[Closed] For The Love of Bikes- restoring a 1960's tandem in a week

Progress is going pretty well given that I got shipped to London for the last two days for work.

I've rubbed down and started shining up the major components, which I knew would be the most time consuming bit.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QlXdbvBYwL9JabJXrc4dedYJiWfwDJn1Pf5eTUyl74Zn=w558-h900-no [/img]

The smaller components are being treated to some Hammerite rust remover gel, which is essentially flubber.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8gTTpHn-shrMIMh07dM6l7b5uDrWA5Pnp_Hd_uGsgBIG=w558-h900-no [/img]

I have also gone about polishing the frame and restoring the saddles.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ecDo4Doa2MiKNFnet9PjxEKgt_MHrv0JtwTA5-AdXc7Q=w558-h900-no [/img]

OMG I've got a semi-on. Keep the pics coming

Great project! Isn't polishing the metal parts woman's work?

Ooooh. I like an interesting project, good luck getting it done in a week...

Neil, despite this being her idea she has said she will do none of the work!

Seems the rust remover is pretty good.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/t87PrCUsT_VZhpXLzYyt0N818kzZ_wWV0C-xTchfexna=w540-h900-no [/img]

Brilliant, I want a tandem, but my argumentative wife says no 😉

Great stuff Luke.
Keep the updates coming.

Like, keep it coming!

Wittcome cycles is still going but moved out of deptford about 5 years ago. I think Barry wittcome was still building up until that time. You might be able to get some more information or them if you give them a ring.

There are a few vintage bike clubs who will be able to advise.

That looks a nice piece of kit. You MAY struggle with brake drop if you can't get 27" wheels in there and have to go to 700.

Also hub spacing likely to be narrower than current frames so be conscious of that too.

I have acquired an old bike with good wheels for £20 that will do for now.

I tried speaking to them about this but they were planning on moving into a factory and becoming the world's biggest bike builder. Then they disappeared off the face of the earth...

You might find that's much older than you think - looks very similar to our Charter Lea Ladyback.

Drop out looks like it's been retro-fitted from a track-end?

Got any pics of the bottom bracket area?

Don't expect it to be anything more than a labour of love. Old tandems are generally rubbish and that's a particularly gruesome design. Doubt it's old enough to be of historic interest either. If you want something to ride, you'd be better off buying one. Sorry to be a wet blanket, but it's the rough equivalent of finding a rusty tesco special in a skip and doing it up...

(looking forward to being shot down in flames)

I'll get some photos of it around there tonight. It's got a really satisfying looking EBB up front.

The earliest it could be if the rear mech, the only part I know much about, is original is 1963, latest around 1965 when they started to use teeth on the jockey wheels.

http://velobase.com/ViewGroup.aspx?GroupID=a5cf3c9b-0e34-4dea-acef-552965141aa5

It can't be any older than 1949, and there's nothing in the design of it to suggest it's that old.

Thecaptain- it's not cost us anything, and I doubt we'll really use it. Buying a new tandem would cost hundreds. And this is really for a one off event.

I am prepared to be absolutely terrified of the brakes.

Looks like a fun project 😀 I used to have a 1960s Claude Butler tandem which was a bit of a rust bucket but was a great fun to ride.

munrobiker - Member
...I am prepared to be absolutely terrified of the brakes.

Looks like fun.

If the brakes are a problem, don't forget that you can fit drum brakes. Work much better than 1950s callipers.

more photos required!

Does look fun, how's progress though? we're on Thursday already...

brilliant thread 🙂 I have had old steel bikes and I've found that once you start updating bits it very quickly becomes an expensive rebuild because nothing matches, so leaving everything the same is the way to go

Epicyclo- I will be sticking with the original brakes because the original hubs, once I get them re-rimmed, are really pretty nice.

Grenosteve- a few hours polishing tonight will see everything ready to put together tomorrow evening. I'll update with some photos of where I am now when I get home, then some more before bedtime.

following with interest as have done similar.
biggest pain though was brakes, no braze ons meant spending ages finding a cheap new drum brake hub...complete waste of time, using my foot would be more effective.
You seem to have canti studs on there so no problem.
Looks like it's already running 700c wheels?
Good luck.

jimfrandisco - Member
...no braze ons meant spending ages finding a cheap new drum brake hub...complete waste of time, using my foot would be more effective...

