Raleigh Dynaflite SBDU 753.... 'Manager Special'

vcballbat · Nov 29, 2021

Had a bit of a wasted journey to my local electro-platers in Southampton on Friday only to be told that they couldn't chrome onto aluminium. I'd removed the brake levers from the bars as the band's are rusted, the stem bolts looking okay. Good news is that they told me of a place in Alton that can chrome onto aluminium..

Peachy! · Nov 29, 2021

I've not seen aluminium chromed before. Is there a need for it? wouldn't cleaning it up & polishing it be cheaper?

Nob · Nov 29, 2021

Silvabronz company

vcballbat · Nov 29, 2021

Nob said:
Silvabronz company

Yep, called Beckworth Silvabronz, their website says that they specialise in vintage car and motorcycle parts. There was a bit of a craze in the custom scooter & bike scene in the 80's with chrome engine case's, brake levers, switch cluster's etc so cast aluminium can be chromed. Have you had any experience of them?

vcballbat · Nov 29, 2021

Peachy! said:
I've not seen aluminium chromed before. Is there a need for it? wouldn't cleaning it up & polishing it be cheaper?

Yep, polishing could be a cheaper alternative especially after seeing Hampshire Electroplater's minimum charge £60 sign....GULP!..

vcballbat · Nov 29, 2021

The bar and stem combo polished up really well with a big splodge of Solvo, the chrome on the stem and SB seat post bolt looking like new. Below the limit line the stem is marked....Ti Sturmey Archer England 70mm X 25.4mm and a date code...05-80... So May 1980. Gave the ribbed black grips a scrub with some kitchen cleaner and toothbrush, look almost new without any wall scuffage to the ends and still showing the excess plastic from the moulding. The little Raleigh Forged decal fell off when cleaning so have glued it back on the driveside, hopefully I should come across another on one of my dump runs...☺

Nob · Nov 29, 2021

vcballbat said:
Yep, called Beckworth Silvabronz, their website says that they specialise in vintage car and motorcycle parts. There was a bit of a craze in the custom scooter & bike scene in the 80's with chrome engine case's, brake levers, switch cluster's etc so cast aluminium can be chromed. Have you had any experience of them?

No but an associate I knew years ago said they do a good job so you should be in good hands.
Ashford Chroming are also good alternative.

vcballbat · Nov 30, 2021

The Campagnolo Pista 165mm cranks have a satin anodised finish and have polished up well though some of the anodised finish on the back of the driveside crank has worn through slightly. The 46 X 1/8 Campagnolo Pista chainring is good as new with virtually no wear. What I have noticed on the cranks are some odd scratches where there would normally be toe-strap rub. This has got me thinking did these cranks come from the Prototype Pursuit Machine, the scratches caused by the metal buckles on the inside of the foot for a more aerodynamic profile...✈

vcballbat · Nov 30, 2021

The Royce Titanium 115mm bottom bracket fortunately came out with ease after 40yrs of sleep, a pleasant surprise considering steel and aluminium don't like the damp. Bearings by French manufacturer ADR were a little rough to start but spinning and feeding light chain oil with teflon got them running freely. The stainless steel Allen bolts look really neat but do add extra weight. I phoned Cliff at Royce to enquire if they kept sales records but unfortunately they didn't until 1988. He did inform me that work on prototype bottom brackets started in 1979 with customer availability for 1980. Royce Engineering are still making the highest quality hubs and bottom brackets today in New Milton in the New Forest..