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

[Nob]

Sandblast to see the state of the tubes I’d say as a starting point…..

 

[vcballbat]

Sandblast to see the state of the tubes I’d say as a starting point…..

I understand that some would go down the restore route but because of the bike's historical importance I feel that preserve is the way to...as they say "its only original once". There is some surface rust and crazing under the paint but I've had a good prod around and its nothing terminal. Any advice on rust treatment products that won't damage the paint and decals would be greatly appreciated..

 

[Peachy!]

Here’s a blow-by-blow section on localised paint repair that I did for @The History Man on one of his Overbury’s steel frames.
It worked out well for a metallic but should be seamless on a black frame.
Happy to discuss via PM if you want me to do the same for you.

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/incoming-overbury’s-again.425893/post-3122207

 

[AndyMart]

That's just fantastic. Glad that one wasn't recycled.

 

[vcballbat]

A Pletscher Rear Carrier would be a neat and handy upgrade...

 

[AndyMart]

With that number 1 on the Bb do you think that was the first or prototype? Are the other sequential or sb numbered?

 

[vcballbat]

Here’s a blow-by-blow section on localised paint repair that I did for @The History Man on one of his Overbury’s steel frames.
It worked out well for a metallic but should be seamless on a black frame.
Happy to discuss via PM if you want me to do the same for you.

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/incoming-overbury’s-again.425893/post-3122207

Cheers for the offer Peachy great work, I'm thinking mine is more than re-touching as the paint damage is along the top surface of the tubes. Maybe the 40 years of dust that had settled on the top of the tubes had retained moisture that has then penetrated the paint. The bike will now be kept in a warm dry environment an used on dry days so will be a case of how to clean and protect the existing paint which is good on the sides and bottom of the tubes. Will post some more pictures close up of the tubes and the weigh in. What did suprise me was how easy the alloy Royce bottom bracket cups came out for the first time in 40 years with a cheap adjustable peg spanner, I was dreading it, expecting them to be seized solid... what a relief..☺

TV

 

[vcballbat]

With that number 1 on the Bb do you think that was the first or prototype? Are the other sequential or sb numbered?

I think my frame was built after the NYC show bike so probably the third frame built with an oval to round seat tube. I think that the very first prototype frame is the Track Pursuit Frame with a fully oval seat tube and special oval seat post. While researching my lugged Dynaflite frame I found this brilliant old film about Raleigh's head of product design and development Alan Oakley. You can jump sixteen minutes into the film when Alan jumps into his Ford Granada and heads off to the Specialist Bicycle Development Unit at Ilkeston...

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-raleigh-alan-oakley-1980-online

 

[vcballbat]

The fork is weighing in at 675g with the Super Record crown, so taking off 20g we've got a fairly respectable 655g. There is some extra weight with the mudguard eyes more rake and Routemaster Bus clearance..

 

[vcballbat]

The frame is weighing in at 1720g with the Super Record cup & crown race, so deduct 40g gives us a very slim 1680g. Seven of the eight ferrules are still stuck in the 'divers helmet' cable guides. The NYC frame would have just three cable guides, down tube shifter and front mech braze ons and vertical dropouts.