Betty is Mended

She’s forgiven me (Betty that is – the wife always forgives me, and let me tell you: there’s lots to forgive). We’re riding again, like the four winds.

As previously mentioned, Betty sustained some minor damage to the chain wheel: it got bent (not too much, but enough to inhibit the smooth operation of the derailleur gears). I thought that I would have to replace the chain wheel and the protective guard screwed to it – it was these items that had sustained the most damage.

So I contacted Mark Bickerton who was extremely helpful in suggesting people to talk to to get Betty mended. I like Mark, he’s seems very much like a down-to-earth sort of guy. Anyway, he suggested CH White in Malmsbury.

First though, I wanted to have a go myself – partly because I had nothing to lose, and partly because before contacting Mark, I did an internet trawl and the new parts I found (not on the CH White website) were moving towards prohibitive. So I checked out the Sheldon Brown website.

Mr Brown’s approach was a little cruder. There was mention of bashing with a rubber mallet, pry-bars, etc. Could I do this to poor little Betty? I thought about it. I thought long and hard about it. I came up with a plan.

The plastic chain wheel protector had sustained real damage, and so either needed replacing or some other more permanent repair. Remembering that we had some left over plastic cement (from model building), I decided to use that and to strap the pieces together with electrician’s tape, while waiting for the bond to set. I tried. It worked. Sorted.

The chain wheel, as you can imagine, was going to be a little trickier. The rubber mallet was out. So that left the pry-bar.

I needed a small wood block (to spread the load and protect the chain wheel) and a pry-bar substitute, so a rummage around the garage/bike shed/workshop/honey extraction centre (you name it, all those functions are in there at one time, or another, during the year) and I found a 1/2x1 length of timber and a large, long handled, adjustable wrench – long handled, so that more purchase can be gained, which ultimately means more opportunity for fine tuning the repair.

A few grunts later and the chain wheel was – although not perfectly straight – very serviceable. A check through the gears, some minor adjustment to the derailleurs and Roberto is my Mother’s brother – we’re done. By this time the plastic chain guard had set and just needed refitting. All done. Just a few scars on Betty to tell the tale.

Hmmmm. I wonder if they do Hi-Vis electricians tape?

One of the benefits of the repair was that it stopped me from my other activities and forced me to concentrate on getting Betty back on the road again. And, because I’d been riding Betty for just over a week, it was clear that there were some minor adjustments required. So, I set to work. First, was the magnetic clip that holds the bike together in it’s dis-assembled position. It had worked it’s way lose and was now mis-aligned. Fold down the bike; undo said clip lock-nuts; reposition; tighten nuts. Job's-a-goodun.

Then alignment of the handle bars. Undo the Allen nuts, 3º clockwise turn, tighten and we're all good again.

It was worth taking the trouble to do those fine adjustments as now she’s even better than she was.

Happy me - :-)