Bike Forums

Bike Forums (https://www.bikeforums.net/forum.php)
-   Classic & Vintage (https://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=181)
-   -   For the love of English 3 speeds... (https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=623699)

johnnyspaghetti 11-24-17 07:03 PM


Originally Posted by plympton (Post 20012446)
Your right JohnnySpaghetti I don't know where parts might be coming from. I guess even if I go to Harris Cyclery I have no idea. Hum.
Charmlessman: 4 months ago my cycle knowledge was over 50 years old. I knew what most kids growing up in the 50's would know. Since August I have taken 3 Raleighs apart and I'm learning every day how to put them back together. This site is absolutely your best source of experience and knowledge.

You can have more higher expectation of accountability going threw a more local vendor will usually back what they sell.

johnnyspaghetti 11-24-17 07:12 PM


Originally Posted by arty dave (Post 20013285)
Hope it's OK to post this here - it has an old english 3 speed hub in its future!

The click word here is "English". Speedwell what a great name for a bike. Looks like a DL1 based ride to me.

BigChief 11-24-17 07:41 PM


Originally Posted by Charmlessman (Post 20012607)
I understand and I know that I got the bug, I want to get a superbe after this one and I know at some point I will try to do harder stuff. I really want to ride this bike so i appreciate all the help here. I know I will get there but I have to take it one step at a time.

I still haven't got to the brakes but I will in time. It is the front brake that is stuck

The front brake? Hmmm. That's unusual. Water can't drip down into the housing on the front like it can on a stepthrough rear brake. Still, try to loosen it up with penetrating oil first. On the good side, you have the later style brakes with pinch bolts, so any standard inner brake cable will work for you if you need to replace it. The older style can be a PITA and I'm glad you don't have to deal with that issue. Do try to reuse the old cable housing if you can.
edit:
Any bike shop could sell you the inner cable you need and cut it to length for you.

BigChief 11-24-17 08:15 PM


Yup, I did it again. I broke down and bought another project bike. Not what I was looking for, but I hate not building something in here. Couldn't help myself.
Now, everything is going to go along perfectly with this one, so I'll post pictures sometime in the spring when it's a thing of beauty.

Charmlessman 11-24-17 08:20 PM

I will post pictures of the brake lever tomorrow, I did remove the brake assembly for cleaning but left the cable and the lever still attached to the bike. I am removing the rear wheel tomorrow so I can remove tires and tubes on both tires to be ready for wednesday. In the meantime Simichrome should arrive on Sunday and I will work on rims and other chrome parts. I am trying to find a place where I can use a vise in the future to work on the rear hub.

BigChief 11-24-17 09:23 PM


Originally Posted by Charmlessman (Post 20013393)
I will post pictures of the brake lever tomorrow, I did remove the brake assembly for cleaning but left the cable and the lever still attached to the bike. I am removing the rear wheel tomorrow so I can remove tires and tubes on both tires to be ready for wednesday. In the meantime Simichrome should arrive on Sunday and I will work on rims and other chrome parts. I am trying to find a place where I can use a vise in the future to work on the rear hub.

You need one of these.
https://www.amazon.com/IRWIN-Clamp-O.../dp/B0001LQY44

This small 3" vise can be clamped anywhere it's convenient to work. It's useful for a million things. I think it was around 16 bucks at Home Despot. Worth every penny.

johnnyspaghetti 11-24-17 10:19 PM


Originally Posted by Charmlessman (Post 20013393)
I will post pictures of the brake lever tomorrow, I did remove the brake assembly for cleaning but left the cable and the lever still attached to the bike. I am removing the rear wheel tomorrow so I can remove tires and tubes on both tires to be ready for wednesday. In the meantime Simichrome should arrive on Sunday and I will work on rims and other chrome parts. I am trying to find a place where I can use a vise in the future to work on the rear hub.

I saw your bike horizontal on that fresh looking concrete and worried of scratches because every picture of that bike you post makes it looks better. It is in really nice shape. The paint is still excellent looking. I am scratching my head as to why the frt. brake is siezed as you explain.

Charmlessman 11-24-17 10:27 PM


Originally Posted by johnnyspaghetti (Post 20013571)
I saw your bike horizontal on that fresh looking concrete and worried of scratches because every picture of that bike you post makes it look better. It is in really nice shape. The paint is still excellent looking. I am scratching my head as to why the frt. brake is siezed as you explain.

