Classic & Vintage - Some questions on a 1965 Raleigh Superbe

How serviceable is the front dynohub on these bikes? I feel some lateral play, I assume I can adjust / replace bearings just like a normal hub.

I have a hand full of missing spokes in the rear, what length / brand should I use... I kinda don't want shiny spokes next to my neat rusty ones but *shrug* if I have to I have to.

what seat should this bike have... a B72? a B66?

According to the rear hub its a 1965, does that look right?

Thanks.

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by a bizarre coincidence, I attempted to overhaul one last night. The bearing races were shot unfortunately, but nonetheless I didn't manage to extract the dyno-side bearings. I suspect the four tiny (5mm) nuts on the inside of the dynamo are what you need to remove to access the bearings.

- Joel

You've got a nice bike there and a good candidate for a restoration. The Superbe is a nice rider and you have the extras on there (especially that nice Prestube rack on the back, those are hard to find). Some work and some paint and it will be the nicest ride on the block.:D

B-72 was the more coveted saddle. The LBS was quite helpful in setting me up with proper length spokes, but even if yours isn't good at the calculations, all it takes is to remove one of them and let them measure. If they can't do that... well, you might want to be in the market for a better LBS. Hopefully the little bit of play is just a cone in need of adjustment. I know I was able to service my AW hub in the rear, but I don't recall whether I did the front too - though I can't imagine I would have just let it go - and it's quit smooth now. Anyhow, I'd be surprised if Sheldon Brown doesn't have some info on doing that.

Very nice looking bicycle. I still haven't gotten around to trying to paint my rear rack (I'm using a Pletscher for now), and I still need to get the lighting system working. I wish you the best with yours, and between nlerner, mswantak, cudak888 and me (and maybe some others I don't know of who have Superbes), there's the nucleus of a support group here on the forum. If you need help with anything specific, ask. Good chance someone will be able to help.

Here's a link to a page on my '72 Superbe: http://tinyurl.com/nw7v9. Saddle is the original B66.

From your pics, it looks like the pedals were replaced with steel rat-trap variety at some point; original would be rubber tread, 4" long w/ a dustcap and no reflectors (those one-piece Union pedals with integrated reflectors were a later design).

I haven't overhauled a front Dynohub, but there's lots of info on the web for doing so, such as here: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/dynohubs.html.

Neal

ReCycle, I have the same replacement saddle and I've installed it on a couple of bikes without much success. Were you able to get it tightened up and rock-free with the original hardware?

I suggest the 66. The springs work a little better and it would have been the original saddle on a Superbe in most cases. Have a 66 on my sports and my DL-1. Love them both.