Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Craig's Carlton - One of my favorites I rarely get to work on!!

This is Craig's Carlton in for restoration.  I love Carlton bicycles and it is so rare I get to work on one.  I had a Carlton Flyer a while back that I loved and I sold so I could start doing this full time.  I love the feel of Carlton bicycles, they have a feel all their own (A lot of that goes to the Reynolds 531 tubing.).  I also love their classic looks.  Some of the features of Craig's Carlton is Campagnolo Record derailleurs, although we need to find a front derailleur, Campagnolo shift levers and Campagnolo wheel hubs.  So awesome!

The Carlton is a little rough but nothing that can't be worked with.The Carlton will get a complete restoration along with new paint and decals, a replacement front derailleur, new handlebar tape, new bearings, new brake pads, new cables and housings and new tires and tubes.  I can't wait to test ride the Carlton and see how it compared to my Flyer!    

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Handlebars

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Brake

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Hub

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Rim

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Stem

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Head Tube

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Fork

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Fork Crown

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Campagnolo Shift Levers

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Down Tube

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Seat Lug Area

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Reynolds Decal

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Seat Tube

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Seat Tube

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Bottom Bracket

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Crank

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Derailleur

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Brake Caliper

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Campagnolo Record Rear Derailleur

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel Hub 

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel Rim
With the frame broken down I find the frame to be in good shape with the paint being replaced.  There is little to no rust.  I will have to align the fork blades, they are slightly off by eye.  I am mad because I can't find the overall photo of the frame broken down.

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Head Tube

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Head Tube

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Head Tube

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Top Tube

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Down Tube

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Lug

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Tube

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Stays

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Stays

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Chain Stays

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Drop Outs

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Fork

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Crown

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Crown

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Blade

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Blade

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Drop Outs

The component piece spent a long time in the cleaners and crock pot so I got started on the wheels.  I love Campagnolo Record wheel hubs, they don't get better then this and that is coming from a Dura Ace guy.  To really get the hubs looking right I had to brake the wheels down so I could polish the hubs on the polishing wheels. I found about half the spokes where rusted into the spoke nipples so the spokes would have needed to be replaced anyways just to true the wheels.  

With the wheels broken down I got to work on the polishing wheels.  The wheels hubs polished just beautiful and the rims along with the hubs!!  This is the stuff that makes me excited for what I do.  I love it!  I couldn't be happier with the wheel hubs and rims.
  
Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel
Before

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel
Before - Wheel Hub

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel
Before - Wheel Hub 

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel
Before - Wheel Hub

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel
Before - Wheel Rim

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel
Before - Wheel Hub Old Grease

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front WheelBefore 
Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel
Before - Wheel Hub



Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel
Before Wheel Hub

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel
Before - WHeel Rim

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel
Before - Wheel Hub Old Grease

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Wheels Disassembled

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rims Disassembled

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Wheel Hubs Disassembled
Before Polishing

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Hub Disassembled
Before Polishing

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Hub Disassembled
Before Polishing

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Hub Disassembled
Before Polishing

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Hub Disassembled
Before Polishing

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Wheel Hubs Polished

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel Hub Polished

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub Polished

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel Hub Polished

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub Polished

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Axle Pieces Ready

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Wheel Hubs Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Wheel Rims Polished

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Wheel Rims Polished
I messed up the paint process on the main frame so I am currently repainting the main frame.  The fork painted nicely.  The paint color is called Cream Soda, I don't know how blue is cream soda but I feel its a very nice match, it has just about he right metallic amount too. 

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Fork Painted

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Fork Painted

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Fork Painted

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Fork Painted

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Fork Painted
The frame painted nicely.  I think the seat post must have been stuck in the frame at one point, there was evidence it was preyed out. Overall I am very happy with the paint, the camera and fluorescent lights do not do it justice, the paint has a very nice light metallic flake that doesn't show up.

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Painted

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Painted

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Painted

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Painted

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Painted

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Painted

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Painted

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Frame Painted
I had to upgrade my phone, you know all that Apple slowing down the older phones thing.  In that change everything changed how I get photos up to the website.  I lost some of the photos in the process, very frustrating.

