[TR] season's greetings and other stuff

[Jim Muller]

First, let me wish everyone happy, safe, and peaceful holidays!

I've been out of touch for a few months, it seems.  Way too much to 
do, some mechanical.  Lately I've been in a slow process to bring 
back to life a piece of French machinery, a Peugeot TH8.  That's 
tandem bicycle they made in the early 80's.  This is my sweetie's and 
my Christmas present to each other so she can ride with me this 
coming year.  Between that effort, the weather, and other domestic 
concerns I haven't had much time for LBC stuff.  At least I can work 
on the TH8 in the basement.

LBC work does happen sometimes though.  I just finished the last 
details getting the gearbox back in the GT6, then drove it around the 
block.  The good news is that the squeaky noises I heard are totally 
gone.  It is totally quiet (considering the car it is in).  Even the 
whining on overrun in 2nd is gone.  So the needle bearing between 
input and main shafts was the culprit.

The bad news is that something is amiss with 1st.  On overrun it acts 
like it wants to kick out.  It starts making a clicking noise like 
the dog teeth are scraping.  "Shifting" it back into gear, i.e. de-
clutching and pushing the lever back into gear makes it grind as if 
the synchros are bad.  Curiously, it had no such problem before I 
took it apart.  Maybe I put something together wrong but danged if I 
know what.  I'm open to suggestions.  Unfortunately it means pulling 
it out again.  If it's is worth doing once, it's worth doing twice, 
right? :-(

The TH8 is an intersting machine.  First, some of the components use 
French standard sizes, obsolete since even the French moved away from 
them starting in the early 80's.  The rear hub, made by Atom, a 
traditional French brand back then, is a monstrous device with a 
solid spindle (no quick release skewer) nearly 11mm in diameter.  It 
has a drum brake, necessary for touring tandems to do long descents 
without heating the wheels with rim brakes so much that the tires pop 
off the rims.  This will be have a triple chainring set and a 6-speed 
freewheel.

I've probably reached the character limit here.  Must sign off.

Cheers, everyone!


Jim Muller
jimmuller at rcn.com