My new (1950s) tandem

[Simon.J.Crossley]

Hi all,
This is my first post on here, I thought I would tap into the wealth of knowledge within the member of this forum. I have attached a few pic's of my new tandem. Which I thinking looks pretty original if you ignore the wheels.

Current observations:

Handles nicely after a short test ride
The tyres are 40c on 700c rims which are tight to say the least.
paint work although battered is believed original
Someone bodged a rear mech on badly

My current hit list

Change tyres for 32c marathons
Change rear seat so the stoker stop complaining
add chain tugs (have already put a solid axle on) possible with mech hander
Find out why the cranks are 1/2" further out on one side and if this will be an issue
investigate the possibility of using modern brakes if i can find the right drop.

Things i'd like to do.....re enamel...middleburn cranks....new headset

[thirdcrank]

One of our tandem experts MikewsMITH2 will have some of the answers. I think he has recently been researching that style of 'clip' headset and I think that may be where your problem lies, in that I don't think there is a straight swap modern replacement and the originals are in rocking horse doo dah territory. Assuming the frame is a genuine Claud USWB, it may well be worth more than the bits somebody else has fitted later.

[loiner]

A short wheelbase Claude, great, good luck with the renovation.

[Simon.J.Crossley]

I cant see any reason why it wouldn't be genuine, I did a bit of googleing and found the original catalog, it seems to be fillet welded which was an option (apparently)

I have noted the headset issue at the moment it seems ok if not a little stiff.

Another thing is the 125mm rear spacing does anyone know who might do a 40/48 hole hub to suit.

[MikewsMITH2]

This is certainly a nice bike which would repay the investment in terms of pleaseure at any rate. For spares your first stop should be the Tandem Club Techical spares service http://www.tandem-club.org.uk/_clubshop.htm Or a call to the Technical Spares Officer

Ian Fulcher
5 Woolley Road
Stockwood
Bristol, BS14 8SR.
Telephone: 01275 831992
email: Technical Sales Officer.

They should certainly be able to help with your headset and bottom brackets.

[scottg]

The crank being farther out ?, maybe the spindle is for a bike with a chaincase.

The headclip is looks like 1.5in, they do show up on Ebay every once in a while and go for silly money.
Good news is the races are heat treated and very very long wearing. Headclip stems are different,
no expanded bolt in the stem, the bolt on the top race clamps the stem in place, you can use
a regular stem with the expander bolt removed most of the time. Some headclip stems are
22mm in diameter, instead of the modern 22.2.

Phil Wood does odd spacing hub on request, 40/48 hole hubs for freewheels are available.

Tektro does long and xtra long reach dual pivot brakes, new levers are highly recommended.
http://www.tektro.com/02products/10rb-1.php

[MikewsMITH2]

£28.65


£7.00 each

Not too silly money, Not genuine Brampton though

[Simon.J.Crossley]

Would one of these work, it would be fitted in reverse to the norm ?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... odelID=249
any thoughts ?