cudak888 

Updates soon from tonight's reassembly, but in the meantime, I wished to reply to this:

The "hero" bike in Father Brown is a slightly modified Pashley Roadster, though far closer to the production Roadster than the highly-modified "Gertie" bikes from Mary Poppins Returns.

-Kurt

cudak888 

She's back together. Not perfected yet, but it's a fully operational bicycle again. Hub is nearly silent with the 00 grease - same results with the FW I rebuilt in my Moulton Mk.1 - and the whole thing feels tight and smooth as butter, for the most part.

I'm even surprised that the rod brakes work pretty smooth despite the rims. Those Kool-Stops are magic. They bite a bit hard in front though, chattering the heck out of the front. I might give the pads a bit of an upward angle. I guess you'd say that it's "toe up" on the front of a stirrup-style rod brake.

Here's some of the last bits in OA earlier this evening:





The headlight cleaned up nicely; DBU less so, but it presents well enough. Now the pedals turned out to be a different story. They're zinc-plated replacements and were never going to turn out looking that great. I OA'ed the shafts on one side, cleaned them up, realized it was a waste of time, and - for now - put them on as-is.

Headlight bezel got a cleanup and the lens a polish. Not perfect, but much better than the fogged up mess it was before.

cudak888 

Headlight works. Contacts need to be cleaned..



Taillight is dead. Have to figure out how to open the plastic (!) bezel - and not break it.



Front end still isn't right though, and I'm certain I'm pulling the fork again. There remains a bias to the right if you let the bike have its way. It's slight, for it's possible to ride it hands off - but it will start veering you give it any neutral input.





This is a bad pic, but clubman - I wanted to share with you. I took your advice and went with the later anti-rotation washers for longevity.



When the lighting is better, I'll share a picture of the left side nut too. Made it out of a RH indicator nut

-Kurt

Chuck Naill

I like the "box stock" approach. Congratulations.

Reynolds 

What did you use to polish the headlight reflector? Every time I tried to do that I messed it up, now I let them alone.

cudak888 

Got the fork sorted out today. Calling it done for now. There are bits that could be improved, but given that it's already overbudget and it's owner is really excited about it heading back home, I'm wrapping it up where it is now.

I never thought rod brakes could feel good, but those Kool Stops go a long way to improving the experience, even on these crappy rims. Hub shifts better than a brand-new Nexus too with the 00 grease.





















Didn't polish the reflector, only the lens with Meguiars Plast-X. Came out good.

-Kurt

cudak888 

Two more pictures:

Chuck Naill

Is that a '57 Chevy under the tarp?

cudak888 

The Princess is on her way back home today...



...and project #2 has arrived. Say "hello" to a Triumph Jack of Clubs:



'68 Plymouth.

-Kurt

repechage

A successful outcome. There does seem to be a slow parade of English bikes that find you.

I have only one, 22” frame 28” wheel roadster, by the hub date, 1964, has a coaster brake in addition to the rod brakes. Major fault is one of the rod brake lever pivot standoffs has movement where is attaches to the bars. I might have to live with that. Other issues have been the original leather saddle and it’s replacement found at a garage sale both tore at the nose. I was disappointed as the second one appeared in good shape, no warning till a bump in the road had it parting ways, nose hardware bouncing into a storm drain.

No doubt a Raleigh product branded as an Apollo, The Super Steel Bicycle. Sort of a British Racing Green, no white fender tail. The rear fender reflector long gone.