STBO Hot Date

GuitarlCarl · Sep 2, 2024

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 · Sep 2, 2024

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

twojs.bike · Sep 2, 2024

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

Fv2 · Sep 2, 2024

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

GuitarlCarl · Sep 2, 2024

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

GuitarlCarl · Sep 2, 2024

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 · Sep 3, 2024

curtisfox · Sep 3, 2024

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 · Sep 3, 2024

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 · Sep 4, 2024

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 · Sep 5, 2024

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 · Sunday at 8:34 PM

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....