Your newer cable housing option is pretty nice lookin as is. But if you decide to keep trying, and why not, I've found red (Rit) lightens purple rather than coating it like paint. Are you using Rit? Wondering because I didn't know you could dye plastic without heating it to 190 degrees. If so, heat takes moments rather than hours. You're really making me worry about the cost of taking my own Raleigh apart. I'm glad you’re helping me understand future hurdles. I imagine even reading it I'll still find it complicated to do.
Thanks so much for your input and following my build!!!!!!
I love your build and really want to try some of those solid tires!
Ok, so, first and foremost, this bike was given to me as a gift as the original owner had passed away and the kids could not bear to sell it or give the thing away. (They said ‘please just enjoy the bike’)
-all they knew was he loved the bike, had it ‘forever’ and rode it every day. They had no idea the bike had some pretty glaring issues and had some pretty major work done to it over the years.
I have never restored a vintage Raleigh before, but had heard about the ‘Cottered crank’ issues And knew they preferred loose bearings over caged bearings (I have a vintage Raleigh technium I have logged THOUSANDS of miles on, but hardly wrenched on at all)
at current, I’ve got at least $409 in costs in this thing I can track to receipts: I’ve got other costs (minor) in parts bikes I’ve stolen parts from NOT accounted for. I am a stickler on costs and this total accounts for my Park BB tool and $30 in fuel running around for various parts bikes.
When I started the restoration, I knew the bike was a somewhat rare large frame, had a bent fork that needed replaced and was prepared for that mess, but was completely unprepared for the bent spindle and complete overhaul of the bottom bracket. Looking closely, the chainring is not perfect either, but it’s close enough for my pickiness!
I have extra effort wrapped up salvaging ‘R’ nuts and their special threaded bolt counter parts, because I guess that’s a thing for Raleigh owners!
if you’re going to tackle the bottom bracket, Id just buy the official tool for $50 or set a day aside to make one. You’ll need a grinder, vice and a lot of patience.
if your target Raleigh doesn’t need any work on the crank, I’d do it and wouldn’t think twice. It’ll be a pricier than a vintage American bike build and a bit of a pain scrambling for parts, as ’only Raleigh works with Raleigh’
I’ve restored many a Schwinn…. This makes my Schwinn restorations look like cake! (Cheap cake at that!)
as for the dye, I am using Rit. Powder, no synthetic. Trying to keep things cheap, the powder mixed with time and vinegar can work. I set out the bucket with cable housings in them on our cement deck in full sun for heat. It’s not boiling like the guys I see on YouTube, but it seems to be working OK, I’ve just done a poor job mixing. (I tried 1 packet of red and 1/2 packet of black)
i will pull the cables this weekend and have a look. I would really prefer a dark cable of about any color so as to keep the bike clean Looking form a distance. Stay tuned as I play with the cables this weekend …. Im still interested in the red!
thanks again for your interest and don’t let any of my fussin’ deter you!