ConTENtious

[CRASH]

Maybe it's a problem with the fork instead of the wheel. Try mounting the wheel backward to see what you get.

Same result. So…

 

[CRASH]

I found the spacer that came with it. I guess it’s original, but the way I did the measurements and the fact I used cones I could find, lead me to making my own spacer… which turned out to be too narrow. The original was too wide. So I used my Mark-1 Eyeball to measure how much I’d need to take off and…

Set it up, installed it, and…

Right up the middle. So, time to figure out the fender height. I installed the tire… looks good!

And used another precision measuring tool to judge the height and marked the low spot.

So now I’m going to find some thin scrap something or other at work. I’m thinking a tube cut and shaped and welded. We’ll see what I can find.

 

[CRASH]

I took the hub pad cover off because it needs some work. First I can’t find a cable clamp that will fit. The hole on the arm is too small. Easy fix, just drill it out a bit. So I did…. And the bit caught the inside edge and the torque snapped off the whole thing!!!

Weld it back on (after I open it up) seems like the best option. It’s getting plated anyway.

I was going to remove the pads. In order to do so I need to get this tiny clamp out. (What are these things called?) for the life of me I can’t get it out. It’s tiny. Any tips?

 

[RustySprockets]

Is that a snap ring? I can't really tell from the photo.

 

[GeePig]

Yep, it is a snap ring, so you either need a pair of snap ring pliers, the right kind of long nosed pliers that will fit, or a couple of small screwdrivers and a tub of luck

 

[Pondo]

Any tips?

I got a cheapo snap ring pliers set that works good for stuff like this. Similar to these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3947277604...nEChXKSKup9f0OAdmNoehEZ81yk=|tkp:BFBMusaxudJi
Amazon and Harbor Freight probably have stuff like this too.

Yep, it is a snap ring, so you either need a pair of snap ring pliers, the right kind of long nosed pliers that will fit, or a couple of small screwdrivers and a tub of luck

These methods work in a pinch (it's all I had for years) but snap ring pliers make life so much easier.

And don't forget

Those snap rings go flying!

 

[Captain Awesome]

I got a cheapo snap ring pliers set that works good for stuff like this. Similar to these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3947277604...nEChXKSKup9f0OAdmNoehEZ81yk=|tkp:BFBMusaxudJi
Amazon and Harbor Freight probably have stuff like this too.


These methods work in a pinch (it's all I had for years) but snap ring pliers make life so much easier.

And don't forget

Those snap rings go flying!

This ^

Those little suckers will shoot across the room or in your eye so fast

 

[CRASH]

Do they make snap ring piers for a snap ring so small? It's only like 5mm in diameter.

 

[CRASH]

The tape measure came in. It’s slightly wider than will fit. So, how can I thin it out? I sort of have an idea, but I don’t know how I’m going to do it. So I’m open to suggestions.

 

[Pondo]

Do they make snap ring piers for a snap ring so small? It's only like 5mm in diameter.

I'll measure mine tomorrow. You might be stuck prying it out with a small screwdriver (I have some tiny screwdrivers meant for working on eye glasses) or awl. That works though. If you have 2 small prying devices use one to lift the end and put the other under the exposed part as a lever then work your way around. Sometimes it's a real PITA, sometimes it pops right out, but it can get the job done. It can be done with 1 small screwdriver but can be tedious and challenging. If it gets real tough I can drive down to watch you suffer while sipping an iced mocha-ccino (or something equally insipid). That usually helps.

 

[RustySprockets]

I'm not sure what tools you have available, but could you try coiling the tape measure into a tight bundle, then holding that against a belt sander or other abrasive surface? Perhaps secure the bundle with a zip tie so it doesn't unwind during the process.

THERE'S a surface you can work with!

 

[CRASH]

I'll measure mine tomorrow. You might be stuck prying it out with a small screwdriver (I have some tiny screwdrivers meant for working on eye glasses) or awl. That works though. If you have 2 small prying devices use one to lift the end and put the other under the exposed part as a lever then work your way around. Sometimes it's a real PITA, sometimes it pops right out, but it can get the job done. It can be done with 1 small screwdriver but can be tedious and challenging. If it gets real tough I can drive down to watch you suffer while sipping an iced mocha-ccino (or something equally insipid). That usually helps.

Yes, I have two jeweler flatheads, but I wasn't successful. It keeps spinning around. Like you said, a real PITA.

 

[CRASH]

I'm not sure what tools you have available, but could you try coiling the tape measure into a tight bundle, then holding that against a belt sander or other abrasive surface? Perhaps secure the bundle with a zip tie so it doesn't unwind during the process.

View attachment 248204

THERE'S a surface you can work with!

That was essentially my idea, but I envisioned it uncoiling and cutting me to shreds, or some other disaster. But maybe I'll push forward with that.

 

[RustySprockets]

Like I said, wrap a zip tie around the bundle and it can't unfurl. Now, it's more like a solid disc than a tape.

 

[CRASH]

Got the snap ring off. Of course, it wasn’t a snap ring, just a ring.

So we welded on the broken arm end.

And this is a problem… I don’t have a housing tension adjuster that fits into this smaller hole. And you can see some of it was shaved off and the hole is too close to the edge.

So… I cut that off. And I cut off the strap “arm”. That was used to attach a safety strap to the fork, but this bike can’t use it, so it’s superfluous. Off it comes.

So I made a little tab out of scrap and had it welded on, then we tapped it.

And now it fits a housing tension stop.

So now I have to shape and smooth all that out so it’ll look good once plated.

 

[CRASH]

The rat trap was missing a bolt, so I was on the hunt to find one. It’s very specific, so I didn’t think I’d find one. So I talked to my fab shop about modifying an existing bolt. They told me it would be easier to run some 5/16” hex stock through the machine and make one.

From this

To this… which one is the original??

 

[CRASH]

This frame was a 3-speed frame, so the rear dropouts weren’t wide enough for a 5-speed hub.

So I broke out the trusty frame stretcher.

And I wrenched on it with a BFW. Aaaaaand… I way overshot the mark. This Murray frame is less springy than the last one I had to stretch open.

Do I put the squeezer on it and set it where it should be.

Then I put on my homemade dropout alignment tool to set it all straight.

Then I noticed a screw had broken off in the rear fender mounting hole. I wasn’t able to back it out, so I had to drill through it and make a hole, so I’ll install the fender with a nut and bolt.

And I tried out a few rear fenders. I think this is going to be the one I make work.

 

[twojs.bike]

Left is original, but wow! I’m impressed.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

...So I talked to my fab shop about modifying an existing bolt.

If only I had a fab shop to talk to. We could be such good friends.

 

[CRASH]

If only I had a fab shop to talk to. We could be such good friends.