My 3-4 speed and their hiccups to be solved

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ConnoisseurEquator

Senior Member
Hi All
Over the years, I have accumulated few bicycles. Mainly 3 and 4 speed.


*1982 Raleigh Superbe 3 speed.

Right now, the only one of my two Superbe running properly.

Apart maybe a front axle that might need to be changed at a later day,

Some thug tried to steal the front wheel but did not know how.

But it damaged the treads on it. So i had to add some washers for the nut to lock properly.


I had to make few adjustments to it to make it mine.

The bottom part of the full chain cover is still missing. Bought some but they did not fit.

One would think that Raleigh would made them all the same, but no.

And the cover of the crank [?]. Found 2. One fitted. Still has to be adjusted to remain in place though.


The rod brakes had to go. Got caught few times under the rain and it's not an amusing story.

Fitted new vintage brakes.

Had to fit an extended quill stem as i like to ride straight up.

Remove the original rear rack and fitted a Pletscher alloy bicycle rack.
All good.
_18_41_28_bbcdf1e55ae288f00d76d31abb930d218446d259.png

The way I bought it
_18_57_31_ec7e3ae033dc906ecfa79ad7ed779b3eabceaf8d.png

12/1982
_18_25_41_e0f875e5d1eba464d91c144eeed880cb51066e04.png

The two missing parts
The rod brakes were still fitted at the time


_18_30_06_d835fb823c4473e0f1f1dd20a4421684f3e69471.png

The missing part of the full chain cover
I cannot find the right one. Might have to improvise with the one I already have.


*1963 Men's Green Raleigh Superbe Dawn Tourist. Will deal with it later. Still getting parts for it. Small ones.
Four speed. FG. Got the 2 parts gear chain, gear changer, but need to get a cable.
New brakes to be fitted. May be the rear ball bearing too. And an extended quill stem.

*1974 Hercules Balmoral. 3 speed. Love the green. 90% of the reason of buying it, and the name.
The wheels need a good clean, as some of the chromed steel. Cosmetic but has to be done.
A bit too small for me, so a friend rides it when going on canal run.
Fitted a 20 handle bar. Looks good. I would say better. [Not in the pics]

Is aluminium paper and white vinegar really working to remove rust on steal?

602870 602871
The way when purchased


*1984 Raleigh Coinnesseur 3 speed.
Bought it in need of small tlc.
Changed tires, fitted a Pletscher alloy bicycle rack, longer stem like the Superbe.
It all went really good for many years until the last few months.
Colour faded suddenly, from bright burgundy to sick grey burgundy. I could live with that.
But then the bearing in the crank went, but could not remove the cotters.
Will have to cut them. Thread on one is turning on empty. The other broke. Nut gone.
But it does not end there.
I swap the rear wheel with another Sturmey 3 speed. While I would change the rear ball bearings. All good then.
But suddenly the dropouts open out. I mean the gap went from 12mm to 17mm.
So they cannot retain the wheel in place. Will show pics of the problem.

Question: how to return the gap to 12mm without damaging the dropout even further?

Thanks

602863

The way I bought it

602864

Rear

602865

Front
602866
That is one of the main problems right now.
Do bend it back knowing that a pipe could go there?
Or use a harmer with protection?
 

midlife

Guru
Have you got a big adjustable spanner?
 
Hi All
Over the years, I have accumulated few bicycles. Mainly 3 and 4 speed.


*1982 Raleigh Superbe 3 speed.

Right now, the only one of my two Superbe running properly.

Apart maybe a front axle that might need to be changed at a later day,

Some thug tried to steal the front wheel but did not know how.

But it damaged the treads on it. So i had to add some washers for the nut to lock properly.


I had to make few adjustments to it to make it mine.

The bottom part of the full chain cover is still missing. Bought some but they did not fit.

One would think that Raleigh would made them all the same, but no.

And the cover of the crank [?]. Found 2. One fitted. Still has to be adjusted to remain in place though.


The rod brakes had to go. Got caught few times under the rain and it's not an amusing story.

Fitted new vintage brakes.

Had to fit an extended quill stem as i like to ride straight up.

Remove the original rear rack and fitted a Pletscher alloy bicycle rack.
All good.
View attachment 602882
The way I bought it
View attachment 602883
12/1982
View attachment 602884
The two missing parts
The rod brakes were still fitted at the time


View attachment 602885
The missing part of the full chain cover
I cannot find the right one. Might have to improvise with the one I already have.


*1963 Men's Green Raleigh Superbe Dawn Tourist. Will deal with it later. Still getting parts for it. Small ones.
Four speed. FG. Got the 2 parts gear chain, gear changer, but need to get a cable.
New brakes to be fitted. May be the rear ball bearing too. And an extended quill stem.

*1974 Hercules Balmoral. 3 speed. Love the green. 90% of the reason of buying it, and the name.
The wheels need a good clean, as some of the chromed steel. Cosmetic but has to be done.
A bit too small for me, so a friend rides it when going on canal run.
Fitted a 20 handle bar. Looks good. I would say better. [Not in the pics]

Is aluminium paper and white vinegar really working to remove rust on steal?

View attachment 602870 View attachment 602871
The way when purchased


*1984 Raleigh Coinnesseur 3 speed.
Bought it in need of small tlc.
Changed tires, fitted a Pletscher alloy bicycle rack, longer stem like the Superbe.
It all went really good for many years until the last few months.
Colour faded suddenly, from bright burgundy to sick grey burgundy. I could live with that.
But then the bearing in the crank went, but could not remove the cotters.
Will have to cut them. Thread on one is turning on empty. The other broke. Nut gone.
But it does not end there.
I swap the rear wheel with another Sturmey 3 speed. While I would change the rear ball bearings. All good then.
But suddenly the dropouts open out. I mean the gap went from 12mm to 17mm.
So they cannot retain the wheel in place. Will show pics of the problem.

Question: how to return the gap to 12mm without damaging the dropout even further?

Thanks

View attachment 602863
The way I bought it

View attachment 602864
Rear

View attachment 602865
Front
View attachment 602866
That is one of the main problems right now.
Do bend it back knowing that a pipe could go there?
Or use a harmer with protection?
I'm a novice by comparison, with only a couple of Raleigh Twentys in my possession.
That dropout should be easy to adjust with, as you say, a piece of pipe. Steel is quite forgiving as a frame material, Alluminium less so.
Thanks for sharing your enviable collection :okay:
 
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