'72 Gold Raleigh Sports - done and on the road (pretty much)!
#1
I'm shovel-ready!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 136
Bikes: Raleigh Sports All-Gold
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
'72 Gold Raleigh Sports - done and on the road (pretty much)!
After three solid months of work, I've finally finished rebuilding my 1972 "All-Gold Edition" Raleigh. I tore it down to loose parts and cleaned, polished, and lubricated every last bit of it. My wife thought I was crazy when she saw me using an old jeweler's screwdriver like it was a dental tool to get all of the hardened grime from the tight spaces around the spokes on the rear hub flanges, but it was worth it.
Now I have a lot of adjusting and piddly details to square away. In particular, the SA hub needs to be dialed in - as it stands right now, I have a two-speed (it's freewheeling in 1st gear; I'm guessing it's not supposed to do that). The brakes also need a bit of attention, and I'm having a bear of a time getting the seatpost tightened enough.
All that notwithstanding, I took it for a short ride yesterday afternoon with my son and our neighbors. Just a short, four mile jaunt to a local park overlooking Puget Sound. And that's when I discovered the other "component" that needs work - my legs! It's embarrassing how much they ached after such a short ride. Fortunately, spring is here and I'll get plenty of opportunities to ride, even if it's only to the pub and back.
Thanks to all of you on the C&V forum. Lurking (and, occasionally, participating) here gave me much of the knowledge and - probably even more importantly - motivation I needed to get the job done. Pics to follow soon!
Now I have a lot of adjusting and piddly details to square away. In particular, the SA hub needs to be dialed in - as it stands right now, I have a two-speed (it's freewheeling in 1st gear; I'm guessing it's not supposed to do that). The brakes also need a bit of attention, and I'm having a bear of a time getting the seatpost tightened enough.
All that notwithstanding, I took it for a short ride yesterday afternoon with my son and our neighbors. Just a short, four mile jaunt to a local park overlooking Puget Sound. And that's when I discovered the other "component" that needs work - my legs! It's embarrassing how much they ached after such a short ride. Fortunately, spring is here and I'll get plenty of opportunities to ride, even if it's only to the pub and back.
Thanks to all of you on the C&V forum. Lurking (and, occasionally, participating) here gave me much of the knowledge and - probably even more importantly - motivation I needed to get the job done. Pics to follow soon!
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: West of St. Louis
Posts: 864
Bikes: (3) 1970's Raleigh Sports, (1) 1968 Robin Hood 3 speed, 1974 Raleigh Grand Prix, 1976 Raleigh Grand Prix, 1969 Peugeot UO-18, 1971 Peugeot UO-08, 1980 Giant road bike, 1954 Humber, 1940ish Hercules Popular, 1963 Dunelt, 2007 Trek 3700 mountain bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
Can't wait to see pics of the Gold Sports, lots of them as required by the C&V bylaws. As far as your wife thinking that you are crazy, that will pass; she will KNOW you are crazy. But then again, most of us here are. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.
#3
I'm shovel-ready!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 136
Bikes: Raleigh Sports All-Gold
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
Okay, here are some photos:
The full monty.
New cork grips and trigger shifter (to replace the awful twist-grip shifter).
Heron chain ring, all clean and shiny.
I got the shift cable pulley second hand - I guess that's called "patina."
It looks so different without all the crud caked in every nook and cranny.
Look at that hub gleam!
Of course, the real work doesn't show in the photos - old grease cleaned out, bearings replaced, spoke nipples soaked with penetrating oil so they will actually move - you know the drill.
The full monty.
New cork grips and trigger shifter (to replace the awful twist-grip shifter).
Heron chain ring, all clean and shiny.
I got the shift cable pulley second hand - I guess that's called "patina."
It looks so different without all the crud caked in every nook and cranny.
Look at that hub gleam!
Of course, the real work doesn't show in the photos - old grease cleaned out, bearings replaced, spoke nipples soaked with penetrating oil so they will actually move - you know the drill.
#4
Lost Again
Beautiful. Nice job, all that work paid off. What's the wife think now?
#5
Membership Not Required
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
14 Posts
Awesome job!
That is the first gold Raleigh I have seen with a matching Prestube rack.
Aaron
That is the first gold Raleigh I have seen with a matching Prestube rack.
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 904
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Beautiful ride! I had the same problem with my seat post, I ended up cutting a strip from a beer can as a shim, worked perfectly and have but several hundred miles on the bike since without a problem. I would suggest practicing on about 5 cans before you cut the actual shim, it's best to use fresh cans, so you will have to empty them yourself.:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Rhode Island (an obscure suburb of Connecticut)
Posts: 5,630
Bikes: one of each
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
12 Posts
I love that color. Never seen a gold one that clean. It goes great with chrome.
#9
I'm shovel-ready!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 136
Bikes: Raleigh Sports All-Gold
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
Thanks for the props, all. And Andrew, thanks for the tip re: cutting a shim from a beer can. I actually learned that trick from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, back when I was in high school.
But now I have a real problem - I've posted this over in the Mechanics forum, but not getting much feedback there. Right now, I have no first gear. Using both the "official" Sturmey Archer visual inspection method and the unofficial Sheldon Brown tension method, the adjustment appears to be pretty close to right. Second and third gears work fine, and there is a "neutral," freewheeling position in between the two, as there is supposed to be. But there is no first gear - it just freewheels.
