What bike did you work on today?

[GTs58]

Nothing like perfection when it comes to little details @Schwinn Sales West. Straight from the factory!

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

Nothing like perfection when it comes to little details @Schwinn Sales West. Straight from the factory!

View attachment 2441379

Good catch, my old eyes would have likely missed this one due to the dark background.

Nice to know I have help out there, policing the details.

LOL, John

 

[marching_out]

Tornado pig. I actually think this bike was used in a pig lot. As soon as I watered down the tires that familiar farm smell came to life.

 

[Wolfmac]

I tried adding a bit of light oil to get these vintage KKT pedals spinning a little better but it didn’t quite free one of the two up to satisfaction. I figured the cone was adjusted a smidge tight so I removed them both for service.

After disassembly it was clear. There was adequate lube in both but the last person in here had inadvertently assembled one with the bearing count imbalanced.

12 on one end and 10 on the other. It spun with just a little grinding feeling in my hand but undetectable when riding. Cones and cups looked undamaged so after a proper cleaning and new grease, they went back together.

I really hate rebuilding these loose bearing closed cage pedals. There’s so little space to get your fingers in there to set the balls and thread everything together with appropriate cone lash.

Good to go now.

 

[Jacob Dominguez]

Still working on lining up the struts on this 24 inch

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

I tried adding a bit of light oil to get these vintage KKT pedals spinning a little better but it didn’t quite free one of the two up to satisfaction. I figured the cone was adjusted a smidge tight so I removed them both for service.
View attachment 2442249

After disassembly it was clear. There was adequate lube in both but the last person in here had inadvertently assembled one with the bearing count imbalanced.

12 on one end and 10 on the other. It spun with just a little grinding feeling in my hand but undetectable when riding. Cones and cups looked undamaged so after a proper cleaning and new grease, they went back together.
View attachment 2442250

I really hate rebuilding these loose bearing closed cage pedals. There’s so little space to get your fingers in there to set the balls and thread everything together with appropriate cone lash.

Good to go now.
View attachment 2442251

They are not hard to work on, but you need to approach the "loose ball" problem from a different angle.

This trick of the trade can be used in many different ways. Like loose balls in a headset, three piece bottom bracket, a front hub, or in this case rebuilding pedals with loose balls.

#1 add the grease to the ball cup.

#2 insert the male axle (fork steerer tube, three-piece spindle, front axle, or in your example the pedal spindle BACKWARDS INTO THE CUP without any balls yet. having the spindle/axle/steerer tube filling the hole keeps the balls from falling down the hole.

#3 drop the balls into the grease and position them with a small screwdriver or ice pick.

#4 remove the spindle/axle/steerer tube, and remove any extra balls. The desired number is to have it full, and then "less one ball". Repeat the steps on the other ball cup.

Using this method goes really quick and I'm sure they used something close to this when assembling them in a factory production environment. They surely discovered a quick and fast way to assemble the bearings.

John

 

[Wolfmac]

They are not hard to work on, but you need to approach the "loose ball" problem from a different angle.

This trick of the trade can be used in many different ways. Like loose balls in a headset, three piece bottom bracket, a front hub, or in this case rebuilding pedals with loose balls.

#1 add the grease to the ball cup.

#2 insert the male axle (fork steerer tube, three-piece spindle, front axle, or in your example the pedal spindle BACKWARDS INTO THE CUP without any balls yet. having the spindle/axle/steerer tube filling the hole keeps the balls from falling down the hole.

#3 drop the balls into the grease and position them with a small screwdriver or ice pick.

#4 remove the spindle/axle/steerer tube, and remove any extra balls. The desired number is to have it full, and then "less one ball". Repeat the steps on the other ball cup.

Using this method goes really quick and I'm sure they used something close to this when assembling them in a factory production environment. They surely discovered a quick and fast way to assemble the bearings.

John

Thanks for your insights John. I use the same method for the most part and don’t struggle getting the loose balls in place. It’s threading on the cone, locknut, and dust cover thats tricky with a thumb like this.

 

[lgrinnings]

I put the finishing touches on this 1899 Snell today. The bike came from a Wheelmen collection and had been completely overpainted in a garish red with all of the nickel having been painted black. Funny thing about paint... sometimes it actually saves the nickel. I was amazed at how beautifully this came out.

 

[JBone]

Prewar DX project I’m tidying up for an off road ride WAY out of town late Aug.

Frame and fork each off to separate shops for small jobs.

Pedals soaking today before a bit of maintenance.

 

[JBone]

I tried adding a bit of light oil to get these vintage KKT pedals spinning a little better but it didn’t quite free one of the two up to satisfaction. I figured the cone was adjusted a smidge tight so I removed them both for service.
View attachment 2442249

After disassembly it was clear. There was adequate lube in both but the last person in here had inadvertently assembled one with the bearing count imbalanced.

12 on one end and 10 on the other. It spun with just a little grinding feeling in my hand but undetectable when riding. Cones and cups looked undamaged so after a proper cleaning and new grease, they went back together.
View attachment 2442250

I really hate rebuilding these loose bearing closed cage pedals. There’s so little space to get your fingers in there to set the balls and thread everything together with appropriate cone lash.

Good to go now.
View attachment 2442251

That was ALWAYS the pedal to have when kicking tires at the bicycle racks in elementary school in early 80’s… Still love them…