Jack Taylor Frame: rebuild

Raam

thanks to El Tonto, I have a frame dating from about 1959, he reckons.

When I got it, I picked it up and it weighed a tonne, or at least it did to me. When we turned it upside down to put it in the car, a river of water came pouring out of the top of the seatpost. As you may have gathered from random posts, I have stripped it down completely. This turned out to be much easier than expected. Most of the weight was in the wheels. One of them alone weighs more than the frame (minus fork). The frame itself is quite light, which was a pleasant surprise.

Crankset
The cottered cranks came out very easy. I was expecting huge trouble with them, but a couple of belts with a hammer, and out they popped. The chainring is some odd size, which I haven't counted. I won't be re-using it or the cranks. Will probably go with a Miche crankset.

Pedals
Seriously old school pedals going on with leather straps on the toe clips. Doubt I'll be re-using them. Will stick spds on, I reckon.

Bottom Bracket
The BB lockring came off no bother with the right tool. To get the rest of it off, I had to use a hammer and a punch anngled in such a way so that it was unscrewing the BB with every hammer blow. Took a while. The other side came off no problem once it was figured out which way it turns. I'll be putting a new BB in once I figure out what it takes.

Stem/Fork
The stem nut had to be left soaking overnight with some WD40 equivalent. It took a bit of cajoling before it came free, but it was easy enough. Once that was off, the fork just had to be unscrewed and out she popped.

Seat Post
The seatpost needed a bit of WD40 to loosen it up, and it came out very easily. Hopefully one of the two spare seat posts I have will fit the frame since the existing seat post does not look like it will take a newer saddle. I may be wrong on that, but it's very badly scratched anyway.

Handle Bars
It has alu bars which weight almost nothing and look slightly bent to me, but I'm going to reuse them anyway, since they have a rather nice old looking shape to them, almost like track bars. They will need to be cleaned up and given some new tape.

Headset
I think I can re-use the headset, but I'm going to get one of these in order to let me use a newer stem, since the old one is bound to be far too short for me. I have a spare stem, so if that fits, I'll use it.

Groupset/Brakes
The groupset is well past it's sell by date, so that will be discarded. This includes rear derailleur, brakes, brake levers, chain. I'm going to keep the downtube shifter and put it back on the frame when it's finished since I like the look of it. I'll have to purchase a new brake. I think I'll just run a front one and go for a simple enough lever.

Saddle
It has an old Brooks saddle on it which I might try to treat to restore it, failing that I already have a spare saddle lying around.

Frame/Fork
Looks quite sound. It will need to be stripped and resprayed since the paint work is quite comprimised. I'll keep the colour a surprise, but it won't be pink. Some chap online does copies of the original decals, so I have photos of them all and may get some from him in the future.

Wheels
For the time being I think I'll try stick my wheels from the Genesis on. Might eventually go with Halo since they are the cheapest I can find.

This post is more for my own reference in remembering what to do and what I have already done but if anyone has any suggestions, I'm eager to hear them.

niceonetom

[ ] Pics
[ ] GTFO

pick one.

Raam

niceonetom wrote: »

[ ] Pics
[ ] GTFO

pick one.

I took a few on the folks camera since my own one is broke. Will stick 'em up this eve if I can get over to theirs.

TinyExplosions

Raam wrote: »

Headset
I think I can re-use the headset, but I'm going to get one of these in order to let me use a newer stem, since the old one is bound to be far too short for me. I have a spare stem, so if that fits, I'll use it.

Nooooooo!!!! Putting a threadless stem on it would be a travesty! Keep a nice quill stem on, and you'll be much happier, as well as it looking better. I have a spare you can use if it's suitable, or just get a new one, it's worth it.

Raam wrote: »

Wheels
For the time being I think I'll try stick my wheels from the Genesis on. Might eventually go with Halo since they are the cheapest I can find.

Again, I think they'll look too modern for such an old bike -get some made up by Parker International -my miche hubs/openpro rims came to less than 200 quid the pair

Raam

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Nooooooo!!!! Putting a threadless stem on it would be a travesty! Keep a nice quill stem on, and you'll be much happier, as well as it looking better. I have a spare you can use if it's suitable, or just get a new one, it's worth it.



