What Have You Fettled Today?

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Gunk

Guru
Location
Oxford
I replaced the San Marco Rolls and fitted a slightly more period appropriate saddle to my 1979 professional MkV today

A 1977 Brooks Competition (came off my Brompton), took about 45 minutes of adjusting the fore, aft, angle and tension. But it’s pretty much there. I’ll make any final adjustments after a longer ride, but really pleased with it and suits the bike well.

I’ve now picked up a pair of very clean used black B17 narrows so both Brompton's will have the same saddle.

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sevenfourate

Devotee of OCD
I replaced the San Marco Rolls and fitted a slightly more period appropriate saddle to my 1979 professional MkV today

A 1977 Brooks Competition (came off my Brompton), took about 45 minutes of adjusting the fore, aft, angle and tension. But it’s pretty much there. I’ll make any final adjustments after a longer ride, but really pleased with it and suits the bike well.

I’ve now picked up a pair of very clean used black B17 narrows so both Brompton's will have the same saddle.

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Seat looks really well. And the bike is gorgeous. Love that !!
 

raleighnut

Legendary Member
I replaced the San Marco Rolls and fitted a slightly more period appropriate saddle to my 1979 professional MkV today

A 1977 Brooks Competition (came off my Brompton), took about 45 minutes of adjusting the fore, aft, angle and tension. But it’s pretty much there. I’ll make any final adjustments after a longer ride, but really pleased with it and suits the bike well.

I’ve now picked up a pair of very clean used black B17 narrows so both Brompton's will have the same saddle.

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View attachment 754531

My B17n is my favourite Brooks (and I've got one of the Limited Edition Swallow Titanium) I also have it's older brother, a B5n from the 60's same shape but a dimpled top and punched at the sides for 'lacing'
 
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Gunk

Guru
Location
Oxford
My B17n is my favourite Brooks (and I've got one of the Limited Edition Sallow Titanium) I also have it's older brother, a B5n from the 60's same shape but a dimpled top and punched at the sides for 'lacing'

This one is in pretty good condition, it is dimpled but not punched for lacing. I had it on my Peugeot 753 pro about 35 years ago and it’s sat in a box in a dry garage ever since, it was on my Brompton for about a year so has had just light, dry use, I cleaned and treated it, the leather is in remarkable condition. It’s perfect for the Carlton, sort of saddle the original builder would have fitted back in the day.
 

raleighnut

Legendary Member
This one is in pretty good condition, it is dimpled but not punched for lacing. I had it on my Peugeot 753 pro about 35 years ago and it’s sat in a box in a dry garage ever since, it was on my Brompton for about a year so has had just light, dry use, I cleaned and treated it, the leather is in remarkable condition. It’s perfect for the Carlton, sort of saddle the original builder would have fitted back in the day.

My 67 Carlton Clubman came with a Brooks with lacing holes, sadly another casualty when a lorry ran the bike over
 

sevenfourate

Devotee of OCD
I fitted a new battery on to the car

I did the same last week. Finding an uprated Yuasa with 5 year Warranty that I’d been keeping my eye on - reduced from £127 to £60.80 !

Was ‘shocked’ (Not literally) it proceeded to start immediately after the swap. But WAS ticking over really badly. Hunting / revs dipping up up down wildly…..

Turns out from Googling: unless you use a device to retain power to the ECU - the base-line fuelling resets: and you need to do 50-60 miles for the car to re-learn the fuel-trims again.

After 4-5 days commuting the car did indeed catch up with itself: and is now running beautifully. I had also read it would likely ‘be a different car’ after a new battery. And the difference is indeed very noticeable.

Battery per-se or new fuelling as such I can’t answer. But it’s like I’ve had a tune up / remap and gained 10% extra bhp and torque whilst smoothing everything out. The transformation is quite amazing. All from a simple battery change.

A sign of how much modern cars / electronics rely on their power source ? 🤷‍♂️
 

biggs682

Itching to get back on my bike's
Location
Northamptonshire
I did the same last week. Finding an uprated Yuasa with 5 year Warranty that I’d been keeping my eye on - reduced from £127 to £60.80 !

Was ‘shocked’ (Not literally) it proceeded to start immediately after the swap. But WAS ticking over really badly. Hunting / revs dipping up up down wildly…..

Turns out from Googling: unless you use a device to retain power to the ECU - the base-line fuelling resets: and you need to do 50-60 miles for the car to re-learn the fuel-trims again.

After 4-5 days commuting the car did indeed catch up with itself: and is now running beautifully. I had also read it would likely ‘be a different car’ after a new battery. And the difference is indeed very noticeable.

Battery per-se or new fuelling as such I can’t answer. But it’s like I’ve had a tune up / remap and gained 10% extra bhp and torque whilst smoothing everything out. The transformation is quite amazing. All from a simple battery change.

A sign of how much modern cars / electronics rely on their power source ? 🤷‍♂️

My only concern was loosing the radio code so it was a case of a set of jump leads between the car and the new battery, remove old one and fit new one without disturbing the leads which I managed.

It lasted well 13 years old in all fairness it was dying last winter but it made it through.

Certainly spins over quickly now
 

sevenfourate

Devotee of OCD
My only concern was loosing the radio code so it was a case of a set of jump leads between the car and the new battery, remove old one and fit new one without disturbing the leads which I managed.

It lasted well 13 years old in all fairness it was dying last winter but it made it through.

Certainly spins over quickly now

Thats good going !!! And same age as the battery that came off my Mazda. Which was a 12-13 year old Panasonic (Original i presume) battery.

I'd be happy and amazed (?) if the replacement manages half that...........
 

sevenfourate

Devotee of OCD
Too windy to cycle safely. Or enjoyably 🤷‍♂️

So utilised an hour or so getting rid of some superficial war-wounds. Paint on this one has always appeared at first glance to be Satin finish - with a slight Gold flake in it. So I tried a few of the various Blacks I have. Anything remotely Satin’ish dried up far to ‘dull’. Straight Gloss Smoothrite was the best match in the end…..

Didn’t have too many marks for a near 12 year old well used bike. Looks better still now though 😁

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All uphill

Still rolling along
Location
Somerset
Too windy to cycle safely. Or enjoyably 🤷‍♂️

So utilised an hour or so getting rid of some superficial war-wounds. Paint on this one has always appeared at first glance to be Satin finish - with a slight Gold flake in it. So I tried a few of the various Blacks I have. Anything remotely Satin’ish dried up far to ‘dull’. Straight Gloss Smoothrite was the best match in the end…..

Didn’t have too many marks for a near 12 year old well used bike. Looks better still now though 😁

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Black paint in the kitchen - you are confident in your ability to avoid drips and spills!
 

All uphill

Still rolling along
Location
Somerset
The folding Raleigh bought for our son has been poorly; despite little use ( or maybe because of little use) the horrible twist grip gear change has become unusable.

A quick test shows the hub is fine and the resistance is caused by corrosion between the cable inner and outer. I've removed the changer, cable and outer and ordered a trigger shifter.

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Some garden fettling underway at Crank towers - time for a new shed type structure. First up, demolishing the old hut
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Then fabrication of the new structure, measuring approx 3M x 4M
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And almost complete now
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It's mainly somewhere to store gardening stuff - might partially block the sides in at some stage for the rainy season.
The old hut, made from palm fronds, does look nice, but the thatch has to be renewed every few years.
I'm at an age now where all this work has to be for something more permanent.
Even in the cooler season, it gets unbearably hot in the direct sun, and makes these jobs quite an effort.
 
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