Raleigh Richmond

[CRB]

In a moment of weakness I have offered to sort out a friends bicycle, very similar to the one pictured.

It looks like it needs a bit of a clean, cobwebs and so on, possibly new tubes but I will inflate them up first to check, and the brakes and 5 gears adjusting.

The original pedals, mudguards, bell, sidestand, saddle and reflectors still adorn this rather attractive velocipede. A front rack, new pump, and dynamo have been added, along with a wind-up light set which now does not appear to function. I had one similar and it did not last long at all.

It looks cool even lying down in the car.

Better get started, I am even getting remuneration.

 

[chunkolini]

Look for crackled sidewalls on the tyres and if it has been sat for years pop new inner and outer gear cables on.
How does the wind up light set work? does it shout **** at every motorist coming too close.

MOD - edited for language

 

[pedrobedro]

How does the wind up light set work? does it shout **** at every motorist coming too close.

I think he means a dynamo that rubs on the tyre, I have one on my folder bike and it knocks 5mph off my top speed

 

[CRB]

Both dynamo and wind-up, though not Mr Pottymouths' version.

The dynamo is a Cibie though it has sadly lost its' rear light. Running it against a drill chuck showed no charge, but I will look into that further.

Wind-up is PowerPlus , and does not work at all. Regarding the question from the love-struck teenager gentleman at the back. The front light has a folding handle, it then plugs into a cradle on the handlebars, which in turn feeds the rear light via wires. Full on or flashing modes. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Draper-Re...3&pid=100005&rk=4&rkt=6&sd=221731652461&rt=nc
Just an example.

Bad news. I removed the rear wheel and found the axle had snapped just after the loose end and a couple of balls had dropped. Ooooerr. Still have not found one of them.

 

[CRB]

Cibie dynamo bits, just one headlight though.

The dynamo itself turns freely but I cannot figure whether or not there is juice being generated.

The rear dérailleur has lost its' gear teeth, the chain though dirty, is not knackered.

 

[Rocketman]

The rear dérailleur has lost its' gear teeth, the chain though dirty, is not knackered.

Have you checked the stretch on the chain, I've had a bike before that was a whole link length stretched.

There has been a few times in the last year or so I wished I didn't sell a special products Raleigh bike I had.

BTW nice looking bike.

 

[CRB]

Not my bike Rocketman but it is considerably closer to what you see there, now.

Rear tyre is too worn and has cracks, so that is another item to be replaced.

Chain, front sprocket and cluster are showing no wear, just hideously hacky dirty.

The freewheel sound awful, but is not wobbling, and is clicking and driving when it should, so I will see if a cleaning out helps. Just need a tool.

 

[Cobbler]

You should be able to get a replacement spindle ok, I've changed several over the years, the balls should be 1/4" from memory, any bike shop would have those.

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

Is the frame OK? Wife has a Raleigh Richmond with Reynolds 531 frame, which was reckoned to be top quality material when the bike was new (30 years ago). I do remember being told that 531 tubing needs great care to avoid over-heating, and that any brazing work is best left to a professional.

Looks like a Reynolds decal just below the saddle in your photo, the green bit would have the 531 number.

 

[CRB]

You should be able to get a replacement spindle ok, I've changed several over the years, the balls should be 1/4" from memory, any bike shop would have those.

£5.00 so not worth even thinking about making. The bearings are about £2 a set too.

Is the frame OK? Wife has a Raleigh Richmond with Reynolds 531 frame, which was reckoned to be top quality material when the bike was new (30 years ago). I do remember being told that 531 tubing needs great care to avoid over-heating, and that any brazing work is best left to a professional.

Looks like a Reynolds decal just below the saddle in your photo, the green bit would have the 531 number.

The frame appears good, the wobbliness I felt was the snapped rear axle. Bottom bracket and headstock are good, no movement, except in the required directions.
The mudguards have to be fixed to the frame for fear of them floating off.

Proper question.

I cannot find anything on the rear dérailleur to tell me a model number, just SunTour. I have found various resources, catalogues etc but I also do not know the year of manufacture.
I need to replace the jockey wheels but might just see if Shimano ones are suitable.

 

[pedrobedro]

I cannot find anything on the rear dérailleur to tell me a model number, just SunTour. I have found various resources, catalogues etc but I also do not know the year of manufacture.
I need to replace the jockey wheels but might just see if Shimano ones are suitable.

You can get Suntour pulleys on ebay, Bullseye do some but they are expensive. They are a smaller centre than Shimano but some Campag might fit and if you find an old Suntour set they are supposed to all use the same size.

 

[CRB]

You can get Suntour pulleys on ebay, Bullseye do some but they are expensive. They are a smaller centre than Shimano but some Campag might fit and if you find an old Suntour set they are supposed to all use the same size.

An American conversion kit.

This conversion set consist of: 2 new Shimano 10 tooth plastic/nylon
black jockey wheels + 2 new, custom made, stainless steel wheel
bushings and 4 wheel caps....that will fit your vintage Suntour or
Simplex derailleurs that use 6 mm, outside diameter,
jockey wheel bolts.

Also available as 11z, naturally I need one of each, 10z and 11z.

I can see some turning being done.

 

[CRB]

After a morning out and about I got a new axle for the rear hub. All back together and .......the hub is bent I suppose when the axle snapped the hub was the next thing to go, naturally the rim is deformed from true but looks worse than it probably is.

A visit to David will get his answer to the question ?What next?

He has already said he is not wanting lights since it is only getting used for a few miles every now and then. This could mean I have a Cibie bottle dynamo set, not that I have it fixed yet.

 

[chunkolini]

Another 'sort out my 'cheap' bike' mission.
Always costs a fortune and takes ages.

 

[colnerov]

Another 'sort out my 'cheap' bike' mission.
Always costs a fortune and takes ages.

Hi, yes, it always the poxy little jobs and the "while your there", and the "can you just".

Colin

 

[CRB]

After tea, I started looking at the dynamo, which he is not bothered about since it was not working and the rear light was removed for his topbag. A bit of cleaning of contacts and checking continuity and bingo I have a fully working set. I would love to put up a little video but no account on YouTube and no camera screws that one. The finish on the front light has faded badly, no shiny chrome like the ones pictured above, but the light is bright if basic. No stand light means having to use proper powered lights too at night anyway.

The wind-up set are working fine with 6V DC in them but the rechargeable cells are losing charge as quickly as I can wind the handle. The cell/s are 3.6V 80mah about 12dia x 20 long. Since the lights operate on DC I might offer to wire them from a rechargeable battery. The price of some of them it is almost worth replacing the cells.

 

[chunkolini]

Just buy a cheapo set of LED lights.

 

[CRB]

I got some tichy LED USB rechargeables to back up the B&M dynamo, brilliant in all senses or the word, but it is not my bike or call.

 

[CRB]

All done and delivered this morning to a happy chap who can do his Sunday rides now.

I had to do a test ride, and it felt really odd after riding a proper bike, recumbent you numpties, but not as uncomfortable as I expected. The bars felt low and there is a lot of weight on the wrists.

A bit of pocket money, but I thoroughly enjoyed doing it, not as mucky as the LT or as heavy and I did not have to lie down to get underneath.