Again, I think they'll look too modern for such an old bike -get some made up by Parker International -my miche hubs/openpro rims came to less than 200 quid the pair

Stem: I'm not sure what the size/height it will need to be at, which is why I was considering threadless. I do agree though, a quill would be better looking and was my original choice.

Wheels: will check em out, thanks.

kenmc

Be careful those alu bars are not corroded on the inside, or under the tape, they'll be severely weakened if they are.

scottreynolds

Raam wrote: »

Handle Bars
It has alu bars which weight almost nothing and look slightly bent to me, but I'm going to reuse them anyway, since they have a rather nice old looking shape to them, almost like track bars. They will need to be cleaned up and given some new tape.

I've some new alu bars you are welcome too. They are narrow if you like that sort of thing ... I bought them from adverts a while ago and used a set on the bike I restored. I don't like the narrow feel but my shoulders are broad. Pop round and if you like them they are yours.

scottreynolds

Raam wrote: »

Stem/Fork

You should be able to work out the rough length of them stem you will require by measuring the distance from the top of the seat tube on your Cervelo to the stem / handle bar junction. This will be something like 61cm say. Then take the same measurement from the seat post to the top of the fork on the JT and it should give you a rough (very rough) guide to the length of stem. You can still get 1" quill stems online from panet-x cheap enough in anything from 80mm -- 140mm.

Raam

Thanks for the responses chaps.

Tiny: might take you up on the stem, got any sizes, pics, price for it?

Scott: same questions about the bars?

TinyExplosions

Raam wrote: »

Thanks for the responses chaps.

Tiny: might take you up on the stem, got any sizes, pics, price for it?

Will show you it when you drop up the torque wrench

scottreynolds

Raam wrote: »

Thanks for the responses chaps.

Tiny: might take you up on the stem, got any sizes, pics, price for it?

Scott: same questions about the bars?

You can have them. Don't make me take a photo of them just to post it up. They are polish alu and will suit you bike. Next time you about call and I'll throw them down to you.

Turbulent Bill

Given the age of the bike, would you not try to restore it to its original condition (or as close as) rather than adding modern components?

Raam

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

Given the age of the bike, would you not try to restore it to its original condition (or as close as) rather than adding modern components?

A fair question, but here is why not...
I don't want another multi geared road bike as I already have two. I want another fixed gear.
The derailleur/cassette/chain and brakeset look totally knackered anyway.
Seat post is very badly scratched and the saddle may not be salvagable (is that a word?)
The wheels weigh a tonne and don't look like they would last very long as the spokes are badly rusted.

The BB and cranks may be reusable, but I don't know if they would take a new chainring, which I reckon is needed. They also weigh quite a bit.

I think the job can be done using modern components, but remaining true to the original style of the bike. I may not be able to get all the components I want straight away and will need to resort to using some existing components that I have, so some of the stuff may not be true to what the bike was, but only for a while.

beans

You clearly don't want to go down the path of e-baying period groupsets, then? Costly, but I'd imagine satisfying

Raam

beans wrote: »

You clearly don't want to go down the path of e-baying period groupsets, then? Costly, but I'd imagine satisfying

defo not!

jeffontour

Raam wrote: »

I had to use a hammer and a punch anngled in such a way so that it was unscrewing the BB with every hammer blow.

Ahem, I?

Raam

jeffontour wrote: »

Ahem, I?

I had to direct someone to use a hammer and a punch anngled in such a way so that it was unscrewing the BB with every hammer blow.

jeffontour

Raam wrote: »

I had to direct someone to use a hammer and a punch anngled in such a way so that it was unscrewing the BB with every hammer blow.

That's a fairer reflection of the reality of the situation but I'm not sure about the directing comment.

For one so svelte you performed a fine job of holding the frame still.

Raam

jeffontour wrote: »

That's a fairer reflection of the reality of the situation but I'm not sure about the directing comment.

For one so svelte you performed a fine job of holding the frame still.

You seemed happy so I let you be.