The headset and bottom bracket where rough but after sometime in the crock pot and work on the polishing wheels they turned out very nice.  With new bearings and grease the headset and bottom bracket spin beautifully!    
Craig's Carlton Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Before


Craig's Carlton Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Polished

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Pressing Headset Cups

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Headset Cups Pressed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Headset Bearings
Packed


Craig's Carlton Restoration - Headset
Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Headset Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Headset Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bottom Bracket
Bearings Packed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bottom Bracket Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bottom Bracket
Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Complete
I don't know where the stem and handlebar photos went, very frustrating, so we pick up with the brake levers.  The brake levers polished very nice and with new hoods and handlebar tape they will be even better.

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Brake Levers Polished

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Brake Levers Installed
I like cotter cranks, maybe not the removing old cotter pins but I have always liked the character and design most cotter cranks have.  This crank is no exception!  I broke the crank down and started the polishing.  The crank polished very nice.  Assembled and isntalled I could't be happier with the crank.

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Crank Before

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Crank Exploded

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Crank Polished

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Crank Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Crank Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Crank Installed
The brake calipers are rough but that should not be a problem.  I will replace bits an pieces from the small parts drawer as I go.  The pieces cleaned and polished very nicely. With all the bushings cleaned and lubricated assembled the calipers work wonderfully.  Installed the calipers look great!

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Brake Calipers Before

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Brake Calipers Exploded View

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Brake Calipers Polished

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Brake Calipers Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Brake Calipers Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Brake Calipers Installed
The shift levers where a challenge.  After a good deal of cleaning, removing some rust and time on the polishing wheels I am pretty happy with the shift levers.  Installed with the new paint of the frame the shift levers look great!

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Shift Levers Before

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Shift Levers Before

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Shift Levers Before

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Shift Levers Exploded

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Shift Levers polished

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Shift Levers Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Shift Levers Installed
Just a few things left to do.  I am waiting on the decals to be printed.  I have the rear wheel complete, the front wheel is almost complete, it took me some time finding the spoke length for the front  at a descent price.  Cables, tires and tubes to install and handlebar tape and brake elver hoods.  Not far to go.


The rear derailleur is a little rough but is is a cool Campagnolo Record! One of the better derailleurs ever.  I broke down the rear derailleur and started the polishing and lubricating to get it to move better.  The rear derailleur isn't perfect but it functions perfect and its cool factor is very high!

I am missing a few photos over the next few section.  The problem with a new phone and different cloud and all that stuff I don't know much about.

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Derailleur Before

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Derailleur Exploded


Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear derailleur Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Derailleur Installed
After a debacle with getting rear spoke the wheels are laced and beautiful!  The rear spokes through all the vendors I go to and some I don't like to use except in a pinch I could not find the size for a reasonable price. So I went the Amazon way.  Always read the small print, I didn't know the spokes where coming direct from China.  I order a 50 spoke bag of spokes.  well there where only 23 spokes in the bag.  15 short of what I needed and they where 3 different sizes.  Luckily a friend was nice and cut spokes for me to length and rolled the threads for me.  Well, he cut and rolled the first one and then I got to use he roller.

The wheels are amazing.  The stainless steel spokes look so much better then the old galvanized spokes.  The wheel hubs are just plain beautiful and the original rims shine almost perfect.  I really love this stuff!!

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel Laced

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel Laced

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel Laced

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel Laced

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel LAced

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel Laced

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel Laced

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel Laced

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Derailleur Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel Complete

The seat post had some gouging.  I think because at some point it was stuck in the frame and took a little rough handling to remove.  I used hand files to clean up the upper portion a little that is visible.  I did not file the lower portion that is in the frame because I didn't want to change its size.  Overall in looks pretty good!

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Seat Post Before

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Seat Post Polished

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Seat Post & Binder Bolt
Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Wheels & Seat Post Installed

Now is the time to choose colors of cable housings, choose tires, and choose the color of the brake lever hoods and handlebar tape.


I found a front Campagnolo derailleur to replace the 1980's Shimano replacement derailleur.  IT is in pretty nice shape to start.  Some time on the polishing wheels and a good flushing and lubricating and it looks and functions great.