My guess is that there is something wrong with the low gear pawls and/or springs, requiring that I tear the hub down (again!). Obviously, I'm not looking forward to it. Before I dig in, can anyone think of anything I'm not thinking of? Anything at all that might help me resolve this issue without repeating the whole overhaul?
But now I have a real problem - I've posted this over in the Mechanics forum, but not getting much feedback there. Right now, I have no first gear. Using both the "official" Sturmey Archer visual inspection method and the unofficial Sheldon Brown tension method, the adjustment appears to be pretty close to right. Second and third gears work fine, and there is a "neutral," freewheeling position in between the two, as there is supposed to be. But there is no first gear - it just freewheels.
My guess is that there is something wrong with the low gear pawls and/or springs, requiring that I tear the hub down (again!). Obviously, I'm not looking forward to it. Before I dig in, can anyone think of anything I'm not thinking of? Anything at all that might help me resolve this issue without repeating the whole overhaul?
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 1,143
Bikes: Many. Ralieigh sports`s, Raleigh Superbe, sears Spaceliner, Firestone supercruisers, many vintage mountain bikes, random cruisers, and other unique bikes.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Might just be an adjustment with the barrel adjuster on the indicator chain? thats common on 3 speeds. sometimes they come loose.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,143
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3803 Post(s)
Liked 6,634 Times
in
2,599 Posts
It could be your trigger as the spring might not be strong enough to pull that much cable. Or any chance you put the low-gear pawls in backwards when you last overhauled the hub? Been there, done that.
Neal
Neal
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 92
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No 1st gear !!
Thanks for the props, all. And Andrew, thanks for the tip re: cutting a shim from a beer can. I actually learned that trick from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, back when I was in high school.
But now I have a real problem - I've posted this over in the Mechanics forum, but not getting much feedback there. Right now, I have no first gear. Using both the "official" Sturmey Archer visual inspection method and the unofficial Sheldon Brown tension method, the adjustment appears to be pretty close to right. Second and third gears work fine, and there is a "neutral," freewheeling position in between the two, as there is supposed to be. But there is no first gear - it just freewheels.
My guess is that there is something wrong with the low gear pawls and/or springs, requiring that I tear the hub down (again!). Obviously, I'm not looking forward to it. Before I dig in, can anyone think of anything I'm not thinking of? Anything at all that might help me resolve this issue without repeating the whole overhaul?
But now I have a real problem - I've posted this over in the Mechanics forum, but not getting much feedback there. Right now, I have no first gear. Using both the "official" Sturmey Archer visual inspection method and the unofficial Sheldon Brown tension method, the adjustment appears to be pretty close to right. Second and third gears work fine, and there is a "neutral," freewheeling position in between the two, as there is supposed to be. But there is no first gear - it just freewheels.
My guess is that there is something wrong with the low gear pawls and/or springs, requiring that I tear the hub down (again!). Obviously, I'm not looking forward to it. Before I dig in, can anyone think of anything I'm not thinking of? Anything at all that might help me resolve this issue without repeating the whole overhaul?
385XZA
#14
Ride heavy metal.
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Teenage Wasteland, USA
Posts: 1,538
Bikes: '74 Raleigh LTD-3, '76 Motobecane Grand Jubile, '83 Fuji TSIII (customized commuter), '10 Mercier Kilo WT (fixed obsession), '83 Bianchi Alloro, '92 Bridgestone MB-1 (project), '83 Specialized Expedition (project), '79 Peugeot UO-8 (sold)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
#15
I'm shovel-ready!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 136
Bikes: Raleigh Sports All-Gold
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
I considered taking a more aggressive approach with the rust on the fasteners, but ultimately I decided to simply give them a thorough going-over with a wire wheel on a Dremel tool and call it good (yes, I actually cleaned every single bolt, nut, and washer with the wire wheel - another thing that led my wife to conclude that I was crazy). I figured that even if I managed to make them entirely rust-free, it would just come back since there is no chrome left to protect them from the Seattle humidity. For the time being, I'm satisfied simply having the wrenching surfaces smooth and the threads clean and dressed. Later, if I want to, I figure I can replace the worst of them.
Last edited by buck mulligan; 04-12-10 at 04:27 PM.
#16
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,495
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7342 Post(s)
Liked 2,441 Times
in
1,425 Posts
Very nice. Looks like it's hardly been ridden. The mens model is rarer than the womens.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#18
I'm shovel-ready!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 136
Bikes: Raleigh Sports All-Gold
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
So I think I'll celebrate with a couple more pictures....
The brakes cleaned up nicely, as did the chrome around the headset and those wonderful little fork dimples.
Another view of the re-routed shift cable (including pulley), and the Prestube rack.
Front hub looking almost good as new.
#19
I'm shovel-ready!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 136
Bikes: Raleigh Sports All-Gold
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
Blast and tarnation!!!
I still don't have first gear. I am absolutely desperate - can anyone suggest what I should try next? It worked fine before I overhauled it (well, except for the whole "sticky and gummy because it was full of old, nasty grease" thing) - and now 2nd and 3rd work great, but low gear just freewheels. HELP!!!
I still don't have first gear. I am absolutely desperate - can anyone suggest what I should try next? It worked fine before I overhauled it (well, except for the whole "sticky and gummy because it was full of old, nasty grease" thing) - and now 2nd and 3rd work great, but low gear just freewheels. HELP!!!