Late 40s / Early 50s René Herse tip find

[Woz]

Nice to see this edging forward. I also bought the VAR puller - it's very well made, some solid kit and a worthy investment. it works out.

 

[Jonny69]

Success!



It’s not completely clear in the pic, but the threads aren’t in great condition. I spent a bit of time cleaning them out with a small wire brush, then worked the puller in and out a couple of times with plenty of oil before a final clean out and fresh oil. Even then I wasn’t 100% confident but it was definitely worth putting the extra time in.

 

[Jonny69]

The cranks now need a good scrub with a green Scotch pad in hot soapy water. It looks like most of that scale will scrub off, because I can scrape it off with my thumb nail. Then a light polish with Autosol might be all they need.

I don’t seem to be able to find a 16mm pedal wrench which looks like it’ll be up to the job, so I’m tempted to take the pedals off the spindles and leave them be. I don’t really need to take them out. That said, I will need to use a bench vice at work to free the drive-side bottom bracket cup, so I could clamp the pedal axles between a couple of bits of square section steel to free them.

 

[Jonny69]

On the subject of the bottom bracket, I took the non-drive side out to have a look. I have a decent length good quality hook wrench for doing lock rings and it makes a lot of difference when the notches are a bit mangled. Grease is a bit manky but the axle is in serviceable condition. The balls aren’t rusty but I’ll probably replace them.







There’s also some paper rolled up in the bottom of the seat tube. I can’t see it but I can feel it’s there. I’ll try and fish it out in case it’s something interesting!

 

[Jonny69]

I couldn’t get the headset to budge and I’m reluctant to give it too much muscle because the pin holes are very shallow. I’ll clamp it up in something at work so I can free it without mashing anything up.

 

[Jonny69]

And finally, I found a number:

 

[Woz]

- "shake your freshly removed Rene Herse crank complete with new extractor to the sky" - showing it who is the boss

 

[Woz]

This bike get's closer and closer to being an original survivor

For the headset, some inner-tube wrapped around the knurled part and good locking mole grips may do it. That must be one of the first Stronglight headsets, and will be good quality.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

A stout leather belt with some stilsons will shift it.

 

[Jonny69]

Leather belt is a good shout