Web site to help fix bearings on an old Raleigh? - Page 3 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

08-01-2004, 12:35 AM

On Sun, 1 Aug 2004 00:45:40 -0700, "Doug Blaisdell" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>Thanks so much for you help with this project. It apears that the cranks
>are NOT a single piece of metal as you described. That is, the pedals will
>actuually unscrew from the "crank". Is that what you meant??

Nope. One Piece refers to the crank itself, irrespective of the
pedals. One Piece means that the left arm and right arm are of the
same piece of metal as the spindle.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

The other possibility is that the crank is composed of two arms each
connected to the central spindle. If they have a stud going going
through the arm near the spindle, perpendicular to the spindle, then
they're cottered...
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

....if they have a hex-head bolt or nut holding them to the spindle
then they're cotterless...
(info) [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
(photos) [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

I'm absolutely not an expert on English 3-speeds...
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
....but I would guess yours is cottered. If so, you'll need to remove
the arms before you can gain access to the bottom bracket bearings.
Spend a little time looking at the articles on Sheldon's site
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
and it will start to make some sense.

Follow the instructions here
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
and here
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
then get the bottom bracket open by following the instructions here
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
then you can put it all back together and adjust it this way
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Ready, set, go.

>But, my neighbor, who has woked on many tractors, suggested
>that we use his torch, cut it open, replace the bearings, then weld it shut.

This would be no doubt educational, but would not likely result in a
rideable bike. I wouldn't recommend it.

08-01-2004, 12:40 AM

Thank you for all your help fixing my new bike. And special thanks to my
cousin Darline Tucker, who typed these questions into the computer.

One more question, if you would be so very kind. This Raleigh bike has a
front tire brake, connected to a lever on the left hand bar that squeezes on
the front tire to stop the bike. But when I try stop the back tire, the
pedal just spins around backwards. In other words, the foot brake does not
stop the back tire. Does this bike only come with a front brake? My other
bike, had only a back brake, operated by pedaling backwards a bit. But that
bike had no front brake. I prefer a bike that stops the back tire as
opposed to the front tire. My neighbor, who knows a lot about tractor
mechanics, said the back brake was busted, but he could fix it. My uncle
said no, but suggested moving the hand brake to the back of the bike, so
that it squeezes on the back tire. In fact, he noticed that there was a
mounting hole in the back so that the brake could be moved to that location.
But this introduces another problem - the brake cable would be too short to
reach all the way to the back of the bike, so the hand bar brake lever would
have to be moved to the frame, just below the seat. Do most people
generally put the brake on the front tire or on the back tire? I prefer a
bike that stops the back tire as opposed to the front tire. What would you
do? Also, how do you get the gears to change?

"Brian" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:410c8077$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Sheldon Brown's site (previously posted) is a good place to start.
>
> Keep us posted (pun intended)
>
> BTW: is the crank a single piece? (ie: the pedalcranks and crankshaft are
> the same piece of metal) If not, are the cranks held on the crankshaft
with
> cotter pins? Just how old IS this beast??
>
>

08-01-2004, 12:40 AM

Thank you for all your help fixing my new bike. And special thanks to my
cousin Darline Tucker, who typed these questions into the computer.

One more question, if you would be so very kind. This Raleigh bike has a
front tire brake, connected to a lever on the left hand bar that squeezes on
the front tire to stop the bike. But when I try stop the back tire, the
pedal just spins around backwards. In other words, the foot brake does not
stop the back tire. Does this bike only come with a front brake? My other
bike, had only a back brake, operated by pedaling backwards a bit. But that
bike had no front brake. I prefer a bike that stops the back tire as
opposed to the front tire. My neighbor, who knows a lot about tractor
mechanics, said the back brake was busted, but he could fix it. My uncle
said no, but suggested moving the hand brake to the back of the bike, so
that it squeezes on the back tire. In fact, he noticed that there was a
mounting hole in the back so that the brake could be moved to that location.
But this introduces another problem - the brake cable would be too short to
reach all the way to the back of the bike, so the hand bar brake lever would
have to be moved to the frame, just below the seat. Do most people
generally put the brake on the front tire or on the back tire? I prefer a
bike that stops the back tire as opposed to the front tire. What would you
do? Also, how do you get the gears to change?

