still in the saddle. It bent the rail in the back on the side that hit the street, resulting in a twisting in the front. Be careful straightening the rails, they may snap.
Maureen
Maureen
01-11-09, 05:49 PM
#4
Procrastinateur supreme
I have to say it - having lived in sunny old England in the 80's - that the factory did put out some seconds, and some of these ended up on bikes. Quality control is an issue everywhere, and workers however inexperienced they may be had to meet production quotas, or risk the sack. Do check out the rails, though.
01-14-09, 09:59 PM
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SE Wis
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Thanks All! The rest of the saddle is in great shape. I bought it barn fresh from a friend, whose father bought it new. I'm going with the factory QC theory as the chrome on the edge is good. The hole for the bolt is also not centered very well. I'll have our blacksmith weld it up and I'll grind and file a notch into it to reasonably match the other side.
