Disappointment yesterday. My parts order showed up and was missing two of the top three things I wanted. Turns out there was a software glitch and they weren't in stock after all. And the third thing that I wanted and got? Won't fit where I wanted to use it. Live and learn.
One of the out of stock items was a round 36 tooth chainring for the Typhoon. So... whatever. Go with the Biopace! Yep, you can use Biopace rings with coaster brake hubs, the chain tension doesn't change much during their rotation. Sure doesn't seem that would be the case when you look at the chainring spinning though! Being the genius that I am, I didn't take another one with the chain on, but trust me, it works. (I already put the '56 Racer back in the stand and am too lazy to go change things up to take another video. Someday, someday...)
Removing the outer ring meant the bolts would be too long, but I had a solution to that - use the spacers that were on the inner ring. But they are sized to fit the bolt part, not the nut part, so they won't work. I was just about to go buy some aluminum to make some when I spotted the remnants of a hollow exhaust hanger rod (I worked in the exhaust industry for too many years). Looks pretty close to me. Go with it!
A date with a beat to crap old lathe I inherited from my dad. Random tangent - For some reason, standing next to that thing today triggered some old memories and I realized how many things around my shop used to be his, or were influenced by him. I think he'd really like seeing what I've been up to. He's been gone going on 25 years but there are still times it's like a gut punch when I think about it. But I digress...
And before you know it, spacers! They aren't fancy annodized alloy but they'll work. After a bit of clean up anyway.
Bolt stuff together, slide on the misssing grip, cut the chain to length, and.. it's "done"?
I can't think of anything else to do to it right now so outside we go.
And I made it back from the test ride with no mechanical or physical issues! The Typhoon. Tearing up lawns since 1969!
Is it DONE? Well....
On my brief ride I discovered I may want a longer stem. I'll leave it as is for now but I might want to have more of a reach.
The gearing is just about right. I haven't been on a bike for ages so top gear seemed MAYBE a little bit of a push... but the low gear seemed like it was low enough for what I'll need, so I'll call it good.
I may or may not order a round chainring the next time I'm ordering things. There IS a change in tension throughout the stroke, but it's not major. Still, I've never been a fan of biopace rings. I may be fooling myself but I always balemd them for my deteriorating wheelie skills back in the day, they just haven't got the right feel to them. On the other hand, the amount of backpedling needed to engage the brake on this is more than I'm used to, so that's almost asking to end up on my butt when trying to wheelie it...
One of the out of stock items was a round 36 tooth chainring for the Typhoon. So... whatever. Go with the Biopace! Yep, you can use Biopace rings with coaster brake hubs, the chain tension doesn't change much during their rotation. Sure doesn't seem that would be the case when you look at the chainring spinning though! Being the genius that I am, I didn't take another one with the chain on, but trust me, it works. (I already put the '56 Racer back in the stand and am too lazy to go change things up to take another video. Someday, someday...)
Removing the outer ring meant the bolts would be too long, but I had a solution to that - use the spacers that were on the inner ring. But they are sized to fit the bolt part, not the nut part, so they won't work. I was just about to go buy some aluminum to make some when I spotted the remnants of a hollow exhaust hanger rod (I worked in the exhaust industry for too many years). Looks pretty close to me. Go with it!
A date with a beat to crap old lathe I inherited from my dad. Random tangent - For some reason, standing next to that thing today triggered some old memories and I realized how many things around my shop used to be his, or were influenced by him. I think he'd really like seeing what I've been up to. He's been gone going on 25 years but there are still times it's like a gut punch when I think about it. But I digress...
And before you know it, spacers! They aren't fancy annodized alloy but they'll work. After a bit of clean up anyway.
Bolt stuff together, slide on the misssing grip, cut the chain to length, and.. it's "done"?
I can't think of anything else to do to it right now so outside we go.
And I made it back from the test ride with no mechanical or physical issues! The Typhoon. Tearing up lawns since 1969!
Is it DONE? Well....
On my brief ride I discovered I may want a longer stem. I'll leave it as is for now but I might want to have more of a reach.
The gearing is just about right. I haven't been on a bike for ages so top gear seemed MAYBE a little bit of a push... but the low gear seemed like it was low enough for what I'll need, so I'll call it good.
I may or may not order a round chainring the next time I'm ordering things. There IS a change in tension throughout the stroke, but it's not major. Still, I've never been a fan of biopace rings. I may be fooling myself but I always balemd them for my deteriorating wheelie skills back in the day, they just haven't got the right feel to them. On the other hand, the amount of backpedling needed to engage the brake on this is more than I'm used to, so that's almost asking to end up on my butt when trying to wheelie it...