"Brian" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:410c8077$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Sheldon Brown's site (previously posted) is a good place to start.
>
> Keep us posted (pun intended)
>
> BTW: is the crank a single piece? (ie: the pedalcranks and crankshaft are
> the same piece of metal) If not, are the cranks held on the crankshaft
with
> cotter pins? Just how old IS this beast??
>
>

08-01-2004, 12:40 AM

Thank you for all your help fixing my new bike. And special thanks to my
cousin Darline Tucker, who typed these questions into the computer.

One more question, if you would be so very kind. This Raleigh bike has a
front tire brake, connected to a lever on the left hand bar that squeezes on
the front tire to stop the bike. But when I try stop the back tire, the
pedal just spins around backwards. In other words, the foot brake does not
stop the back tire. Does this bike only come with a front brake? My other
bike, had only a back brake, operated by pedaling backwards a bit. But that
bike had no front brake. I prefer a bike that stops the back tire as
opposed to the front tire. My neighbor, who knows a lot about tractor
mechanics, said the back brake was busted, but he could fix it. My uncle
said no, but suggested moving the hand brake to the back of the bike, so
that it squeezes on the back tire. In fact, he noticed that there was a
mounting hole in the back so that the brake could be moved to that location.
But this introduces another problem - the brake cable would be too short to
reach all the way to the back of the bike, so the hand bar brake lever would
have to be moved to the frame, just below the seat. Do most people
generally put the brake on the front tire or on the back tire? I prefer a
bike that stops the back tire as opposed to the front tire. What would you
do? Also, how do you get the gears to change?

"Brian" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:410c8077$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Sheldon Brown's site (previously posted) is a good place to start.
>
> Keep us posted (pun intended)
>
> BTW: is the crank a single piece? (ie: the pedalcranks and crankshaft are
> the same piece of metal) If not, are the cranks held on the crankshaft
with
> cotter pins? Just how old IS this beast??
>
>

08-01-2004, 12:40 AM

Thank you for all your help fixing my new bike. And special thanks to my
cousin Darline Tucker, who typed these questions into the computer.

One more question, if you would be so very kind. This Raleigh bike has a
front tire brake, connected to a lever on the left hand bar that squeezes on
the front tire to stop the bike. But when I try stop the back tire, the
pedal just spins around backwards. In other words, the foot brake does not
stop the back tire. Does this bike only come with a front brake? My other
bike, had only a back brake, operated by pedaling backwards a bit. But that
bike had no front brake. I prefer a bike that stops the back tire as
opposed to the front tire. My neighbor, who knows a lot about tractor
mechanics, said the back brake was busted, but he could fix it. My uncle
said no, but suggested moving the hand brake to the back of the bike, so
that it squeezes on the back tire. In fact, he noticed that there was a
mounting hole in the back so that the brake could be moved to that location.
But this introduces another problem - the brake cable would be too short to
reach all the way to the back of the bike, so the hand bar brake lever would
have to be moved to the frame, just below the seat. Do most people
generally put the brake on the front tire or on the back tire? I prefer a
bike that stops the back tire as opposed to the front tire. What would you
do? Also, how do you get the gears to change?

"Brian" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:410c8077$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Sheldon Brown's site (previously posted) is a good place to start.
>
> Keep us posted (pun intended)
>
> BTW: is the crank a single piece? (ie: the pedalcranks and crankshaft are
> the same piece of metal) If not, are the cranks held on the crankshaft
with
> cotter pins? Just how old IS this beast??
>
>

08-01-2004, 12:40 AM

Thank you for all your help fixing my new bike. And special thanks to my
cousin Darline Tucker, who typed these questions into the computer.

One more question, if you would be so very kind. This Raleigh bike has a
front tire brake, connected to a lever on the left hand bar that squeezes on
the front tire to stop the bike. But when I try stop the back tire, the
pedal just spins around backwards. In other words, the foot brake does not
stop the back tire. Does this bike only come with a front brake? My other
bike, had only a back brake, operated by pedaling backwards a bit. But that
bike had no front brake. I prefer a bike that stops the back tire as
opposed to the front tire. My neighbor, who knows a lot about tractor
mechanics, said the back brake was busted, but he could fix it. My uncle
said no, but suggested moving the hand brake to the back of the bike, so
that it squeezes on the back tire. In fact, he noticed that there was a
mounting hole in the back so that the brake could be moved to that location.
But this introduces another problem - the brake cable would be too short to
reach all the way to the back of the bike, so the hand bar brake lever would
have to be moved to the frame, just below the seat. Do most people
generally put the brake on the front tire or on the back tire? I prefer a
bike that stops the back tire as opposed to the front tire. What would you
do? Also, how do you get the gears to change?

