Dawes Kingpin Restoration/Refurb

[EltonFrog]

Does the dynohub work? They're only 2W when new but can run LED headlamps very well. The usual problem is that someone has dismantled it - unless the permanent magnet assembly comes out of the shell and right into the custom SA keeper ring, it's game over. You may be able to get one remagnetised but it still has to be kept in iron at all times.

No, I didn’t use mine in the end, couldn’t be bothered with the faff. I think I may get one at some point though, now that I’ve had a break from the work on this bike.

 

[EltonFrog]

An update.

The not having a Dynohub on the Kingpin has been bothering me for a while so I recently found on the bay of e another Kingpin that had a working hub and lights, I was the highest bidder and after a four hour round trip I brought the bike home.

Today I have set about cleaning, polishing and swapping swapping wheels over, and the front mudguard ‘cos it has a better finish.

Original KP on left.

Current front mudguard

This is the one I’ll swap.

 

[biggs682]

@CarlP you have such a variety of machines i admire you

 

[EltonFrog]

@CarlP you have such a variety of machines i admire you

Nowhere near as many as you.

 

[biggs682]

Nowhere near as many as you.

That comes with time

 

[AuroraSaab]

Lovely project, well done. For anybody looking to de-rust stuff, I can recommend Bilt Hamber Deox C and Deox gel. The first is a variant of citric acid powder, the second is a citric acid gel, and both work well even on pitted rust. Deox C is easier as you add it to boiling water and submerge the bits in it. Whereas the gel is for bits you can't remove. I have used it extensively on my car restoration and it really takes the effort out of rust removal.

 

[EltonFrog]

Lovely project, well done. For anybody looking to de-rust stuff, I can recommend Bilt Hamber Deox C and Deox gel. The first is a variant of citric acid powder, the second is a citric acid gel, and both work well even on pitted rust. Deox C is easier as you add it to boiling water and submerge the bits in it. Whereas the gel is for bits you can't remove. I have used it extensively on my car restoration and it really takes the effort out of rust removal.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[midlife]

Love the tartan holdall with the white piping....... Sold many a bike lol

 

[EltonFrog]

Love the tartan holdall with the white piping....... Sold many a bike lol

Took me bloody ages to find that and cost more than the original bike, both new and second hand

 

[Drago]

Looking good. I admire your mindless dedication - it's the sort of thing I'd do.

 

[EltonFrog]

Looking good. I admire your mindless dedication - it's the sort of thing I'd do.

It is a bit mindless you’re right, the Fragrant MrsP doesn’t understand it, actually I’m not sure I do, although they’re a fun bike they are also a bit ridiculous, especially when I ride it, at a smidge over 6ft tall I look daft on it, but if you’ve read the blog you’ll understand.

I went for a little ride on it yesterday to a fete, just a mile away, the Fragrant MrsP went on her modern hybrid, on the way home she put the hammer down for a sprint down the last straight, i I beat her with a bike length, she was pissing herself at the sight of me on what she calls my girls bike.

 

[EltonFrog]

Some fettling today, I have swapped the wheels from KP2 to KP1 so I now have Dynohub on my bike. I also swapped the front mudguard over and removed the dynamo lights, the cable clips are missing from KP2 and the cables were held on by zip ties, they looked messy I need to source some clips. I cleaned re-set lens on the front light and polished the chrome on both, not much of a job really they are in really good condition.

Just remembered years ago I had a couple of KP donor bikes that I removed the cable clips from, took me over an hour to find them, then I couldn’t find the little one for the fork, just when I was about give up I found two under a pile of screws! Re-feckin-sult.

A tip I picked up on the Kingpin FB group Swarfega rubbed in really works on the whitewall tyres.

 

[Cycleops]

All you need now is still three quarter length floral print frock and you'll be set .

 

[EltonFrog]

All you need now is still three quarter length floral print frock and you'll be set .

You mean like these blokes.

I got this email from them the other day.

Thank you very much for sponsoring Neil and I for the Ride 100 cycle event. I am very pleased to say that, thanks to your generosity, we have raised over £6500 for Beating Bowel Cancer. I really can’t thank you enough for your kindness and support and have been overwhelmed with the huge number of donations. I’m sorry if I haven’t been able to thank you personally, but I am so grateful for your sponsorship.
The ride on 31st July was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I never thought that l could enjoy myself so much wearing a dress on a shopping bike, although some may disagree. The support we had along the course was phenomenal. It was constant from start to finish from both supporters along and fellow cyclists. The most common shouts were:

1. “Morning/afternoon ladies”
2. “Nice dresses”
3. “What are you doing tonight?”
4. “You could have shaved your legs.”
5. “You look good from the back, but not so good from the front.”
6. “So, did you lose a bet?”
7. “Are you cycling 100 miles on those bikes?”

The ride itself wasn't as bad as I expected to be. We finished in a time of 8 hours and 46 minutes, but were held up for an hour in Ripley due to a nasty crash which required air ambulance. We made it up Newlands Corner, Leith Hill and Box Hill without stopping and it was a great feeling to overtake people walking uphill with expensive road bikes!
I have attached some photos of us during the ride. I apologise in advance for putting you off your food.
Thanks again for everything. I really do appreciate it.
Kev

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[EltonFrog]

Been fiddling with cable clips this morning, the chrome on the frame clips was U/S so I rubbed them down with a file and steel wool and covered them with chrome sticky back plastic from Wilko. I’ve put them on KP2.

The two fork clips weren’t too bad so I just polished them up with Autosol and fine wire wool. These are for KP1 I’m just waiting for some helicopter tape before I put them on.

I noticed that the seat post on KP2 was in slightly better condition than on KP1, so I cleaned them both up and swapped them.

A couple of before and after pics