The only drum I'd stick on the front of a tandem would be the Sturmey-Archer XL-FD.

They need good cables and levers to work properly.

Good levers are definitely lacking here too.

I have used every detailing product I have on the frame. The paint is a bit too shot for it to look good but it is much improved.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_kLcQUV40LNR6UQGtQZccuSwmqlDQQDT2p2imGhiMIIW=w558-h909-no [/img]

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EAOVrbZ6YU_-3UYgI8MjlHhrfSsE_t6Xa1NFKi17zdbB=w432-h999-no [/img]

Here are the BB photos.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Yr7bOP_wHyqlT-lkvlG9FKqeStZ-mXvuuFUgpgoPu97e=w540-h999-no [/img]

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/XN0Kp3xUV2h_oOE7BAlpNMcZvs1Y-kXts9dhsZ5l622t=w744-h999-no [/img]

And the first part to go back on, the rear mech.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/R1uwdX0CmG2bs3yoGYfwuoH6NUAbgUFtwS0bLklldiZE=w540-h999-no [/img]

Enjoying watching the progress on this.

This is another of those threads where we need a "Like" button! Top work!

CaptainFlashheart - Member
This is another of those threads where we need a "Like" button! Top work!

+1 🙂

damn. wish i'd kept mine the colour it was and polished it up - instead i got a very cheap powdercoat job that came out mint green...not quite the classic racing green i was hoping for.
Purple looks great.

Bookmarked.

Good thread this
🙂

Edit, Tim at future cycles in Leicester keeps quite a few vintage parts he salvages off old bikes, give him a call if you're struggling to find anything.

I thought this would be quite handy for my retro build [url= http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s100p2341 ]Modern brake to old fork converter bolt [/url]

Edit - didn't spot you've got cantis!

Great work. Personally I would replace the front set of handlebars if they are aluminium (can;t quite tell from the pics). A friend did up a nice old bike and then hit the deck in traffic when the handlebar sheared...

Everything on it is steel. Everything. You can only imagine the weight...

jimfrandisco- That's what I want to avoid, when I do get around to repainting it it will probably have to be done by Argos or someone similar, not least to get the exact colour back and to ensure it gets the correct decals and badges.

Good bit of inspiration this. I'm about to finally get around to doing up a 1960's Puch for a mate of mine.
Just need to find him some 120mm OLD wheels and i'll be set fair
Also i never knew about that rust removing gunk. Just ordered some 🙂

I found plenty of old Maillard 120mm hubs on fleabay. They build up into nice wheels. Much cheapness.

It is good- I saw it on the shelf in Halfords when I was picking up some steel wool and inner tubes and thought why not?

It's starting to resemble a bike again now!

It's the wheel building i have the issue with. The wheels on the puch have relatively good hubs, but the rim is like a pringle.

And here we go! Taken it for a spin and the ride is definitely interesting- braking has to be planned a long way ahead and the position is bizarre- very tall and very short. Gearing is also lacking but manageable with two people's grunt. Everything has been checked and re-checked for tightness and not-falling-offability and it seems good.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5mYyBeEbJ5-2MN4QmGKZQZzp_Hpvjq6nUJai0kOeLkUq=w1075-h806-no [/img]

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/X6kLfHgzpNl-Em0xbTneI4dYamufXkhOtcPNSrrJYH90=w605-h806-no [/img]

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ViX2mLQWqfdqSrMyF2pFhPKWljAMYji7GNwIpybYm2YE=w1075-h806-no [/img]

You'll be the belles of the ball. Enjoy the day and report back.

You've done a nice job of cleaning that up in just a week.

A good week's work.

Chapeau sir

Great work.

nice one Luke. a pal of mine is riding a tandem at Bakewell this weekend too, with his daughter. keep a eye out for em, and enjoy yourselves.

