Hercules. My First Folder

[Hugh Manatee]

Just a sneak preview. I will take some better photos tomorrow, weather permitting! The date on the hub says 1981. Not in bad condition; odd bits of rust here and there including the rims.

Fairly certain the rear tyre is original. It was some impressive splits. Here it is as collected in a folded state:

You can see I have tried cleaning the rim in one section to see how deep the rust is.

 

[midlife]

Very smart . Does it say Hunter on the seat tube?

 

[Hugh Manatee]

Very smart . Does it say Hunter on the seat tube?

It says Compact.

I have had a quick test ride. There is play in the cranks on every revolution. I will get the cotter pins out and dismantle the bottom bracket to check out the bearings.

 

[simongt]

At least with this bike, most of the maintenance is pretty straighforward. If you have a good LBS, they can strip and service the Sturmey hub for you.

 

[Cycleops]

There is play in the cranks on every revolution. I will get the cotter pins out and dismantle the bottom bracket to check out the bearings.

That should be fun. I guess this might be amongst the last of the Hercules Raleigh line using the name.

 

[midlife]

It says Compact.

I have had a quick test ride. There is play in the cranks on every revolution. I will get the cotter pins out and dismantle the bottom bracket to check out the bearings.

Thanks, I'm sure the non folder was a Hercules Hunter

 

[Hugh Manatee]

At least with this bike, most of the maintenance is pretty straighforward. If you have a good LBS, they can strip and service the Sturmey hub for you.

I'll do it myself. There is a very good video on YouTube. I'll find a link later but I do remember the chap is in a cold garage and is wearing fingerless gloves. I followed that last time I did a 1968 hub and even managed to replace a broken pawl spring. Land Rover diff oil is what I use to reassemble the hub.

It's the usual fight with the cotters that I'm not looking forward to. I had to sensors to a vice last time.

 

[biggs682]

Very nice and original , a mate of mine buys these and fits them out with drop bars and flogs them to the trendy people in London for commuting

 

[Hugh Manatee]

OK chaps, I'll start this here rather than begin a new thread in Mechanics!

I think the wrong size cotter has been put in. It has been pulled in flush and the crank still has a loose spot.

Plan A was to wallop it with a hammer. Fail.
Plan B was to wallop it with a big hammer. Fail.
Plan C is the vice and socket trick:

This too is a Fail.

I will try a longer lever but, I don't want to risk breaking the vice.

Plan D is heat. How much heat can I use without destroying the chrome?

 

[biggs682]

OK chaps, I'll start this here rather than begin a new thread in Mechanics!

I think the wrong size cotter has been put in. It has been pulled in flush and the crank still has a loose spot.

Plan A was to wallop it with a hammer. Fail.
Plan B was to wallop it with a big hammer. Fail.
Plan C is the vice and socket trick:

View attachment 372898

This too is a Fail.

I will try a longer lever but, I don't want to risk breaking the vice.

Plan D is heat. How much heat can I use without destroying the chrome?

that looks serious to me

 

[Hugh Manatee]

Guess which one was harder to get out:

 

[Tail End Charlie]

This looks great. I'm in the middle of moving house but once done, my first project will be to get a Twenty/ folder and upgrade with some modern parts, so I'll be watching this thread with interest.

 

[midlife]

Guess which one was harder to get out:

View attachment 372913

Are you J R Hartley

 

[classic33]

Guess which one was harder to get out:

View attachment 372913

Will it be one pair or two, when you replace them?

As for treating a book like that....

 

[Hugh Manatee]

Will it be one pair or two, when you replace them?

As for treating a book like that....

I got a pair of cotters (anyone else think of Rab C Nesbitt?) from the local Raleigh dealer today. He said he went to the factory once and that the workers fire the cotters into place with a sort of gun! Compressed air if anything I would think. That one took so much force and it laughed at me. It didn't laugh at the cobalt drill bits I used on it though!

Panic not, that is just a catalogue. I recently purchased a few (more!!) books including the Irish Mayflies one. I am into tying Irish style flies at the moment. I really need to tie some more daddy long legs though.