Brompton electrification

[cwah]

Jerry, I'm considering the Kojak tyre but I'm not sure if I'd have enough clearance once purchased. So it's quite a bet.

Neptune, would an angle grinder like this one work?
4 1/2" 115Mm Disc Angle Grinder 500W Power Tool New | eBay

And I just add 1 disc?
2 x 1mm 115mm 4 1/2" angle grinder thin metal cutting discs LONG LASTING | eBay

 

[neptune]

I buy loads of stuff off ebay , but the problem is that you can not see what you are buying . If you are in the UK , have a look in your local B and Q of Wickes store . Probably no dearer and you can look before you buy. Remember the whole tool needs to fit in the space where the wheel fits . In inexperienced hands , angle grinders can do a lot of damage in a short time . You will need welding gloves and goggles . You would need a thicker disc than 1mm . This 1mm disc is for cutting, not grinding. You need at least 3mm . Discs are sold as cutting or grinding discs .Thinking about it, a file is slower, but cheaper and a lot easier to control. Probably about £5.I do not know how to create links. Go on Ebay , and enter the following in the search box. 8" long half round bastard cut with handle. Less than a fiver delivered.

 

[cwah]

I know Neptune, but as I've never "grinded" anything before, I prefer to get advice from you rather than seller on a shop.

If you can recommend the grinder you think is appropriate I'll certainly get it. I think it would be my best bet as I don't really trust shop seller.

ps: Wait I'm trying to look for the 8" long half round bastard

 

[cwah]

I don't understand that surely the joining piece is not that thick ?

I will go check the clearance on mine.

Kojak tires may give you more clearance as they are thinner, not as much puncture protection though. I have been running Kojaks on mine for 10 months and had one puncture on my daily commute.

PS Ok I have about 20-25mm clearance from that part to the tire on mine and of course widening the forks will bring the dropouts nearer to that part, as they arc backwards.

Is it actually rubbing or locked solid, as I said Kojaks would give you more clearance.

Regards

Jerry

Jerry, I'm actually having a VERY HARD time trying to fit my tyre to the CR-18 rim. I punctured 2 tubes and have strong marks on the rim when I tried to fit the tyre. As I'm talking now, the tyre is punctured and still not working..

I've seen you had the CR-18 rim before, is it working better with a Kojaks tyre? If so, I'd buy it and that may solve 2 problems at one.

 

[cwah]

Neptune, is it that tool?
8" LONG HALF ROUND FILE BASTARD CUT WITH HANDLE | eBay

 

[jerrysimon]

Jerry, I'm actually having a VERY HARD time trying to fit my tyre to the CR-18 rim. I punctured 2 tubes and have strong marks on the rim when I tried to fit the tyre. As I'm talking now, the tyre is punctured and still not working..

I've seen you had the CR-18 rim before, is it working better with a Kojaks tyre? If so, I'd buy it and that may solve 2 problems at one.

When you first try to fit any tire to those rims its a nightmare! The smaller the rim the harder it is.

Time and lots of practice is required. I actually changed and use Brompton rims that are drilled with 36 holes now as its much easier to fit tires to them. The rim well is very shallow on the CR18s but if you make sure the bead is in the center of the rim well, you can get them on ok. Also worth using proper rim tape rather than that blue plastic band Brompton supply which adds extra thickness and makes it even harder.

This is all deja vu, see my post about it

All that said yours is a much more powerful motor and the CR18 rim produces a much stronger build.

Regards

Jerry

 

[cwah]

Jerry, so you mean the kojack tyre would have the same problem with the CR18s rim?

The only way would be to get a brompton 36 holes rim? but they are not available anymore?

 

[jerrysimon]

Jerry, so you mean the kojack tyre would have the same problem with the CR18s rim?

The only way would be to get a brompton 36 holes rim? but they are not available anymore?

Yes (all tires are hard to fit) see my link I just added to my post above. All Brompton rims are 28h. I got some blank ones which a friend redrilled with 36h for me.

Look on youtube there are some links about getting tires onto rims. Its ALL about technique!

Often the smaller the rim (i.e. 16" rims) the harder it is.

Regards

Jerry

 

[cwah]

Ok, I think I'll stay with my tyre and fill the rear fork then.

