THE YOUNG CYCLIST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 57, 8 March 1930, Page 21 (Supplement)

THE YOUNG CYCLIST.

OVERHAULING HIS. MACHINE,

Every boy is a real or a dream cyclist That is, he either owns a bicycle or would like to own one. Therefore all boys will be interested in advice on taking care of a bike. If he has one, he can put the information to good use rightaway, and if he has not —well, knowing What to do will make him all the more keen to get one. And a keen boy with a strong desire is almost sure to get what he wants in the end. If r you have bought a second-hand machine, it Would be well to go over it on the following lilies. Or if you are back from a holiday tour, it ought to be overhauled. In the illustration a pleasure bicycle, which has a few more parts than the usual bicycle, is shown. The numbered parts are as follow:— 1, top tube; 2, seat tube, 3 bottom tube; 4, head; 5, top pump clip; (i, pump; 7, handlebars; 8, hand grips; >), lamp bracket; 10, front rim brake; 11, seat pillar; 12, saddle; 13, tool bag; 14, chain stays; 15, back forks; 16, spokes; 17, valves; 18, tyres; 19, rim; 20, chain;

21, chain wheel; 22, pedal; 23, fork Modes; 24, nipples; 25, back brake forket; 215, mudguards; 27, gear change lever; 28, cable; 29, head lock; 30, joint of tube and lug; 31, fork crown; 32, steering tube; 33, bottom bracket (behind chain wheel). The Frame. ' Examine the frame at the joints for breaks or cracks, where tubes are brazed into .the lugs. The fork crown is a vital part, and should be removed and examined at the point where steering tube enters. Have you ever tested the tracking of the wheels ? They may not be quite true. To apply the test turn the machine upside down and lay a long straight edge of wood on the side of the rim of the back wheel. It should just touch the side of the front wheel rim if they are -true and if both rims are the same width. Repeat this at several points. If the frame is not true, it can be reset correctly by passing a long bar down the steering tube with the handlebar removed, and another bar down the main down tube with the seat pillar removed. Pull the frame tube true, usim* the bars as levers. ° Bearings. All bearings should be periodically cleaned with paraffin and defective parts renewed. To adjust them tighten them well home,and then slant the cone bac'< a half revolution. Oil with the best sperm oil. A good plan to ensure even wear on the bottom bracket disc is to turn the chain wheel side half a revolution in the bracket. This also applies to the wheel spindles and the bottom head cone or race of the fork crown. Cranks. Examine the cranks to see that they aTe true on the bracket axle, and that the pedal spindles are square with the crank face. The crank cotters may require tightening, and in doing this see tiiat the cranks do not draw out of line and that the cotters do not project, too far through the crank boss or the nut will bind on the shoulder. Wheels. Remove the tyres from the rims, spin the wheels and see that they run true This is done by holding a piece of chalk to the eide of the rim, and the part most out of alignment will be marked If the spokes are very tight near the" chalk mark, slightly slacken the nipples around the mark, and then tighten up those on the opposite side of the mark. About half a turn is enough, and then test with the chalk, again. Be careful not to twist the spokes while turning the nipple. The wheel is now tested for trial in the round. Fasten a piece of wire across the forks just above the rim and as close to it as possible. Turn the wheel slowly and observe the high and low places Let out the spokes on both sides at the low places, and tighten them at the high places. Do not overdo the ti'diten-

If the spoke stidks through the nipples file them flush, and see that the spokes are tight. Rusty rims, which, by the way, are the caiise of much tyre trouble, must be cleaned with emery cloth and given a coat of enamel. Chain. Take the chain off and after 6oaking it in paraffin give it a brush and hang it up to dry. Life is added to the chain by treating it with Russian tallow". Melt the tallow in a shallow dish, then put in the chain, which must be covered with the tallow, and place in a warm oven for an hour or so. Let the tallow drain off while warm and wipe -ths chain with a cloth. You can then brush graphite or blacklead over the chain. The free-wheel clutch should be Cleaned by running petrol of paraffin oil through it until the liquid runs fitat fairly clean. After the : petrol has drained out, lubricate With good oil. To tighten up loose handlebar gfl'jis heat a poker and place it in the tfer to heat it. When it is hot drop a little solid tyre cement into the grip, arid replace the grip on the hot bar, The saddle nifty .be preserved by rubbing castor oil Well into the under side.