"Brian" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:410c8077$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Sheldon Brown's site (previously posted) is a good place to start.
>
> Keep us posted (pun intended)
>
> BTW: is the crank a single piece? (ie: the pedalcranks and crankshaft are
> the same piece of metal) If not, are the cranks held on the crankshaft
with
> cotter pins? Just how old IS this beast??
>
>

08-01-2004, 01:41 AM

Why are you really trying to fix this bike. It sounds like it has too many
problems. You can usually find old bikes that work for very little money.
I live in upstate NY and have an old 10 speed that works, I would sell you
for $20 if you come pick it up.

Ed

"Doug Blaisdell" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Thank you for all your help fixing my new bike. And special thanks to my
> cousin Darline Tucker, who typed these questions into the computer.
>
> One more question, if you would be so very kind. This Raleigh bike has a
> front tire brake, connected to a lever on the left hand bar that squeezes
on
> the front tire to stop the bike. But when I try stop the back tire, the
> pedal just spins around backwards. In other words, the foot brake does
not
> stop the back tire. Does this bike only come with a front brake? My
other
> bike, had only a back brake, operated by pedaling backwards a bit. But
that
> bike had no front brake. I prefer a bike that stops the back tire as
> opposed to the front tire. My neighbor, who knows a lot about tractor
> mechanics, said the back brake was busted, but he could fix it. My uncle
> said no, but suggested moving the hand brake to the back of the bike, so
> that it squeezes on the back tire. In fact, he noticed that there was a
> mounting hole in the back so that the brake could be moved to that
location.
> But this introduces another problem - the brake cable would be too short
to
> reach all the way to the back of the bike, so the hand bar brake lever
would
> have to be moved to the frame, just below the seat. Do most people
> generally put the brake on the front tire or on the back tire? I prefer a
> bike that stops the back tire as opposed to the front tire. What would you
> do? Also, how do you get the gears to change?
>
>
>
>
> "Brian" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:410c8077$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> > Sheldon Brown's site (previously posted) is a good place to start.
> >
> > Keep us posted (pun intended)
> >
> > BTW: is the crank a single piece? (ie: the pedalcranks and crankshaft
are
> > the same piece of metal) If not, are the cranks held on the crankshaft
> with
> > cotter pins? Just how old IS this beast??
> >
> >
>
>

08-01-2004, 01:41 AM

Why are you really trying to fix this bike. It sounds like it has too many
problems. You can usually find old bikes that work for very little money.
I live in upstate NY and have an old 10 speed that works, I would sell you
for $20 if you come pick it up.

Ed

"Doug Blaisdell" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Thank you for all your help fixing my new bike. And special thanks to my
> cousin Darline Tucker, who typed these questions into the computer.
>
> One more question, if you would be so very kind. This Raleigh bike has a
> front tire brake, connected to a lever on the left hand bar that squeezes
on
> the front tire to stop the bike. But when I try stop the back tire, the
> pedal just spins around backwards. In other words, the foot brake does
not
> stop the back tire. Does this bike only come with a front brake? My
other
> bike, had only a back brake, operated by pedaling backwards a bit. But
that
> bike had no front brake. I prefer a bike that stops the back tire as
> opposed to the front tire. My neighbor, who knows a lot about tractor
> mechanics, said the back brake was busted, but he could fix it. My uncle
> said no, but suggested moving the hand brake to the back of the bike, so
> that it squeezes on the back tire. In fact, he noticed that there was a
> mounting hole in the back so that the brake could be moved to that
location.
> But this introduces another problem - the brake cable would be too short
to
> reach all the way to the back of the bike, so the hand bar brake lever
would
> have to be moved to the frame, just below the seat. Do most people
> generally put the brake on the front tire or on the back tire? I prefer a
> bike that stops the back tire as opposed to the front tire. What would you
> do? Also, how do you get the gears to change?
>
>
>
>
> "Brian" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:410c8077$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> > Sheldon Brown's site (previously posted) is a good place to start.
> >
> > Keep us posted (pun intended)
> >
> > BTW: is the crank a single piece? (ie: the pedalcranks and crankshaft
are
> > the same piece of metal) If not, are the cranks held on the crankshaft
> with
> > cotter pins? Just how old IS this beast??
> >
> >
>
>

08-01-2004, 01:41 AM

Why are you really trying to fix this bike. It sounds like it has too many
problems. You can usually find old bikes that work for very little money.
I live in upstate NY and have an old 10 speed that works, I would sell you
for $20 if you come pick it up.