Just purchased this bastard lime:
8" LONG HALF ROUND FILE BASTARD CUT WITH HANDLE | eBay

And a nylon protected tyre lever to protect the tim:
eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

And a pack of 5 inner tubes because I'm doing puncture everytime I try to fit the tyre.

 

[cwah]

Found the Big Apple tyre for Dahon curve (16") here:
Schwalbe Big Apple kevlar belt tyre 16 x 2.0" for Dahon curve - Brilliant Bikes

Any idea if that can fit the brompton?

 

[Synthman]

Do you have a link to the type of tool I should use?

I have now a silverline drill:
Hammer DIY Power Drilll 500w Silverline 265897 240V 3 Years Warranty DH002 (5024763040856) | eBay

Can I convert it to an angle grinder?

That drill has nowhere near enough speed to be used as a grinder, and no other drill will do it either. You could however get a flexible drive attachment for the drill and mount a mini grinding tool on the end.

The cheapest angle grinder in Argos will do the job. I bought mine there 14 years ago and it still works. They have a very good returns policy too. B&Q have the best offers on grinding discs at the moment, and they sell them individually. Goggles are essential, but you probably don't need welding gloves. When I cut my bike lock off last week I used my riding gloves and they worked perfectly!

 

[johnc461165]

Hi cwah, sorry to hear your tyre is rubbing it was something I did think about when widening your forks, but not having a built up wheel I could not check it, however you should get enough clearance by filing the cross piece, I know it would be inconvenient for you postage price wise but if you have any problems I will alter the crosspiece for you. John

PS No charge as usual

 

[cwah]

Thanks John, that's really kind of you.

And no worries, filling the cross piece doesn't seem to be complicated at all

For now, my biggest challenge is to manage to fit the tyre into the rim. Punctured 2 tubes and already indented my rim trying to do that this afternoon lol.

 

[NRG]

Just thinking out loud but if the tyre is this difficult to fit at home what would happen if you got a puncture out-and-about...could you even remove the tyre?

 

[jerrysimon]

Just thinking out loud but if the tyre is this difficult to fit at home what would happen if you got a puncture out-and-about...could you even remove the tyre?

Yes NRG one of the reasons I changed rims. However like I said with practice it does get easier. Despite that its easy to damage the wire bead when getting the tire off. This then leads to more punctures caused by the damaged/exposed wire bead rubbing the tube.

Found the Big Apple tyre for Dahon curve (16") here:
Schwalbe Big Apple kevlar belt tyre 16 x 2.0" for Dahon curve - Brilliant Bikes

Any idea if that can fit the brompton?

Big Apples are even bigger and won't fit on a stock Brompton without fouling the frame!

Regards

Jerry

 

[eddieo]

not trying to teach you how to suck eggs but do you put some air in tube before trying to get tyre in rim?

as for the cross piece I would remove wheel and cut it out with a hack saw (you can set blade at 45 deg if necessary) then just file it down......

 

[cwah]

Yeah, I put some air before trying to put the tyre, but it was so difficult I decided to remove the air in order to have more space lol

 

[Cakey]

To get the tyre on easier put some washing up liquid around the rubber bead .
It also stops the tube from snake bites , if caught on the rim .

 

[jerrysimon]

I tried all the tricks, washing liquid, talcolm powder, cable ties etc etc.

The smaller wheel size compounds the problem over standard size wheels. I bet its hard to fit them to CR18 20" rims but on the 16" ones its almost impossible. Can be done obviously, but requires a lot of technique.

The only way round it (no pun intended) is to get cloth rim tape and make certain the tire beads both sides are right down into the center well of the rim all the way round, so you can get the last bit of bead over the rim edge.

As I said it drove me nuts when I was learning how to do this. Even if you manage to get them on, its nearly as difficult to get them off and you WILL end up damaging the beads if you do it more than a few times.

Regards

Jerry

 

[Pedalo]

I tried all sorts of fancy tyre levers when I was regularly fitting and removing tyres from the Sun rim and I damaged numerous tyres and inner tubes in the process.

I quite agree with Jerry, stopping to think about technique is how you win at this. By continually pushing the tyres towards the centre of the rim will give you just that little more tyre required to pull it over the rim edge. It really does work and once you get the technique you'll find it amazing how much easier it is than when you first tried it!

If that fails try some loud swearing!