Shoppers (oh, help me!) Warning: RSW III content!

[Cab]

Redirect if necessary, but they're not MTB, & they're road ridden so where should I ask? Never had any interest in 'em myself, but a Raleigh RSW III came my way last week. Seeing as the DynoHub lights still work, I thought it's at least worth a tinker to get it rideable. First problem is dismantling the front end; removed h/set nuts & stem clamp, bars /stem now move freely & pull out so far from steerer but then stop dead. Is there something else I should have removed? Also I would think once the nuts & clamp are off, the steerer should slide through the lower bearing but that seems solid (through corrosion or dry grease ?)At least if I can get the stem out, I can try tapping the fork through. Any ideas?

 

[torqueless]

Re: Shoppers (oh, help me!)

Did you just loosen the stem expander-bolt, or take it right out? All I can think is that the expander-nut is either stuck in the steerer, or fouling on something that prevents it being withdrawn, but I'm not familiar with this particular model of bike (on a mechanical level). Have you got a picture of how far you got?

 

[Cab]

Re: Shoppers (oh, help me!)

Sorry I should have described it in more detail! There's no expander on this, the one piece bar/stem is secured by tightening a clamp around the steerer (above the nylon sleeve which serves as top bearing, but below the lock nuts)! I guess I'm going to have to dismantle the front mudguard assembly (like Raleigh Wisp moped)so I can look up inside. Then I can belt it!

 

[Cab]

Re: Shoppers (oh, help me!)

Now it's becoming clearer! There's a safety wire through the centre, looped around the brake bolt. Just in case Granny popped a wheelie with the clamp loose! Looks like the stiction is between the steerer & nylon bush. What lube to use there? How to repack bearings on DynoHub wheel? Lovin' this old technology!

 

[Jonny69]

Re: Shoppers (oh, help me!)

I've got a '66 RSW that I used for years as my hack at work, now my girlfriend uses it to commute on. Great bike and it's bulletproof.

I don't think I have any nylon bushes on mine and there's definitely no safety wire stopping the handlebars coming out! The bearings on the headset and dynohub need normal grease, nothing fancy. The Sturmey at the back wants normal grease in the axle bearings but a light oil in the hub itself, and expect plenty of the oil to come back out. I seem to remember they're both a bit of a fiddle to adjust because of the two rotating parts.

 

[Cab]

Re: Shoppers (oh, help me!)

First mystery solved: This pic shows the safety wire, & the end of stem where it's secured by a roll pin (does this look factory, or the work of an anxious parent with basic skills?):



Once that was out the way, I could get a look at everything & realised the stiction was caused by corrosion on steerer where it passes through the nylon bush, also in this pic notice the cut out which allows clamping around the stem:



A little clean with fine wet & dry, & apply some silicon pipe lube, it spins beautifully. That bush is about 1" long & easy to remove:


Here's all the parts put back together; neat design!



The bottom head bearing is a normal loose ball type, & was really clean so I'm hoping no serious internal corrosion elsewhere! Might be able to ride it round the yard soon, then decide if it's worth persevering with! (I made sure to hook up the safety wire when I reassembled it, superstitious or something?)

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

Re: Shoppers (oh, help me!)

If you are wanting to take your hub apart, you could do a lot worse than follow this chap: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ea6krXSs-lc

I followed it and had no worries at all. I used gearbox oil in a dropper bottle to lube everything as I put it back together.

The insides of the hub are fascinating. Proper engineering.

 

[Midlife]

Re: Shoppers (oh, help me!)

The wire holding in the bars was a factory fit, stopped people raising them too high

Hopeless headset arrangement, damn Raleigh bean counters.

Shaun

 

[Jonny69]

Re: Shoppers (oh, help me!)

The headset and headtube are quite different on mine. Mine is much more conventional and the head tube is a lot shorter. Looks like they changed quite a lot on the RSW 3 from the RSW 16:

 

[Cab]

Re: Shoppers (oh, help me!)

Maybe I prefer the way the earlier ones look! I'll post a pic of mine when it's rideable. I take it those are the same tyres used on the front of Choppers? Were they easy to track down, & do you reckon there's any left?