Bought Another RUDGE...but from 1956...

[HARPO]

A surprise on the blue Rudge...the oiler cap missing from the black Rudge is on this bike! Try to find one of these!!
Boy, they built these bikes to last. The oiler is metal and on a hinge spring, which I was lucky enough to pop off without any damage. This will go onto the black bike as well as one of the pedals which is in better condition.

Nice how every once in a while things actually work out...

 

[RidgeWalker]

You know what struck me about these Rudges? The bottom bracket oil port is on the chainwheel side. That seems very strange to me. I have 4 British bikes from this period including a '52 Rudge and they all have the oil port on the opposite (left or non-chainring) side. That, I believe, is much more accessible. Maybe I just never noticed, but I don't recall seeing the oil port on the chainring side.

 

[bulldog1935]

that's the same place my Lenton frame has an oil port

 

[HARPO]

When I bought the 56 Rudge, the guy had a tube protruding from the oil port. It was about 3 inches long, which apparently was his way of gaining easy access to it. And yes, it was the wrong side to put it on. What were they thinking?...

 

[HARPO]

I need help. The oil tube I pulled out of the blue Rudge (see photo) was all ready to go into the black Rudge. But then I saw a small metal tube protruding from it (see photo), figuring the cap broke off...and I'm not sure if it unscrews or just pulls out. I've seen some that have threads (or are they for the hub?), so I don't want to damage it. I tried giving it a tug with some large needle nose pliers but I didn't want to be to aggressive.

So...is it threaded, or do I just pry it out? It came out fairly easy on the blue bike.

 

[HARPO]

Here's another shot of the one stuck in the black bike,

 

[Oilit]

I'm guessing it's pressed in, simply because I don't see any way to hold it for screwing it in. Pressing is quick and easy (if you have the tools) but once it's in, it's not so easy to get back out. Can you just put the cap off one bike on the tube of the other?

 

[HARPO]

[QUOTE="Oilit, post: 858864, member: 7392 Can you just put the cap off one bike on the tube of the other?[/QUOTE]

Nope. It appears that the lid was broken off where the spring is welded onto it. I'll do some gentle tapping tomorrow to get the good one in after removing the one in there.

I know the one I have isn't threaded...it was the one that's still in there I was concerned about. But it should be the same, considering it's about the same year.

 

[HARPO]

Well, the metal tube in the black bike won't budge. So, I guess I'll have an "extra" oilport tube for the Rudge if I find another bike missing one.

I just got done removing the crank and arms from the blue bike, so at some point I'll clean them up and store them away. Can NEVER have enough spare parts!!

 

[HARPO]

And here's where I am right now. A little more detailing and then I'll be done. For right now, she's with her English family...