Cycle Repairing and Adjusting
With a Chapter on building a Bicycle from a Set of Parts

OVERHAULING A BICYCLE 27 for the interior, unless the chain is immersed in the mixture whilst this is hot and liquid, when it will find its way into all parts, and form one of the very best chain lubricants obtainable. A good lubricant for external application to chains consists of plumbago and vaseline. Any good make of blacklead will do, but specially prepared plumbago is better. Crush the blacklead to a fine powder and mix thoroughly with twice the bulk of good vaseline and a little lubricating oil. Adjusting Wheels and Chain.—When adjusting the wheels and bracket, do so before replacing the chain, and the best way is to tighten up the cone rather too tight, and then slack back a trifle until the wheel or bracket will oscillate without any perceptible side shake. When adjust- ing the chain, see that the back wheel is quite true in the forks both at the bottom and top, and have the chain so adjusted that there is a slight sag at both the top and bottom. Examining and Cleaning Bearings.—For cleaning bearings without going to the trouble of taking them to pieces, proceed thus : Fill an oil-can having a fine point with paraffin, and thoroughly swill out the bearings by squirting the paraffin through the lubricators, and revolving the bearings repeatedly until the paraffin runs out quite clean. Place the wheels and frame on its side, so that all paraffin may drain out. Then if there is any shake or play in the bearings, take this up, and spin the wheel or bracket, whichever it may be, and listen carefully if there is any “ click ” to be heard when the bearing is revolved.