Steel Frame Repairs near Derby?

[Ugly]

The Moulton Bicycle Club, offer a rear forks repair service, plus a number of spares. I'm not a member but it seems worthwhile if you are restoring.

[rogerzilla]

I had one of their repaired forks but didn't think much of it. It just had all the joints rebrazed with bigger brass fillets (most are actually welded at the factory, so it's adding brass over a weld). Moulton Preservation claim no repaired forks have ever failed but I broke a perfectly sound pair of series 1 forks in original condition (all the paint was cleaned off and the metal checked for cracks before repainting) in about 100 miles, so the design is very, very weak and I believe more is required for an F-frame in more than occasional use.

To strengthen them properly, the stress riser where the "cup" meets the underside of the stay needs to be eliminated by adding some kind of gusset.

Argos Racing Cycles know how to strengthen them. Alternatively, fit some series 2 rear forks. These don't crack but they are heavier and raise the rear end by 3/4", which can be annoying around town.

To show how weak the series 1 design is:

Uncracked fork (a Bradford-on-Avon built, brazed example, which is supposed to be better than the ones CO2 welded at Kirkby).

After respray and 100 miles on typical country lanes.

That frame now has a series 2 fork.

[deeferdonk]

Just returning to this thread after a few days with an update.

I have sent the rear frame to the Moulton preservation folks for repair (Rogerzilla - I hadn't seen your post but sounds like fair comment and note the inherent design flaw but as the bike will only get occasional light use i think i can live with that)

As for the ugly weld on the seat tube I've decided to live with it - it appears to be pretty solid. I note the comments that I could chuck it and get a much better condition frame for not much cash, and agree. However the bike has sentimental value, we recovered it from the belongings of a relative who has obviously ridden the cr@p out of it in his younger days, got it poorly patched and continued to ride it until it got relegated to the back of his shed for us to unearth some decades later. (including an original rack bag attached with binder twine as the straps had come off). I couldn't chuck it and I do really like its honest beat up condition.

Apart from the rear fork repair i'm just stripping the bike down, cleaning it, get it shifting and braking ok, a light coating of linseed oil to maintain its patina/damage without further rusting, and keep it as it is. I'll just use it to potter down to the other end of the village to see my folks. I might take it to some classic motor meets i go to.

Unfortunately (?) messing about with this has got me interested in Moultons and I put a half hearted snipe on an ebay auction for a TSR - which I ended up winning, and should now be with the post man making its way to me. So apologies in advance for any future posts when i have any issues with that!

[Mick F]

Good luck with the TSR!
As a TSR owner of many years, I must add that they are heavy. Great design, but seems to be as heavy as cast iron, which is a great pity. Good ride though, and thank goodness for the suspension.
Keep a good eye on the rear suspension pivot, and grease it regularly. Give me a shout regarding the pivot renewal. Long story, but I mean it, give me a shout.

Talking of heavy frames, I was privileged to own a 1971 Raleigh Chopper ............... long story, but I did a JOGLE on it.
It was HEAVY.
Good design, but made from something heavier than cast iron!

I often thought that I could - if I had the money - get someone to make a Chopper from a lightweight metal.
Ditto the TSR. Great bike, but needs to be made with a lightweight metal, and not cast iron!

[Mick F]

TSR rear pivot.
viewtopic.php?t=119553

[rogerzilla]

I don't think my TSR is especially heavy but I run it as a 1 x 9, which means getting out of the saddle on hills, which means pogoing. It's also a caliper brake version.

I built a sub-10kg (with pedals!) F-frame this year. It rides really well, even if a singlespeed isn't the most practical bike.

[deeferdonk]

TSR rear pivot.
viewtopic.php?t=119553

Thanks Mick. That looks like something i need to check once recieved - and that i need to invest in a grease gun. I hope the pivot bolts come out a bit easier than on my F frame, which appears to have been put together by someone with a grease allergy.

I got a card through the door yesterday which i assume was an attempted delivery of the moulton so am off to the parcelforce depot later to pick it up. Buying a bike unseen off the internet, whats the worse that could happen!?

[deeferdonk]

Good luck with the TSR!
As a TSR owner of many years, I must add that they are heavy.

the one i'm getting is an 8 speed sturmey archer hub so will be a bit of a lump at the back, although i'm a heavy guy who generally rides heavy bikes (that i then make heavier by adding racks and dynamos etc) so hopefully it won't seem so heavy to myself.

Plus i'm on a diet so the bike (+rider) should hopefully be getting lighter in the coming weeks.

[deeferdonk]

I built a sub-10kg (with pedals!) F-frame this year. It rides really well, even if a singlespeed isn't the most practical bike.

Nice build Roger - kudos!