Nabeaquam
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Fixing a Victorian
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Mickeyspinn
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Man's work!
It's dangerous stuff!
Get a woman to do it
It's dangerous stuff!
Get a woman to do it
Nabeaquam
BoTM Winner
I found this Mussleman Armless Coaster Brake wheel in my stash. Patentent in 1907. It’s inch pitch, like the drive on the bike.
They are asking $400+shipping on flea bait. The problem is none of them work as the wedge is worn out. The tolerance is very close, the wedge either rubs on the hub or is too worn down to grab. I have two and neither grabs. Here is worn out wedge.
Here is one where someone made a new wedge from a pipe.
I rebuilt one, tried to make a wedge out of a pipe like others have done but the tolerance was not right and the hub brake was always engaged. I put a thin metal shim under the original wedge and now it works. My hub is mounted to a steel clad wood rim, better for a coaster brake than just wood.
I have a 33mm cyclocross tire I’m going to mount and try out the brake. This tire is too narrow for a good fit but good enough for a trial. In the meantime I ordered a set of wood rims from a third generation Amish wheel maker. He builds wagon, steering, antique auto and bicycle wheels. They will be here next week. Since they aren’t steel clad I had him build them with a metal insert that allows clinchers to seat better. They used all wood rims with coaster brakes in the 1890s so I’m not real concerned about this but the metal inserts should toughen things up. I’m hoping to use the original hub for the front wheel. I have two old Phillips bolt on front brakes and with the coaster and a front brake this will make this bike safe to ride. I need to get some cork brake blocks.
If I can salvage the original back hub and find a cog to fit I’ll use that instead of the armless. I’ll then use my faux wood rear rim and replace it with the armless coaster. I have several old fixed gear inch pitch bicycles that the armless unit could be used on. I could switch out the rear wheel before a ride, like musical chairs as I won’t have one for each bike. Something to do this winter, an alternative activity, besides snowplow spotting. No problem putting it back to original with these modifications, just unbolt the front brake and change out the rear wheel for fixed gear.
They are asking $400+shipping on flea bait. The problem is none of them work as the wedge is worn out. The tolerance is very close, the wedge either rubs on the hub or is too worn down to grab. I have two and neither grabs. Here is worn out wedge.
Here is one where someone made a new wedge from a pipe.
I rebuilt one, tried to make a wedge out of a pipe like others have done but the tolerance was not right and the hub brake was always engaged. I put a thin metal shim under the original wedge and now it works. My hub is mounted to a steel clad wood rim, better for a coaster brake than just wood.
I have a 33mm cyclocross tire I’m going to mount and try out the brake. This tire is too narrow for a good fit but good enough for a trial. In the meantime I ordered a set of wood rims from a third generation Amish wheel maker. He builds wagon, steering, antique auto and bicycle wheels. They will be here next week. Since they aren’t steel clad I had him build them with a metal insert that allows clinchers to seat better. They used all wood rims with coaster brakes in the 1890s so I’m not real concerned about this but the metal inserts should toughen things up. I’m hoping to use the original hub for the front wheel. I have two old Phillips bolt on front brakes and with the coaster and a front brake this will make this bike safe to ride. I need to get some cork brake blocks.
If I can salvage the original back hub and find a cog to fit I’ll use that instead of the armless. I’ll then use my faux wood rear rim and replace it with the armless coaster. I have several old fixed gear inch pitch bicycles that the armless unit could be used on. I could switch out the rear wheel before a ride, like musical chairs as I won’t have one for each bike. Something to do this winter, an alternative activity, besides snowplow spotting. No problem putting it back to original with these modifications, just unbolt the front brake and change out the rear wheel for fixed gear.
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Nabeaquam
BoTM Winner
I mounted the cyclocross tire. It fits pretty well. I’m going to have to wait for a break in the weather to ride it to test the coaster brake. It’s 0C+ and a little breezy and wet now. Tomorrow or the next day 80 kmh- winds and rain. I’m pretty excited about this idea, hoping the brake works. It looks like a fixed gear wheel. I’m surprise, the cyclocross tubular fits better on the steel clad wood rim designed for 1 1/2 inch wide single tube tires than it does on a wood rim designed for the same tire. The metal ridge on the cladding keeps the tire centered with no sidewall gaps for dirt. Too bad that rim weighs as much as an atomic pile.
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