greengage

Long story short--I'm working on Nantucket for the summer (nice little resort island off Cape Cod) and just bought a nice 1965 DL-1. It arrived in pieces, as I expected and I've assembled it...mostly. My trouble is with putting together and adjusting the actual rods--one is fairly well bent but in general, I can't figure out for the life of me how to get them up and working properly. The trouble of being on an island? No great bike mechanics here that can help. The bike shops here are specialize in ugly new rental bikes and are staffed mostly by nice young kids who are too busy and too clueless to help me. So--either I do it myself or I wait until fall when I'm back in Boston and can get to Harris Cyclery et al! Any ideas, online guidance?I've hunted around online but I can't find any step-by-step help which is what I really need. TIA.

jsharr

These at least show an operating rod brake system and might give you an idea of how all the pieces go together.

https://www.ehow.com/video_4946659_en...od-brakes.html

https://www.ehow.com/video_4946546_en...le-brakes.html

https://www.bikejuju.com/2010/how-do-...visual-primer/

https://homepages.tesco.net/houseofsteel/hercules.htm This one is a nice blog about a young man restoring an old bike.

greengage

thank you! Just looked at the last one so far but this is the kind of thing I need.

wahoonc

Here is an exploded drawing that may be a bit of help, at least you will know what parts you are missing.

Aaron

JohnDThompson 

Does this help?

noglider 

That's a cool -- and funny! -- exploded view picture.

Long, long ago, there was a really good bike shop on Nantucket.

alr

If it makes you feel any better, even a good mainland shop I go to doesn't really know how to deal with my DL-1. I just came to the realization yesterday, that my front brakes were so craptastic because the stirrup/rod connection has been loose the whole time I have owned the thing! Now that I tightened it up, braking is sooo much better.

greengage

thank you all for the exploded drawings! It is all assembled except for the rods/stirrup connection and yes--there IS a missing nut/bolt there that we'll have to replace somehow. The brakes/stirrups also seem very stiff to me--compared to my older rod-brake bike, the system seems more complex and less supple (I'll post pics at some point because it's kind of an interesting contrast). Anyway, I did finally find a guy late yesterday afternoon who thinks he can assemble/adjust the brakes for me and says he'll look around to see if he has a nut/bolt that fits.

Tom--I bet you're thinking of Young's which has been on Broad Street down near the steamship just about forever (with the spinning wheel sign out front). It is still my favorite bike shop--every new bike I've ever owned came from there--but it's mostly staffed by really young people now and the older guys I used to know are long gone. It doesn't look as if they sell many bikes either, just Cannondale rentals. With the salt air, it's a tough place for a bike--I've seen a couple of brutally rusted old bikes around as lawn decorations (a DL-1 and a pre-war English delivery bike--ouch...) but almost no one riding one.

greengage

Bumping because I got my bike back from the nice shop guy who took it on--unfortunately that nut/bolt is missing from the rear brake rod connection so right now I'm going on one front rod brake--sounds like a death trap, eh? He said he asked around but hasn't found anyone on-island with spare parts. So--will wait til I'm back home to ride down hills at any speed but if anyone has ideas on where to find this one tiny yet crucial piece, aside from lurking patiently on eBay, I'd love to hear.

YoKev

Can you post a picture or point to a specific numbered part in that exploded diagram? I have some spare parts that I will send free of charge if I have it.

greengage

I hope I'm doing this right--haven't successfully posted photos before. It is literally the specialized little nut and bolt connecting the rod and the linkage. There's a guy down here with one he said I could use for parts but it is so badly rusted that I doubt I can dismantle it. Thank you so much for the offer--let me know if you have anything that'd work.

beech333

Get Lowell(right) to help. He is probably hanging around the airport or shooting rats at the dump.

greengage

oh my God--how completely did I forget about that show?? But if I could hang out at the dump all day, I probably would--lots of nice bikes get dropped in the "metal pile."

YoKev

This should be it, right?



PM me your mailing address. I'll get it sent out tomorrow so you can have it for the weekend

greengage

I think that's it--thank you so much!! I owe you big-time!

merlin55

I have no interest in this sort of bike....but a GREAT thing about this forum is that we are a bunch of strangers that love cycling and helping out other cyclists....even sending parts for free....makes feel good to see people helping others

greengage

I agree--and I will try to pass it forward when I can! Thanks again, YoKev.

sauze

+ 1
not that it needs it but this is why this forum (and ones like it) are great. Also @OP make sure to let us know how it turns out!

YoKev

It's on the way greengage

Sauze: Two thumbs up to the Quasimoto avatar! I'm a frequent WeFunk listener.

terraskye

Sarah,

Some more photos soon?

antfrogboy

that is so incredibly useful, thank you!

greengage

I just saw your post and was going to track down this thread! Yes--lots of very helpful and knowledgable people here. :^)