Well, that was a good do. The stoker's saddle came loose but otherwise the bike survived. The festival was good fun too- not quite as many pretentious arseholes as I'd feared there would be and I still got to wear my "look at me I'm a pretentious arsehole" cycling cap with relative impunity.

We managed to squeeze it into a Skoda Fabia.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ONE8qP3A5Yp12OXODGzeqaPwWE8_B85bEPj8ijuL81vC=w433-h800-no [/img]

Although even better on the way back we got in three of us, the tandem inside and two bikes on the back.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/q7oLraUoHAImeGA7pQ8aPTk3bnAwFhqErclxbtUkbMHp=w1026-h577-no [/img]

We took it along on the family ride on the Monsal Trail and didn't die. Although we did almost run over a child and a dog- it's similar to a hovercraft. If you see something within 50 feet and aren't braking you will hit it.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IjjIVVCQIsHHaVruPkF1JKL6FEzt-6BJt_oV2z7p4_1j=w770-h577-no [/img]

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/524Fn76o3jX2bVERXXt4e8sG0Zm9lo5jZs5TQXNpgO5P=w433-h577-no [/img]

Then my mates had a go. Rob on the front hadn't ridden a tandem before and watching them set off was frankly terrifying.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6L4NuOyCftjsCZxYz0gB_QSsCjYc0f8t4JOHRI7uqmqq=w325-h577-no [/img]

We also took the bike I bought to pinch wheels from- a Sun Solo, which was actually pretty cool. I bodged it up with the wheels off my road bike. Turns out 5 speed chains and worn 10 speed cassettes don't get on too well, though.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/nUGLGsZX8MGxbAQEq1zQtVwtEcN769guNQzpiPMXw4Kr=w770-h577-no [/img]

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uHBKUY2pXN-2KyfRNJLDM52aEBO1SeZHDY8_fDQXv51v=w433-h577-no [/img]

There was loads of tasty food. The price for a vast piece of cake was only about £1.50!

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/i2tZimJwsUDrg0wnRo11FXTgY3msAvAtBM_HGvi3-11d=w325-h577-no [/img]

There were plenty of steam driven things for entertainment.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MPSY5iv-5rUAF1gee1hxhZ25Xl7f0sty2Dpm1Qpox2JA=w1026-h577-no [/img]

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mUiEAdJ6fWJyjZ9FaK6zhDlxhhCdSx64-9Os_Yv33Y1k=w325-h577-no [/img]

It was all rather jolly.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/CTf7HzQ9d9dfJTuIzLmZrSFP0nkoPs7qm4PS1odRRN_M=w1049-h203-no [/img]

Then on Sunday we crossed a lot of the big ride as we rode real bikes to Kedleston.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/VF2NC49BDLiXbWkvwsIUaR9jUdEx4-jXlnXm8Yz6Grs8=w1026-h577-no [/img]

We're now planning a 2 day mostly pub-based tour sometime later this year on it, the Sun Solo and a bike my friend Rosie has called Nimrod Neville the Hunter-

[img] [/img]

Which should be a laugh!

Thanks for the update! I aim to go myself next year.

If you want a 700c tandem frame I have a bargain one (its big suits two people both about 5'11 upwards) for £50 collected in Bath.

Great post!
You might be able to improve the braking by altering the straddle wire length, particularly at the front
[url= http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cantilever-geometry.html ]There's some info here[/url]

Okay, the opportunity has arisen to get this repainted and dismantling starts tonight.

I'm mulling over whether or not to paint it in the original colour or go for something different - a powder blue, maybe black or something. What do you reckon? I quite like the original colour but it'd not be my choice and it's not like repainting a classic car or something where it's of high value which is retained by keeping it all original.

I forgot to update this. The best man from my wedding got married in September. They were going to get two vintage bikes but then saw I was doing up the tandem and offered to go halves on a repaint and new decals. And so we got to this stage-

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It went down a storm! I'm tempted to hire it out for weddings...

We use it for picnics with the rack, for popping to the shops (though the gear is way too steep for the hill back to our house) and tootling along railway lines.

Looks great as do the photos.