So,
Friend of mine has acquired an ageing BSO and in a fit of stupidity I've offered to get it rolling again. On inspection it is, well, rotten.
Budget is 'nothing at all' pretty much, cos it's not really worth spending any real money on; the thinking is, if she gets on with it she'll buy a decent one. Nonetheless I've stripped and rebuilt it over a number of evenings, for the grand cost of a fresh can of TF2. Regular readers of the Other Place will know I'm a practical sort of bloke, but the last time I did any serious bike fettling was on a Raleigh Boxer back when I was still in short pants. So, it's been an interesting learning experience.
Anyway. I've just taken the front hub to bits as it was locked nearly solid. I've packed it with grease (there was none at all) but it's the old threaded bar with cones and locknuts and I got to thinking, if she gets a puncture she's buggered.
So, question is, is it possible to (cheaply) directly replace the axle with a QR skewer, or is it a wholly different system with the hub being incompatible?
Cheers.
Ye Olde Bike Wing Nuts
Hah, seriously?
This is the Purple [s]Nasty[/s] Peril, btw.
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you can probably thread the same cones and locknuts on a hollow spindle to get a QR compatible wheel- available from old skool lbs. Or simply carry a spanner
Agree with TJ spanner is prob the cheapest, however a quick Google has thrown up these as an example
Worth a try by going into an LBS that's been open for a long time, it's amazing some of the classics gathering dust on a shelf in them.
Ah, right - so I'd ostensibly need to replace the axle with a drilled version of the same thing? Hm, ok.
TBH, if it's going to be a big job breaking out then I'll just suggest carrying a spanner. I was trying to avoid that if possible, but it's really not worth a huge amount of faff or expense.
Pick up a multi spanner pretty cheap, as a kid you used them for all bicycle repairs
One size fits none (-:
If it helps, I've just spotted the hub claims to be a "HB-CT90." Google would suggest this is part of an Altus groupset of circa 1996 vintage.
[url= http://sports.shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=front+axle+hollow&_sacat=7294&_sop=10&_odkw=q%2Fr+axle&_osacat=7294&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313 ]There you go![/url]
I've done the opposite in the past - replaced q/r axles with solid, mainly because on my main bike I run a 20mm thru-axle and the idea of running a q/r on the front of my commute/shopping bike scares me to death 😆 . Pretty simple swap.
Looks like [url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Weldtite-Hollow-QR-Front-Wheel-Hub-Axle-9-0-x-108mm-/180630174943 ]this one[/url] is exactly what I need (assuming it's the right size, I've not measured anything yet). Good spot, tar.
Would [url= http://www.evanscycles.com/products/outland/alloy-quick-release-wheel-skewers-ec011272 ]this[/url] and [url= http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fisher/cyclo-q-r-front-axle-ec023002 ]this[/url] be what I need, do we think?
I've now measured the hub and it looks like it's 108mm measured between the outsides of the fork dropouts. I can't see any measurements listed for the skewer there though. Hmm.
just buy some of the inner tubes that are essentially a snake of rubber rather than a circle, no need to remove tyre totally or wheel at all
Cougar - MemberWould this and this be what I need, do we think?
Yep, those should do the job just fine. You could even get away with just the hollow axle (without the cones and nuts) and use the existing ones if they're not seized, so long as the thread is the same (irc some older axles used a different thread size).
That don't look too bad actually. A lot nicer than some of the nastiness that you see around. Might be a bit heavy, but it looks a decent enough bike for pootling around on.
Trouble is, it will cost loads to 'upgrade', and is it really worth it? The sort of thing you'd use as a spares box project; when you get something like a lighter bar or seatpost or crank or whatever, swap it over.
Set of v-brakes would improve it no end.
it will cost loads to 'upgrade', and is it really worth it?
No, it's not, and I made this clear to the owner at the outset. For what it'll cost to make it "good," she can buy a BSO that, whilst crap, will at least be in good condition and have spares that didn't stop being manufactured 15 years ago.
The thrust of the exercise for me was to do someone a favour and get some mechanicing practice in. For her, it's something she wants to use to try and (re?)discover cycling without potentially wasting a load of money.
She's blogged about her plans for it [url= http://viewfromaterrace.wordpress.com ]here[/url] if you're interested. It's going on a 40k charity run shortly. Eep.