My bike is now resting on 2x4 boards. When I took that picture the bike was resting on me but I will be more careful with it. I dont think I want to mess with the paint and will leave it looking old.

johnnyspaghetti 11-25-17 01:17 AM


Originally Posted by Charmlessman (Post 20013583)
My bike is now resting on 2x4 boards. When I took that picture the bike was resting on me but I will be more careful with it. I dont think I want to mess with the paint and will leave it looking old.

This is a 1969 brake assembly off of a Raleigh Superbe the same parts found as your Raleigh Sports complete form lever to fork with all original fasteners. It has grey fluted cable casing and is a working assembly. Its all in good shape The pads are original and hardened with age. The chrome needs cleaning of very light rust but good. I will send this to you in Houston TX. if you want it or need it. Send me back what you don't use. I do think what you have on your Sports is worth fixen, https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&i...3744-local1&zw

Charmlessman 11-25-17 09:37 AM

3 Attachment(s)

Originally Posted by johnnyspaghetti (Post 20013709)
This is a 1969 brake assembly off of a Raleigh Superbe the same parts found as your Raleigh Sports complete form lever to fork with all original fasteners. It has grey fluted cable casing and is a working assembly. Its all in good shape The pads are original and hardened with age. The chrome needs cleaning of very light rust but good. I will send this to you in Houston TX. if you want it or need it. Send me back what you don't use. I do think what you have on your Sports is worth fixen, https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&i...3744-local1&zw

Thanks for the offer @johnnyspaghetti I appreciate it. I will try to work with what I have and see if there is something I can do with it. I have added pictures and maybe this one will be very obvious to you guys with more experience.

In the pictures you can see the brake lever and when it was attached to the brake pads the lever would not actuate or it would move just a very short distance. Now I can actuate it and moves freely so it is not stuck as I originally thought. I also see that I will need to cut the end of the cable since its crimped. Once I put the front wheel back (Wednesday) I will try to adjust the brakes as I found a very informative posts in this forum. Do you see anything out of the ordinary or is this only my inexperience mking it seem like there is something wrong?

BigChief 11-25-17 10:01 AM

The problem you face is that there is no practical way of cutting the cable without a cable cutter tool. They cost around $15. The cable housing looks to be in good condition and on a vintage bike like this, you want to reuse it. Modern bike shop mechanics won't understand this and will likely insist that you need a whole new cable. Don't believe 'em. All you need is the inner cable. The frayed end of the old cable needs to be cut off. It might help to hang the cable upright and spray some penetrating oil into the housing and let it work it's way down inside. Then you should be able to slide the old inner cable out. Then, oil up the new cable and slide it through the housing and wipe it off a few times. Install the new inner cable, set up the brake, then cut it off to length.

gster 11-25-17 07:01 PM


Originally Posted by Charmlessman (Post 20014040)
Thanks for the offer @johnnyspaghetti I appreciate it. I will try to work with what I have and see if there is something I can do with it. I have added pictures and maybe this one will be very obvious to you guys with more experience.

In the pictures you can see the brake lever and when it was attached to the brake pads the lever would not actuate or it would move just a very short distance. Now I can actuate it and moves freely so it is not stuck as I originally thought. I also see that I will need to cut the end of the cable since its crimped. Once I put the front wheel back (Wednesday) I will try to adjust the brakes as I found a very informative posts in this forum. Do you see anything out of the ordinary or is this only my inexperience mking it seem like there is something wrong?

The little "nipple" needs to be seated in the lever.
A new cable should only be about $2.00.

arty dave 11-26-17 04:20 AM

The Speedwell just got a bit more interesting today - I pulled it apart to clean it, and found a stamp on the steerer of the fork "Made in England A & P B". Underneath all the surface rust is a lot more pin-striping on the frame than I thought. I'll need to find a 40h 3 speed hub or shell; and keep working at removing the stuck stem, it's like it's welded in there! I've soaked it, heated it, cooled it, I guess I'll just keep repeating. Weird because the seat post slipped out really easily. The westwood rims are borderline on the inside, any more rust and I would have retired them. I'm going to ask on an Australian forum if anyone knows what year it is based on the serial number. I'm thinking A57584 may mean 1957.

johnnyspaghetti 11-26-17 04:57 AM

1 Attachment(s)
Haven't seen this shifter before. Maybe a 1961
https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/r...400884505.html

Attachment 590294

johnnyspaghetti 11-26-17 05:16 AM

1 Attachment(s)
S5 $60 most of it is there https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/h...397854346.html

Attachment 590297

BigChief 11-26-17 08:34 AM


Originally Posted by johnnyspaghetti (Post 20015339)
Haven't seen this shifter before. Maybe a 1961
https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/r...400884505.html

Attachment 590294

From what I can see in the photos everything looks Birmingham except the fenders. So I'll guess 60 or 61 too

dweenk 11-26-17 02:04 PM

I need a complete fulcrum clamp, plastic stop is OK. I have a complete pulley clamp to trade, the wheel is plastic.

