[CLIVE FENNER]

I have seen some F frame Moultons that have had the rear cables fed through the frame. How is this achieved ? Getting the cables out of the rear hole seems to be a particular problem.
Thanks for any help with this.

[Ian]

I’ve drilled holes and stuck a screwdriver in an ‘bent’ the frame with a screwdriver and threaded the cable outer through before assembly. Then you can feed the inner through and adjust when the bike is assembled. Some thinking of cable runs is a good idea before perforating your frame but with the bare frame feeding the outer through is not that onerous. Be careful to think how you want to pass the rear pivot spar and to get the the right shape and size hole I experimented on some scrap material first! (And created the hole before powder coating)

[Bruce]

maybe Moultons are different (and perhaps they are, F’s have enough holes in to start with…) but I don’t like adding holes to bike frames because I have seen so many frames break via fatigue with the cracks running through (or definitely starting from) such holes. In addition they let water into the frame and this causes internal corrosion. I guess if you don’t do many miles and your bike never gets wet these things are less of a concern.

Call me cynical if you like, but I think that the only reason F frames have survived in any numbers is because they mostly don’t see mega miles in all weathers, and are not treated with the complete disdain that most other old bikes see.

If you do put holes into a frame (of any kind) try to avoid the most highly stressed areas, next to joints and/or wherever the bending stresses are highest. Whilst you would most likely be better off without them, IIRC the holes for most of the F-frame factory cable guides were not placed in dreadful positions.

cheers

[Ian]

Bruce, I welded up all the old cable guide holes in the frame I did before drilling the two I needed, so I think I probably strengthened it overall! 😉

[Bruce]

maybe! OK, here’s a couple of questions for you knowledgeable types; I have most of a ’65 stowaway (here in the UK) which appears originally to have been painted Gold which I am led to believe makes it a model originally meant for export (?). I’ve seen pictures of one or two others like this, and they have often been fitted with the long rear stand that mounts onto the ‘handle’ section of the frame. There is a small hole in my frame ‘handle’ roughly where the stand clamp would have gone… is this normal? I don’t have a stand so I was thinking about welding this hole up. (BTW I do have the ‘moustache’ chainguard though…)

In one or two cases I’ve seen picture of similar gold ‘export model’ (?) stowaways with a mysterious extra feature on the head tube too, running lengthwise at about the 8 O’clock position (as seen when riding). Anyone know what this might be?

cheers

[CLIVE FENNER]

Bruce thanks for your input, what does IIRC mean, is this text talk ?
I was planning on utilising the existing holes that the front rack bolt goes through, then only drilling new holes between the rear pivot bolt & rubber suspension block.

[Bruce]

sorry… IIRC = If I Recall Correctly

The rack holes are reinforced, but I’m not sure the cables will run through them at a nice angle unless they are modified.

The area near the pivot is somewhat highly stressed and it is not unknown for frames to fail in this region even if they don’t have holes in. Maybe there is a ‘known good’ place to put the hole, or a good reinforcement method?

cheers

[david james]

hi bruce
i can can confirm there would be a small hole drilled for the moulton sidestand, it was for a stainless steel self tapping grub screw to stop the clamp moving.i would fill it up with some epoxy putty as it’s so small to be inconsequential. i’ve been using an f-frame as a ride to work “hack” for the last 3 months every day , i have to use a ferry where there are may be 50 bikes on board for the 7 minute trip and in my opinion the f-frame as a ride to work bike has no equal, with the suspension that copes with the appalling roads we have brilliantly and the mudguards that stop mud spraying on your back and the generous rear rack it would seem to be the perfect commuter bike.

[Bobbie Martin]

I’m actually doing this to an F frame now. I installed brass tubes for the cables to run through, with braze on cover plates. I have both tubes in, working on the cover plates. So far it is OK, hopefully it will work out! I’ll post pictures when I’m done – good or bad!
Here is the tubing I used: http://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-frame-tubing/BRASS-INTERNAL-TOP-TUBE-HOUSING-GUIDE.html
and the cover plates: http://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-frame-tubing/INTERNAL-BRAKE-GUIDE-COVERPLATE.html

[Bobbie Martin]

Well, I have the brazing done. Still need some cleaning up, but the tubes and cover plates are in. I guess it came out OK for a first try.

[Author]

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