STBO Hot Date

[GuitarlCarl]

I've been sitting on this one for a while. There's a few issues. The rear steering is completely locked up. The eccentric front crank assembly is gone. (neat way of tensioning the front chain) and the rear axle screws are toasted. The whole frame is badly pitted and I'm thinking some fork parts might be missing. Project bike for sure but I'd be happy with a roller...

GC

 

[GuitarlCarl]

1890s Colson I think...
or something similar.

 

[twojs.bike]

Wow! I’m not 100% sure I understand what I’m looking at.

 

[Fv2]

Bit of a rare bird. Should be interesting to see how it goes.

 

[GuitarlCarl]

This ain't your mom n dad's tandem...
It's your grandparents!

 

[GuitarlCarl]

I got the headset apart with just a little effort. But that rear-steer headset is a no, and I'm not the first guy to try to get this apart. I did get the bearing cup to move and the top race will move but the threaded inner is froze solid. The bottom half is alien to me, I don't see where a bearing would even be. And the set screw for the cog is gone and it still don't move...

 

[OddJob]

 

[curtisfox]

That will take some soaking, try some SeaFoam Deep, creep and hit it with a shot of brake cleaner once and a while. Breake cleaner will get the sea foam in deeper, but also dries up fast, so D-C behind it...........Curt

 

[Pondo]

Wow, I didn't see this coming. I love it! I hope you're able to free up the frozen steering. That thing is awesome!

 

[GuitarlCarl]

Aerokroil is my goto for freeing up parts in the past and it's what I have on hand.
I was hoping to fit a gear puller on the bottom but the frame looks like it will be in the way.
We'll see...

 

[GuitarlCarl]

Oh yeah, oil every day but I'll bet money that rear steer tube is a close fit and rusted all the way thru.
If I could just find a diagram somewhere...
I did find another frame on eBay. 1890 Colson.

 

[GuitarlCarl]

It's moving! The inner tube is a terrible rusty rub but it's moving and the cog on the bottom is spinning separate from the tube and beginning to come off with judicious taps of a brass hammer. May be ruined maybe not, I'm thinking there can be some slop on this steer cog cuz I can tighten it up with the turnbuckle... I really just need to spend a good hour on it but man I've been swamped with projects and the Bears are on right now so....

 

[GuitarlCarl]

I got it free and apart..
There's a lot here to rework...

Nice little brass bushing maybe 3/4" tall

Icey split in the tube? ^^^

Trashed threads at both ends but I should have dies for all three...

Yeah I mangled it but we'll see about that too...

 

[GuitarlCarl]

Good to note, a standard crank cup will fit into the old bottom bracket. Originally it had eccentric BB's for tensioning the chain. There are high end eccentrics available now but I'm not sure it's ready for that just yet. There's less expensive ways to tension a chain. I did pick up some satin black paint...

 

[Bike from the Dead]

Glad you were able to get the rear-steer components apart! I might just have to look at some Aerokroil myself! Would you say it's stronger than PB Blaster and WD-40?

 

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

I used Aerokroil for decades. It works well. Last couple years I've switched to Seafoam Deep Creep because it works as well, maybe better, and is more available where I live.

 

[GuitarlCarl]

I did see that Aerokroil changed and is now Kroil.
I haven't tried the new blend.
They say it's the same...

 

[GuitarlCarl]

Glad you were able to get the rear-steer components apart! I might just have to look at some Aerokroil myself! Would you say it's stronger than PB Blaster and WD-40?

The original blend was a true penetrating oil and worked much better than any "Water Displacement" formula. (don't spray WD in a lock it'll freeze...)

 

[GuitarlCarl]

Shot a coat of primer...
Now it looks like a camel to me.
Satin black eventually.

 

[GuitarlCarl]

Wanna see something cool I'm probably not going to reuse???

Bent and too skinny for my tires. Also the skip tooth gear is welded on... Notice under the gear, below the crown. Looks like a pulley to me. Rope steer? Hmm...