1979/80 Falcon Black Diamond.

[Illaveago]

It

has been a while since I worked on this Black Diamond. I have come across a stumbling block and had shelved it. There is play in the bottom bracket so I put my crank extractor on wound the screw in which then wound itself into the threaded hole. I need a blanking plate to prevent it from doing it again. I gave up in disgust and worked on something else.
Covid intervened and it only today that I dug the frame back out again. I decided to give it another clean despite washing it off previously the frame was still covered in an oily residue. i used some washing up liquid and hot water in a bucket this time. It seemed to work so I set about polishing up the frame with some Farecla G3 to clean up the paintwork. It is now shiny. I will tackle the rust at a later date. I gave the chromed front forks a go over with some aluminium foil dry, there are a few rust blisters but they aren't too bad.

 

[biggs682]

That's come up well indeed

 

[Illaveago]

I was hoping to take it for a test ride today but it has been a right pig! I was hoping the play in he BB could be taken up but I fitted a new sealed one in the end. I found 2 27 inch wheel with tyres and fitted them. I had to use an old Hurst rear mech as I needed a mech with a hanger, none fitted on the frame. I cleaned up the chain which came with the frame. This is when the fun started. I removed 4 links as the chain was too long. I could go through all the gears in the large chainring but when I shifted onto the smaller chainring the chain was far too long. The rear mech wasn't taking up the slack. If I took any more links out the chain would snag and jam up. I thought I could manage a test ride in the high range for now. I pumped the tyres and was going to get ready but I wheeled the bike I noticed that the rear tyre had blown off the rim. I gave up, took the wheels off and put it away.

 

[Illaveago]

The rain finally stopped this afternoon and the sun came out, It was still a bit windy but I dug the Falcon out and started sorting things out. I wound up the Huret idlers so that they would tension the chain, I then went looking for a pair of 27 inch wheels with tyres, most of which now have splits in them. I fitted some wheels pumped up the tyres and set off for a test ride. The Bike feels a bit heavy but rides well, I haven't weighed it. I was surprised to discover that I was on the small chainring when I wanted to change down a gear. I was in 2nd gear but It wouldn't change down further, the rear mech stop screws need adjusting. I carried on out on my test ride on the smaller chainring as I was cycling into a headwind. I stopped off halfway round to take some photos. On the way back I managed to use the large chainring, I didn't notice much difference between the 2 rings, I haven't checked the number of teeth. So I did 6 miles on its first ride, all went well, a few adjustments need to be made but apart from that it went well.

 

[biggs682]

The first couple of test rides are always good to find out what needs doing.

 

[Illaveago]

I did a 12 mile ride on my Black Diamond this afternoon. The weather was grey with dampness in the air, the bike went well, I stayed in the lower chainring. I have still got to find out what the ratios are. No repetition of exploding inner tubes today, I just went by the feel of the tyres. I have still got a bit of cleaning up of the frame to do.

 

[Illaveago]

I was surprised by how few miles I have put on the bike . 19 miles so far, yesterday's was the furthest it's been since I picked I up. I fitted a Huret rear mech instead of he original Altus, the mech needs a good clean plus the metal cover which surrounds the idler pivot spring is cracked. I also noticed hat someone has put the wrong end of a brake cable in. They have used he barrel end instead of he pear shape nipple.

 

[Illaveago]

Today I took The Black Diamond out for a ride. By the time I was ready for a ride the sun had melted the frost frpm the roads, I was a bit weary of icy bits hiding in the shadows but everywhere was clear. The ride went really well , it feels like the bike is loosening up after giving it a thorough clean. I was surprised that I haven't done many miles on it so far. With todays 12 miles it will have only done 30 miles since I picked it up.