http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: My Brompton is getting old en Wed, 13 May 2026 04:03:18 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-289225 Tue, 21 Aug 2018 08:28:40 +0000 fimm 289225@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Iain McR, having thought about it, I'm wondering if the man you know might be interested in mine as a source of parts, so if you have a contact email you could pass on to me I'd appreciate it.</p> <p>I'm not sure I can be bothered with the hassle of selling on eBay - though again I suppose I could strip off the bits I think might be worth something and see what I can get.</p> <p>I don't think the frame is worth anything - as well as the hinges, there's rust, and the doofer where the saddle goes up and down is very, very stiff so I suspect that's on its way out too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-289205 Mon, 20 Aug 2018 18:36:01 +0000 crowriver 289205@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Does the old Brompton still have wheels? Gears? Tyres? Handlebars? Gear shifter? A chainring and cranks?</p> <p>Could still be worth something for spares or repair. Try selling it on fleaBay? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-289182 Mon, 20 Aug 2018 11:30:53 +0000 dessert rat 289182@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>i know a man who recycles Bromptons if interested. </p> <p>He is in Gateshead so logistically may not be worth the hassle. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-289172 Mon, 20 Aug 2018 10:32:51 +0000 Arellcat 289172@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You could saw it up and make a great big wind chime. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-289170 Mon, 20 Aug 2018 10:13:48 +0000 fimm 289170@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Grr, proof reading failure.<br /> Suggestions, not "suggesting"...</p> <p>It is of no use to me and I have no space to store it, so "bear it" means nothing :-) - The Old Brompton Must Go. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-289168 Mon, 20 Aug 2018 09:53:02 +0000 sallyhinch 289168@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's steel, so it should have some scrap value, if you can bear it! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-289165 Mon, 20 Aug 2018 09:08:49 +0000 steveo 289165@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Donate it to someone who could repair the hinge? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-289163 Mon, 20 Aug 2018 08:57:53 +0000 fimm 289163@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have a new Brompton!!!<br /> It feels lighter than the old one, which is odd, as I have not paid for lightness. It is obviously a lovely smooth ride because it is new. The gear changer is different, unsurprisingly.<br /> I took the front bag mount block off my old Brompton, to put it on the new one, only to discover that the new one needs a different size bolt to attach it. So I'll have to go back to BikeTrax to see what they can do to help me with that.<br /> The big difference is that my old bike didn't have the facility to lock the rear hinge while the new one does; that will be convenient while carrying it up and down steps.</p> <p>I dismantled the old bike to get the rear rack off. I can't think of anything else I should remove - pedals, maybe? - they are quite new? Suggesting as to what to do with the remains of the old one appreciated - I'm not sure if there's going to be much worth having as spares. Would a scrap metal merchant take the frame? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-286628 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 18:04:58 +0000 Tulyar 286628@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I had oversize pins reamed and pressed by Brompton as a while you wait job a few years back. As long as wear not too severe should be quick &amp; cheap job.</p> <p>Had to abandon last post - the hole in chainstay brace meant water, salt etc accumulated in this tube &amp; eventually these rusted away, giving the bike a distinctly spongey ride and hig risk of tearing chainstay tubes from pivot hinge plates </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-286606 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 13:36:50 +0000 Arellcat 286606@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>ream &amp; press in new pins</em></p> <p>Hence my earlier reply to fimm about exactly this. It's not whether or not it could be done, because of course it can be done, but whether or not it was cost effective.</p> <p><em>Can be re-bushed, &amp; reamed with new pin…fit brass washers in place of PTFE, and</em></p> <p>Most of us don't wear out things at quite the same rate, though. :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-286579 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 10:38:36 +0000 Tulyar 286579@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sorry came to this late (my ears are burning &amp; my spies failed to prompt me. There are 2 oversize steps for the frame/steerer hinge pins (ream &amp; press in new pins). This can be done with a hammer &amp; centre punch but works better with a fly-press and the right mandrels.</p> <p>At 12 years you'll have a Mk 4-6 (Long Wheelbase) frame, which has the machine brazed hinge lugs - these do not fail.... often. I've only broken one, and it was an early Mk 4 where the main tubes were not seamless, and a small crack developed on the seam-line, possibly after a wee shunt. I've ripped around 6 SWB front ends apart. </p> <p>The other wear I'd guess is rear pivot, once it gets really sloppy the chain will keep falling off. Can be re-bushed, &amp; reamed with new pin. Later rear triangles have much thicker hinge plates, a better 'change of section' joint for the chain stays, and I've not ripped one of the new ones apart. A good move here is to fit brass washers in place of PTFE, and drill &amp; tap for an M5 nipple to fire light grease in to the frame pivot pin. This hole also offers the handy option of replacing the nipple with a bolt, to lock the pin solid when tightening or trying to loosen the securing CSK bolts. Lubricating the pin vastly increases life/reduces wear. </p> <p>Early rear triangles had a vent hole as brazing techniques assumed the risk of trapped air </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-286562 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 09:14:08 +0000 I were right about that saddle 286562@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I am bicycleless</em></p> <p>You're welcome to a loan of my Dutchie. Great training I'd imagine. Weighs a tonne. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-286553 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 08:22:41 +0000 fimm 286553@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well, (for anyone who might be interested) I finially got to BikeTrax with my Cycle To Work voucher on Saturday and a new Brompton is on order. It was a very smooth process (helped by the fact that I pretty much knew what I wanted). 4 - 6 weeks, the man said, probably nearer 6.</p> <p>Unfortunately my road bike has now died as well (temporarily, I hope, it needed a service before the Brompton died and it became my only bike, now it has to go to be fixed and I am bicycleless (a carbon fibre TT bike used for triathlons does not a suitable back-up utility cycle make...)) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-284467 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 09:24:13 +0000 fimm 284467@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@twinspark I intend to do that to some extent. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-284426 Sat, 09 Jun 2018 22:12:35 +0000 twinspark 284426@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just a random thought but would you need to buy a like for like new Brompton? Depending on the spec of your current Brompton, could you buy one of the pared down ones e.g. with no mudguards or rack or dynamo lights for example and transfer over the good bits from your existing Brompton? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-284297 Thu, 07 Jun 2018 13:54:39 +0000 fimm 284297@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well, I was worrying that I wouldn't be able to get another Brompton through my employer's bike to work scheme as it is run by Halfords - but eventually (on the part of the website behind a locked door with "beware of the leopard" on it) it would appear that there are independent retailers that I can go to as well. Including BikeTrax. Result! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-284206 Wed, 06 Jun 2018 10:37:07 +0000 crowriver 284206@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh well.</p> <p>At least you can look forward to enjoying a brand spanking new Brompton sometime soon! :-)</p> <p>Also if you auction off the old one on fleaBay for parts you can offset the cost. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-284186 Wed, 06 Jun 2018 08:30:12 +0000 fimm 284186@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Arellcat, thank you very much for that, much appreciated.<br /> That agrees with what the man at Biketrax was saying about having to bore out the hinge. It just feels like it isn't worth the cost and hassle any more. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875&page=2#post-284148 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 17:39:46 +0000 Arellcat 284148@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just had a chat with Ben Kinetics. If the hinge plates have worn, then they can be bored to 1/4" or 8mm depending on wear, and bushed to 6mm and new pins pressed in. But that takes time and money. The older frames are showing their age these days and usually eventually fail just behind the main frame clamp - but you pile on a new fillet braze and carry on.</p> <p>It may well not be cost effective to repair an old frame, all things considered. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875#post-284141 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:22:40 +0000 fimm 284141@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The pins in the hinges have worn the hinges to such an extent that the holes the pins go through are oval and getting bigger. That's the big issue. Mechanic doesn' think it is worth repairing. </p> <p>There's rust in the frame.<br /> I know there's something wrong with the bit where the seat post goes up and down because you have to pull it really hard to get it to go up.</p> <p>Probably needs front as well as rear rim. New cables and brake blocks, no doubt. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875#post-284138 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:09:36 +0000 ih 284138@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@fimm Did you see IWRATS offer? <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875#post-284057" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875#post-284057</a></p> <p>Seems genuine to me. You could still have it black. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875#post-284137 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:08:11 +0000 chdot 284137@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Might be worth more than you think -</p> <p><a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&amp;_sacat=0&amp;_nkw=brompton%20spares%20repair&amp;LH_Complete=1&amp;LH_Sold=1&amp;rt=nc&amp;_trksid=p2045573.m1684" rel="nofollow">https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&amp;_sacat=0&amp;_nkw=brompton%20spares%20repair&amp;LH_Complete=1&amp;LH_Sold=1&amp;rt=nc&amp;_trksid=p2045573.m1684</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875#post-284136 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:02:02 +0000 tammytroot 284136@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As above.<br /> I would strongly recommend a second opinion.<br /> I used to take our bromptons to bike trax but no longer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875#post-284135 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 15:58:01 +0000 chdot 284135@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“I don't think the Bicycle Works would be interested in a dead Brompton, would they?”</p> <p>Well anyone would!</p> <p>Never that dead.</p> <p>Replacing rim, pretty cheap.</p> <p>“What else does the bike need?”</p> <p>Exactly.</p> <p>Worn out folding bits doesn’t actually make it unrideable. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875#post-284134 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 15:38:23 +0000 Arellcat 284134@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A rear rim is £20 and an hour or two's work for an ex-bike mechanic. What else does the bike need? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875#post-284130 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 15:23:56 +0000 fimm 284130@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just spoken to BikeTrax. Not economical to repair. I can't even keep it on the road as a stop-gap; the rear rim is toast, apparently.</p> <p>&lt;Weeps into her mug of mint tea&gt;.</p> <p>I'll be getting it back. Will probably flog it on eBay for parts (once I've stripped one or two things off it) - I don't think the Bicycle Works would be interested in a dead Brompton, would they? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875#post-284078 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 08:44:14 +0000 fimm 284078@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>BikeTrax didn't phone yesterday. I'll chase them up today.<br /> I'm leaning towards getting a new one, but we'll see. One thing I definitely <em>won't</em> be spending money on is fancy paintwork. Black is just fine, thank you. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875#post-284057 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 19:14:21 +0000 I were right about that saddle 284057@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I just want to get hold of the bike, strip it, have Hendersons shot blast and paint it, knock in new bushings, rebuild and full service. I genuinely want to do this. I'd maybe design 'Fimm' branded decals too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875#post-284056 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 19:06:16 +0000 gembo 284056@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The tension is killing me. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875#post-283983 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 11:30:35 +0000 paolobr 283983@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot</p> <p>My Brompton is Turkish Green - only selected that colour as it looks very like Bianchi Green... </p>