What on earth have I bought!

[Gunk]

A bit of milestone this evening , the triangle is now attached with rollers and suspension block fitted. New hinge pin also fitted, the brass bushes are nice and tight so fortunately I didn’t need to change them.

The rollers were completely seized, but I had spare bushes and bolts in my box of bits so managed to rescue them.

So all the labour intensive stuff is now done, however the wheels and brakes are in a state so they’ll need a lot of work, but really pleased to get this far.

 

[Gunk]

Found a spare hour this afternoon (should be working!) so fitted the headset and forks, the forks are completely original and with some gentle work with some cutting paste they’ve come up beautifully.

Next job BB and crankset.

 

[fossyant]

Looking great now ! Job jobbed !

 

[Gunk]

Another quick hour in the garage this evening, I refitted the bottom bracket which is in remarkable condition considering it’s probably the original. I cleaned up the crankset with wire wool and WD40 and fitted the Brommiemods chain guard that I already had in my box of spares. These are nice quality and I only removed because I managed to source a NOS original for my own Brompton.

The build is now unfortunately going to stall, as I’m going to have to restore the wheelset and brake calipers before I can fit anything else.

 

[Gunk]

Both brake calipers stripped and now working, I thought these might end up in the bin, as they were both completely rusty and seized, however I managed to remove the brass bush on the spring and get them moving freely.

Lots of wire brushing and wire wool plus some 800 grit wet and dry on the steel parts, however well worth the effort. Brake pads I had in my box of bits so even more of a bonus, zero cost!

 

[ColinJ]

Both brake calipers stripped and now working, I thought these might end up in the bin, as they were both completely rusty and seized, however I managed to remove the brass bush on the spring and get them moving freely.

Lots of wire brushing and wire wool plus some 800 grit wet and dry on the steel parts, however well worth the effort. Brake pads I had in my box of bits so even more of a bonus, zero cost!

View attachment 761281

View attachment 761282

Ah, that is what I wanted to do with my brakes (as mentioned earlier today in the fettling thread). If mine had proper steel hex nuts like those I would have been ok but putting pressure on an allen key inserted into a corroded-in light alloy fitting seemed a bit iffy so I didn't!

 

[ren531]

Fascinating thread this, the joy to be had turning such a rusty rite off into this is something you just can't buy .

 

[Gunk]

This afternoon I restored the rear wheel, and serviced the seized hub, took much longer than I anticipated but I managed to save it.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Scrubs up well

 

[ColinJ]

This afternoon I told Brompton fan @Littgull to check this project out.

It almost makes me want to find a dead bike to save!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

This afternoon I told Brompton fan @Littgull to check this project out.

It almost makes me want to find a dead bike to save!

Buy that big magnet and get fishing in your local canal

 

[ColinJ]

Thinking about it... I already have a half-dead CAADX in my kitchen, waiting for work on it to be finished!!

 

[Gunk]

I’ve just managed to release the locknuts on the front wheel hub and it is now moving freely, so tomorrow I’ll clean and service the front wheel. I’m then ready to start building it back up.

 

[Gunk]

It almost makes me want to find a dead bike to save!

My advice is don’t!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I’ve just managed to release the locknuts on the front wheel hub

My wheel hubs are due new grease and balls.