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Replacement Front Campagnolo Derailleur
Before

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Replacement Front Campagnolo Derailleur
Before

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Replacement Front Campagnolo Derailleur
Before

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Replacement Front Campagnolo Derailleur
Before

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Replacement Front Campagnolo Derailleur
Exploded

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Replacement Front Campagnolo Derailleur
Polished

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Replacement Front Campagnolo Derailleur
Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Replacement Front Campagnolo Derailleur
Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Replacement Front Campagnolo Derailleur
Installed

With the front derailleur complete I installed the new Panaracer tires.  My favorite tire for a vintage look.

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Tire Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Front Wheel Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Rear Wheel Complete
Next I installed the new brake lever hoods, cable and cable housings.  I like the white color chosen, it will look good with the blue color, the shop light don't do the blue color justice, int eh sun there will be a hint of metallic sparkle.

Craig's Carlton Restoration - New Brake Lever Hoods

Craig's Carlton Restoration - New Brake Lever Hoods Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - New Cables & Housings

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Cables Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Cables Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Cables Installed
It is always hard to use a Campagnolo derailleur where it wasn't normally because Campagnolo does not use cable housings on their front derailleurs.  Well there are a few out there that has a cable housing stop built in but very rare to find.  When I am at swap meets and see Campagnolo bottom bracket cable stops I always buy them if the price is right.  Here is the one for the Carlton.  The small guide on the right will be removed and everything polished.  This will allow for correct front derailleur cable routing.

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Campagnolo Cable Guide

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Campagnolo Cable Guide
Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Campagnolo Cable Guide
Complete
Next is the white cloth handlebar tape.  No matter how clean I get the shop and my hands I always end up with a few spots of dirt on the white to clean up.  Only 2 this time!

Craig's Carlton Restoration - New Handlebar Tape

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Handlebar Tape Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Handlebar Tape Installed
 I save everything that comes off a bike and will not be used.  Everything from components to the smallest nut or screw.  I have many many organizers filled with the stuff.  For end caps I went through the collection and pulled out these era correct metal chrome bar end caps.  Perfect for the tape and handlebars of the Carlton.

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Chrome Metal Caps

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Chrome Metal Caps
Installed
 I was having a lot of problems with the shifting of the Carlton on the stand, a new chain curried a lot of the problems.
Craig's Carlton Restoration - New Chain
 Craig has a Brooks saddle to put on the Carlton.  For test riding I am installing an old Wright saddle.

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Temporary Saddle Installed
The Carlton has been giving me a heck of a time tuning, its been all day so far.  The shifting has been getting a lot better, the brakes are not improving as of yet.  When the tuning and test riding is complete I will install the decals and do the detail work.


I ruined the first set of decals with my giant ability to be a Klutz.   The decals are from Velocals.  They are vinyl press decals which are about a million times better then water slide decals.  Installed I am very happy with the decals.

Craig's Carlton Restoration - New Decals

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Fork Decal Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Down Tube Decal Installed

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Decal Process

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Seat Tube Decal

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Decals Complete

A couple things that happened along the way at the end was the outlining of the lugs in gold and the installation of the head badge.  Outlining lugs is one of my favorite things to do, it transforms a bicycle right in front of your eyes.

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Head Badge Installed 

The Raleigh Carlton took some doing to get it tuned correctly but now it flys! Shifts very nicely and stops pretty nice for steel rims.  I couldn't be happier with the ride.  The Raleigh looks amazing.  The white accents go so well with the new blue paint.  The Raleigh has such a classic look I love with the cloth tape, tan wall tires and tan brake lever hoods.  I love it!

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Handlebars

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Stem & Handlebars
Need to remove that dirt spot from cloth tape.

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Brake

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Head Tube

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Front Wheel Hub

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Front Rim

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Stem

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Head Tube

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Fork Crown

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Shift Levers

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete Down Tube

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Saddle Area

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Reynolds Decal

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Seat Tube

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Crank

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Derailleur

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Rear Brake Caliper

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Rear Wheel Hub

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Rear Derailleur

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Rear Rim

Craig's Carlton Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Thank you
John