Re: 1949 Ducati Cucciolo T2 - The fork hunt is over!
Ok, first day of holidays today and I still haven't got my 450 back, so time to do something with the wheels.
I took some photos to make sure I could re-lace the spokes the same way.
Remember my plan now is for two bicycles out of the bits I have, one for the Ducati, and one I can actually ride to get some exercise... so both sets of wheels are getting attention; both the 28 x 1 1/2 and 28 x 1 3/8.
I decided to start on the 28 x 1 3/8 as they're the least critical.
I realised though that to get the wheels dismantled, I should pull the sprocket off. So using an eBook I was recommended to buy by Roger Musson (
www.wheelpro.co.uk) I made what's called a chain whip to get the sprockets off:
While it should work as intended and appears to be good, I couldn't get the sprockets to budge on either rear wheel, so I simply persevered.
I have some spoke tools on the way which I was going to use to undo the nipples, but closer inspection showed me the spokes are not worth saving, so cutting was the quick way.
I did at least manage to partly dismantle the Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub that's currently on the 28 x 1 1/2 rear wheel so I could get to the spokes better, and I hope to be able to recondition this for use on the bicycle I can ride. I have the drums front and rear for the 28 x 1 1/2 wheels.
More lacing shots of the 28 x 1 1/2 wheels for future reference:
Then I grabbed the dremel, stuck a cut off wheel in it, and went to work. I was careful to hold the spokes as I cut them so the tension didn't cause anything to fly in my face.
(You can see the tips of my safety boots in the bottom of the pic...)
And then the same for the 28 x 1 3/8 wheels:
These ones had some sort of material tube protector around the rims, and unfortunately it served to hold moisture in and cause a lot of rust in there. I hope it's not too bad, and the front is much worse than the rear:
I ducked up the road a little earlier and got a bottle of rust converter, so hopefully I can arrest the progress now when I get some more time and prevent it getting any worse.
At this stage I'll be painting the 28 1 1/2 rims I think but I'll probaby get the 28 x 1 3/8 rims re-chromed as I suspect I'll use a front cantilever brake which will of course rub the paint off the outside of the rim.