What imabeliever1 said.

Check your cotters, the crank arms do look like they are out of phase.

Or you are riding an older Harley Davidson...

Thank you gentlemen I'll check them out. FWIW while I had the rear wheel off, I checked the rear sprocket and it's a 20 tooth.

Well iamabeliever1 has a good eye. Cotter in backwards? A new BB? Part it out and find another one? (Why didn't I notice this when I bought it? Ebay) :notamused:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...9401930001.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...9701960001.jpg
Left
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...9501940001.jpg
Right
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...9601950001.jpg

Take the cotters out and inspect them. One may be notched. Your bike is still worth keeping.

The cotters should be opposite, can see that the non drive cotter is also set deeper and could be an indication of it being worn or that it was not dressed properly before it was installed.

Exactly.
While the cotters are out remove the crankarms to overhaul the BB w/ fresh grease.

I finally started to clean up and overhaul mine. Can someone tell me how to date this thing. Here is a pic of the serial number. Thanks!

http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...ps89a0c9f7.jpg
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...ps58586f72.jpg
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...psd741d3db.jpg

It may be a 75? what do you think

Sixty Fiver, please explain what you mean by "...should be opposite..." for this poor novice.

+1 . [MENTION=78010]BGBeck[/MENTION] - Cotters are to be installed in opposing directions from each other- i.e., the one on the right side arm points forward while the one on the left points rearward. Otherwise, you end up with cranks that are about 10 deg off-parallel with each other. (As is the case here).

Sixty is also right in asserting that the cotter pictured is set too deeply from being worn or dressed improperly - either that, or it may be an undersized (French/Italian) cotter. - In either case, it needs to be replaced.

I spotted a pair of humbers at an antique store that were owned by one of our extremely wealthy local families. They're asking quite a bit of money but I'm intrigued by them. I can go snap some pics if anyone is knowledgeable about them or curious.

Curious- sure!!

Many thanks for the clarification. :thumb:

Where did you get that avatar?

Me? It's a birthday card I picked up in the market a few years ago.

I've finished doing most of the prep work on my Sports frame, and I'm going to be powdercoating it soon (as close to the original green as I can). However, before I can do so, I need to remove the head badge. What's the best way to pop those little rivets without damaging the badge?

A small sharp chisel on the portion of the rivet inside the headtube usually works well for me. No drills and nothing coming near the badge itself.

A little before and after on my '56 Rudge, it was a really fun project. I was quite glad to find a proper fitting 23" frame The nasty plastic fenders had to go, luckily I had some appropriate oldies for it. All I have left is wiring the light up again.


http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1075a84b.jpg


A test ride pre-fendering during nicer weather

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...ps385007b8.jpg


http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7e4403fb.jpg


http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...psd4c4f200.jpg

Somewhere you can find my before and after pictures of my 1962 Rudge. I had always wanted a Rudge. It's my favorite 3-speed. Mine was about as crusty as yours. Nice work there.

Kind of what I was thinking, but I didn't know how hard the rivets are. Thank you.

I hope this is alright with you all and I know some people don't like Facebook but I happen to like it as a brainless time killer so here goes.................. I had searched several times in the past for a 3 speed page or group and always came up with nothing so I figured it was time to make one. Basically an "anything you want to post about 3 speeds and English bikes" place. Come by and check it out, maybe it will amount to something and maybe not.

If this is not okay please ignore this post and I won't mention it again.

https://www.facebook.com/EnglishBikes

Nice one! I know what you mean about the 23" frame. I had a '53 Rudge that I just sold. Loved the bike, but it was just too small for me at 21".

I rustled up a small wood gouge, but there wasn't enough rivet sticking through the tube to get a bite on. However, I remembered I had a small "roto-tool" I got at Harbor Freight several years ago, and I chucked a very small ball burr in it. I was able to, very carefully, grind off the heads of the soft aluminum rivets with only a couple minor nicks in the brass. The badge lifted off intact, and I was able to punch the remains of the rivets out of the head tube with a pick.

Now, to powdercoat it.