JohnDThompson 11-26-17 02:49 PM


Originally Posted by arty dave (Post 20015327)
The Speedwell just got a bit more interesting today - I pulled it apart to clean it, and found a stamp on the steerer of the fork "Made in England A & P B".

Probably indicates Accles & Pollock "B" tubing:

Accles & Pollock main

arty dave 11-26-17 03:47 PM


Originally Posted by JohnDThompson (Post 20016070)
Probably indicates Accles & Pollock "B" tubing:

Accles & Pollock main

Thanks that's great John! That's an interesting read, I had looked up A & P bicycle manufacturers but nothing came up. What a great name 'Accles and Pollock' :) The 'B' is separate to the other inscriptions. I had thought it was a size, but as you say, according to the article it's B quality tubing.

Here's the fork post-clean, pre-polish, I'm hoping the colours, particularly the red, will pop more after a polish:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4524/...9f7d7a8b_h.jpgIMG20171127082120 by arty dave armour, on Flickr

Charmlessman 11-26-17 05:07 PM

Hi guys, I am trying to remove the rear fender on the 69 raleigh sports and I have removed all the bolts but now I see there is like a clip near the chainguard which keeps the fender attached. I also see a small piece of metal that I can push in but the fender is not coming off. Any ideas?

johnnyspaghetti 11-26-17 05:08 PM


Originally Posted by dweenk (Post 20016009)
I need a complete fulcrum clamp, plastic stop is OK. I have a complete pulley clamp to trade, the wheel is plastic.

Is the fulcrum clamp the shift cable stop on the top bar close to the front with the slotted plastic insert? If so I'll send you one I still have the box with your address on it. It should be in decent shape after a clean up & complete. I robbed that picture not the one.
https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.E...=0&w=202&h=152

BigChief 11-26-17 05:18 PM


Originally Posted by Charmlessman (Post 20016305)
Hi guys, I am trying to remove the rear fender on the 69 raleigh sports and I have removed all the bolts but now I see there is like a clip near the chainguard which keeps the fender attached. I also see a small piece of metal that I can push in but the fender is not coming off. Any ideas?

What you should have is a clip like this at the very front of the rear fender.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nos-Bakfin-...0AAOSwfIxZa64g
It hooks into the fender on one side and the round side clips over the small cross tube on the frame. You should be able to push the round clip part up to release it from the frame leaving the clip attached to the fender.

arty dave 11-26-17 05:19 PM


Originally Posted by Charmlessman (Post 20016305)
Hi guys, I am trying to remove the rear fender on the 69 raleigh sports and I have removed all the bolts but now I see there is like a clip near the chainguard which keeps the fender attached. I also see a small piece of metal that I can push in but the fender is not coming off. Any ideas?

The clip is just held on by its shape, it should push off that part of the frame fairly easily. Not sure what you mean by the small piece of metal, can you post a pic of it? edit: just as BC describes :) but show us a pic of the small piece of metal, is it in the way of the fender coming off?

johnnyspaghetti 11-26-17 05:29 PM


Originally Posted by Charmlessman (Post 20016305)
Hi guys, I am trying to remove the rear fender on the 69 raleigh sports and I have removed all the bolts but now I see there is like a clip near the chainguard which keeps the fender attached. I also see a small piece of metal that I can push in but the fender is not coming off. Any ideas?

That clip will pop off easily after you unfasten the mount at the rear brake center bolt. Just keep things in order as you take it apart an remove the whole brake caliper assm. Let the fender drop down a bit to clear the brake mount cross brace and pop it up from down below. Reverse order to reassemble.

BigChief 11-26-17 10:51 PM


Originally Posted by arty dave (Post 20016167)
Thanks that's great John! That's an interesting read, I had looked up A & P bicycle manufacturers but nothing came up. What a great name 'Accles and Pollock' :) The 'B' is separate to the other inscriptions. I had thought it was a size, but as you say, according to the article it's B quality tubing.

Here's the fork post-clean, pre-polish, I'm hoping the colours, particularly the red, will pop more after a polish:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4524/...9f7d7a8b_h.jpgIMG20171127082120 by arty dave armour, on Flickr

I've never had a steel stem stuck but I did have pawl pins rusted tight in an AW hub once. I was worried that the whole assembly might be toast until I gave it an overnight soak in evapo rust. In the morning the rust was gone and the pins came right out. Just a thought.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:14 PM.


Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.