Viscount bicycles!!

[WrightsW5]

It's looking good overall, any saddle with perforations it will often be their weak point, so a normal situation.

[busaste]

Hello everyone,

My first posting on this forum, what a thread! The reason for my visit..... I'm the proud new owner of a Viscount Aerospace Sport.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Viscount-Lambert-Aerospace-Sport-10-speed-classic-tourer-1970-1980s-/251452045818?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=AbG8LbzM6z%252BcBac9ILgiQ%252BT1sz0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Frame number is 564079 - can anyone take a stab at the year from the ad and frame number?

I'm looking for some period tyres, a suitably aged black Brooks and and a canvas saddlebag. The gears need to be adjusted and it's ready to roll.

Happy Bunny!!

Regards

Alyn

Hi Alyn

Welcome!

Your bike dates from either 1975 or 1976. And a lovely thing it is too!

For tyres try Schwalbe or Panaracer who both make gumwall types. Highly recommended! It would be nice to see you at the DFR 2 in June - it's a proper Viscount blow out.

Cheers!

[Hunterliney]

Hi Alyn

Welcome!

Your bike dates from either 1975 or 1976. And a lovely thing it is too!

For tyres try Schwalbe or Panaracer who both make gumwall types. Highly recommended! It would be nice to see you at the DFR 2 in June - it's a proper Viscount blow out.

Cheers![/quote]

Thanks busaste,

it dates back to the time I joined the RAF then........ Wow! Doesn't time fly....... it's worn better than me! (and most of the aircraft from that era)

I have Schwalbe's on the Dawes, they are a reputable brand, but I'll spend some time and give the rims a good clean first!

I'm getting used to seeing the downtube without badges........ it may outrage the purists, but I'm seriously thinking of leaving them off and just going with the head tube shield.

I'm also liking the look of a tan B17 perched atop the Birmalux - and thinking about "balancing" that with some brown leather bar tape.

Decisions! I shall make haste slowly.

I hope to make the rally, there are a number of interesting bikes and owners that I would like ,very much, to meet.

Thanks for the info, I'm sure I shall be back shortly with yet more questions.

Regards

Alyn

[Hunterliney]

Schwalbes are ordered along with new tubes - need to pick up some rim tape.

And some more questions........

I've noticed some play in the rear wheel when it's still clamped in the frame. - grasping the wheel at the top i can move rock it a couple of mm. The front seems O.K.

Question..............I have found a "how to" for the front wheel bearings, but so far nothing for the rear - any pointers?

Question.............Am I right in thinking I need 2 x 6000 - 2RS bearings (same as for the front) and some bearing lock?

Question............. Any difference in the method of tightening the skewers because of these particular bearings?

I'm not going to tear it down until the tyres arrive, so I want to make sure I've got everything, and some knowledge of what I need to do before I start.

Thanks in advance,

Al

[StellaLdn.]

Hi Stella,

I shall have to pass on the ride I'm afraid, I live in Rugby. (Hope to get to see people at the Death Fork Rally)

The bike has had a new fork fitted, by the second owner, who apparently serviced it and fitted all new cables. Judging by the cracked tyres he didn't ride it. I have contacted the first owner who vouches for the provenance of the bike.

It will take me a while to sort the bike and build up to riding it any distance. It's part of my occupational therapy and recovery.

I suffered a couple of what were initially diagnosed as TIAs (Mini-strokes) at the beginning of last September and have been off work since. The medics are now getting to the bottom of it and the prognosis is good. My Doc thought that cycling would be beneficial, so I recommissioned my old Trek, sourced a Dawes Karakum, a gas pipe Raleigh and a Turbo Trainer. The Trek took me a month to service - at that time I was sleeping about 16 hours a day.

The Viscount Aerospace is something I read up on a few years ago and struck a chord when I was looking on E-bay. (One of the legacies of last Septembers episodes is a poor short term and gaps in long term memory. I think this is improving - I dismantled the same pedal three times on the Trek) I decided to start searching for one - the size was going to be the problem, I'm 6'5" - and I got lucky!

Apologies to you and anyone else reading this, I also tend to loose track and ramble...... er what was the question?

What a great bike and an interesting group of riders.

Regards

Alyn

I just saw that I've mistaken your bike. Ha! The one you have is exactly the same as I have, skip tooth freewheel and Maxy chainset. Beautiful and definitely in better nick than mine.

Hope to see you on the DFR2. I will come with a very different bike. A Viscount, of course, but it's not built yet.

[StellaLdn.]

Schwalbes are ordered along with new tubes - need to pick up some rim tape.

And some more questions........

