1954 English 3-speed

[Popoki_Nui]

Nice job. Given the age of the bike, you may well have a real enamelled frame. That could explain why the paint didn't bubble.

Real enamel is a glass-like substance, baked on the frame in a similar manner to today's powder coating...but MUCH more durable. Modern "enamel paint" was developed as a cheaper, but less durable substitute to real enamelling, and will almost always bubble and burn when you torch it. If your bike has a real enamel finish, it's another reason to keep it and restore it.

Good luck with the fixed cup.

[DebW]

Nice job. Given the age of the bike, you may well have a real enamelled frame. That could explain why the paint didn't bubble.

Popoki_Nui, you are a wealth of information.

[Popoki_Nui]

Popoki_Nui, you are a wealth of information.

TY. Just trying to help....

[DebW]

Today I finally got a chance to take the torch to the fixed cup on the 3-speed. I had 2 more items in my favor this time: bought a fixed wrench made for the 16 mm raised flats on the cup (unfortunately only 7 inches long so not a whole lot of leverage), and realized that I could use my headset press to hold the tool firmly in place. After three torch sessions and soaking in liquid wrench while hot, it finally yielded to DH's arm strength. [I don't feel bad about that because I loosen the other side after he'd failed.] So now I have a bare 3-speed frame and can give it the rust treatment, then begin reassembling. I still have the fun of the 3-speed hub waiting for me. Sturmey Archer oil is in the mail and should arrive in a couple days.

Woohoo! That's a good start to 2007.

[donnambr]

Thank you for sharing this. I love bikes like these, and while I have no advanced mechanical skills to speak of, it's thrilling to read about your progress. (Yes, I am pretty nerdy...)

[DebW]

The 3-speed is going back together. The frame has been rust-treated for a month now, so I started putting parts back on. First the bottom bracket. The cups and spindle are slightly pitted, so it's not the smoothest bb in the world, but not too bad. I did have a problem screwing the adjustable cup in far enough and had to force it the last 2 revolutions. Maybe it's never been screwed that far before (was a bit loose when I got it).

I pressed the headset cups back into the headtube, then discovered that the fork didn't align properly with the cups because of how much it's bent. So I did a little cold bending of the steerer tube with a vise, pipe, and mallet. It's now straighter and aligns with the cups well enough to assemble, but binds at one point. Maybe someday I'll want to invest in a new fork for this bike, but for now I'm going to reassemble it and see how it rides. Felt like the frame gained 10 lb when I put the fork back on.

Also reattached the chaincase and did some de-rusting on that. Next task: cotterpins. Will they fit or will I be filing them down? You never know until you try.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

That bike and I were born the same year (1954). I hope if I get all bent out of shape someday, I can get you to put ME back together too!

[mimitabby]

looking good Deb!