Ed

"Doug Blaisdell" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Thank you for all your help fixing my new bike. And special thanks to my
> cousin Darline Tucker, who typed these questions into the computer.
>
> One more question, if you would be so very kind. This Raleigh bike has a
> front tire brake, connected to a lever on the left hand bar that squeezes
on
> the front tire to stop the bike. But when I try stop the back tire, the
> pedal just spins around backwards. In other words, the foot brake does
not
> stop the back tire. Does this bike only come with a front brake? My
other
> bike, had only a back brake, operated by pedaling backwards a bit. But
that
> bike had no front brake. I prefer a bike that stops the back tire as
> opposed to the front tire. My neighbor, who knows a lot about tractor
> mechanics, said the back brake was busted, but he could fix it. My uncle
> said no, but suggested moving the hand brake to the back of the bike, so
> that it squeezes on the back tire. In fact, he noticed that there was a
> mounting hole in the back so that the brake could be moved to that
location.
> But this introduces another problem - the brake cable would be too short
to
> reach all the way to the back of the bike, so the hand bar brake lever
would
> have to be moved to the frame, just below the seat. Do most people
> generally put the brake on the front tire or on the back tire? I prefer a
> bike that stops the back tire as opposed to the front tire. What would you
> do? Also, how do you get the gears to change?
>
>
>
>
> "Brian" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:410c8077$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> > Sheldon Brown's site (previously posted) is a good place to start.
> >
> > Keep us posted (pun intended)
> >
> > BTW: is the crank a single piece? (ie: the pedalcranks and crankshaft
are
> > the same piece of metal) If not, are the cranks held on the crankshaft
> with
> > cotter pins? Just how old IS this beast??
> >
> >
>
>

08-01-2004, 01:41 AM

Why are you really trying to fix this bike. It sounds like it has too many
problems. You can usually find old bikes that work for very little money.
I live in upstate NY and have an old 10 speed that works, I would sell you
for $20 if you come pick it up.

Ed

"Doug Blaisdell" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Thank you for all your help fixing my new bike. And special thanks to my
> cousin Darline Tucker, who typed these questions into the computer.
>
> One more question, if you would be so very kind. This Raleigh bike has a
> front tire brake, connected to a lever on the left hand bar that squeezes
on
> the front tire to stop the bike. But when I try stop the back tire, the
> pedal just spins around backwards. In other words, the foot brake does
not
> stop the back tire. Does this bike only come with a front brake? My
other
> bike, had only a back brake, operated by pedaling backwards a bit. But
that
> bike had no front brake. I prefer a bike that stops the back tire as
> opposed to the front tire. My neighbor, who knows a lot about tractor
> mechanics, said the back brake was busted, but he could fix it. My uncle
> said no, but suggested moving the hand brake to the back of the bike, so
> that it squeezes on the back tire. In fact, he noticed that there was a
> mounting hole in the back so that the brake could be moved to that
location.
> But this introduces another problem - the brake cable would be too short
to
> reach all the way to the back of the bike, so the hand bar brake lever
would
> have to be moved to the frame, just below the seat. Do most people
> generally put the brake on the front tire or on the back tire? I prefer a
> bike that stops the back tire as opposed to the front tire. What would you
> do? Also, how do you get the gears to change?
>
>
>
>
> "Brian" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:410c8077$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> > Sheldon Brown's site (previously posted) is a good place to start.
> >
> > Keep us posted (pun intended)
> >
> > BTW: is the crank a single piece? (ie: the pedalcranks and crankshaft
are
> > the same piece of metal) If not, are the cranks held on the crankshaft
> with
> > cotter pins? Just how old IS this beast??
> >
> >
>
>