I've noticed some play in the rear wheel when it's still clamped in the frame. - grasping the wheel at the top i can move rock it a couple of mm. The front seems O.K.
Sounds as if the bearings are worn, which isn't a big problem; if the hubs are worn (where the bearings sit in), however, that's a tad more complicated. Another problem could be that the axle's broken (if I'm not mistaken, then they're alloy), but you'll only find out if you dismantle it. In any case, you better get yourself some loctite 641, which is especially for bearings. (Thanks, Busaste.) It's not the cheapest stuff, but money well spent.

Question..............I have found a "how to" for the front wheel bearings, but so far nothing for the rear - any pointers?

Same as the front, really.

Question.............Am I right in thinking I need 2 x 6000 - 2RS bearings (same as for the front) and some bearing lock?

No, the rear axle and the inner diametre of the bearings is larger. The outer is the same. Can't, for the life of me, remember. Best to measure the old one and order accordingly. I learned the hard way, hence having two 6000RS knocking about. Not that it's a problem as I have two hubs to sort out.

Question............. Any difference in the method of tightening the skewers because of these particular bearings?

No, just normal tightening should be fine. Hand-tight and you're good to go.

I'm not going to tear it down until the tyres arrive, so I want to make sure I've got everything, and some knowledge of what I need to do before I start.
By the way, I second Busaste's suggestion of Panaracers 27 1 1/4. Great amber-walled tyres and puncture resistant.

Thanks in advance,

Al

[Hunterliney]

Thanks Stella,

I've taken the rear wheel out, It feels gritty when spun. I've dropped in at my LBS..... they don't have a tool for the freewheel, but are ringing around to see if they can get hold of one ........... should I be worried?

Can anyone recommend an "Aerospace Sport friendly" shop in the midlands - near Rugby?

Regards

Al

[drossall]

Where are you? People on here have lots of freewheel tools (I do, for one). It won't be Viscount-specific; do you know what the freewheel is? If necessary, start a separate thread appealing for the loan of an XYZ freewheel tool in abc-shire.

[StellaLdn.]

Oh, gee, yes, I remember. The freewheel tool is smaller in diametre. I was lucky as VBC has such a tool.

One thought: let them check the chain first. If the chain's worn beyond 1, then you can bin the freewheel anyway. If you need to bin it, you can try to dismantle it with a centre punch and hammer, then put it in a vice. Click on the link in my signature, that's how we did it with a different freewheel.

Hope, though, that you don't need to replace it; they're rare and rather beautiful, those inch-pitches.

[Goldie]

If it's the "old" Shimano pattern freewheel that you've got, I have the right freewheel removal tool (which I think is also the one that Stella's referring to). I'm in Manchester if you need to borrow it.

[StellaLdn.]

If it's the "old" Shimano pattern freewheel that you've got, I have the right freewheel removal tool (which I think is also the one that Stella's referring to). I'm in Manchester if you need to borrow it.

I think VAR makes them. I wanted to check with them.

[drossall]

VAR catalogue (PDF) here (English site not yet working). They have some removers for older freewheels (round about page 32) that even Park Tools don't offer.

A good LBS should be able to order either, if they are not in stock.

[Hunterliney]

Thanks for the replies.

Although an engineer, I'm a novice when it comes to the intricacies of working on classic bikes. My knowledge of which components are compatible, desirable or barge-pole avoidable is nil. However, straight-forward component replacement and set up are within my capabilities. My annual mileage will be small, so jobs requiring specialist tools and knowledge will be put into the hands of those who I can trust. I am not going to do the work often enough to get proficient at doing it. I still travel up from Rugby to Swadlincote (servicing & mechanical repairs) or Nottingham (ECU mapping) for work on my car - because I trust the guys who do the work.

My LBS are under instruction not to damage the freewheel - it's a skip tooth and integral to the bikes charm and character.They told me they would make some phone calls, so I shall give them a ring later on today and see if they've managed to find someone with a tool locally. If not. we'll take it from there.

I guess that when the guy behind the counter is younger than the bike it doesn't inspire confidence! (Similar experience in A & E last year with a doctor who looked younger than some of my sixth form students) - I'm getting (or more correctly have gotten) old!

Thanks again

Regards

Al

[Sooper8]

I still travel up from Rugby to Swadlincote (servicing & mechanical repairs) or Nottingham (ECU mapping) for work on my car - because I trust the guys who do the work.

l

Al,
I am up near Swad in Burton on Trent, next time you're up let me know

[StellaLdn.]

Don't say that, Al; just because he's much younger than the bike, doesn't mean he can't be enthusiastic. I know quite a few younger guys who have enthusiasm for bikes in general, and a few who just needed to know about Viscounts' special features to learn to appreciate them more. I always tell people that they're a piece of British (well, English) history and therefore should be protected.