Folding Bikes - Moulton 4 Speed 1965 F-Frame

Hello Friends,

Some weeks ago i got a very good example of a 1965 Moulton 4 speed. This particular model was manufactured at Bradford on Avon. Ive been digging the net to read reviews tips or anything about this particular model. So now im going to contribute with a couple of photos i took tonight, hopefully this pics can help others restore or simply entertain.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/echotraveler/IMG_8213-1.jpg
Moulton 4 Speed 1965
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/echotraveler/IMG_8215.jpg
Moulton rear fork assembly
4http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/echotraveler/IMG_8216.jpg
*here i wanted to point out how the crank arm has bent inward, i suppose from coasting, any ideas of how to fix this without damaging the chrome would be appreciated.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/echotraveler/IMG_8217.jpg
Moulton original kick stand, most cool!:love:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/echotraveler/IMG_8219.jpg
Rear view of saddle and rack
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/echotraveler/IMG_8220.jpg
Close up on handlebars
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/echotraveler/IMG_8221.jpg
Front View
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/echotraveler/IMG_8223.jpg
Faded Moulton Logo


if you guys need more pics of particular pats lets me know.:D
Enjoy

heres the rest.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/echotraveler/IMG_8225.jpg
front Dunlop rip and hub
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/echotraveler/IMG_8226.jpg
Multon suspension closeup
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/echotraveler/IMG_8227.jpg
Awesome crank! its stunning

enjoy

I take the crank arm off and clamp the axle end in a vice, then get a scaffold pipe and slip it on and push. take the arm out of vice and check with straight edge, a ruler.


Also. These old Moultons are prone for cracking the swingarm. where the tubes meet the flat metal brake bridge. 2 of my Moultons were cracked

I take the crank arm off and clamp the axle end in a vice, then get a scaffold pipe and slip it on and push. take the arm out of vice and check with straight edge, a ruler.


Also. These old Moultons are prone for cracking the swingarm. where the tubes meet the flat metal brake bridge. 2 of my Moultons were cracked

do you know any good way of addresing the cracking before it happends?
also, under what pressure did it crack?? what were you doing??

I take the crank arm off and clamp the axle end in a vice, then get a scaffold pipe and slip it on and push. take the arm out of vice and check with straight edge, a ruler.



Cotter pins cranks are awfully. throw the crank in the bin. Original or not.Get something decent,but contemporary. just my 2 cents.

Cotter pins cranks are awfully. throw the crank in the bin. Original or not.Get something decent,but contemporary. just my 2 cents.

guess we have different views about things:eek:....i would never throw an orignal part to the trash...

right now im a bit worried about the cracking thing, this bike seems so sturdy feels pretty good on the road cant really think it would crack after 44 of service....i will treat my Moulton gently, *PUTTING HANDS ON EARS*

im trying to read about this issue, but theres little info. I read on the Moultoneer site about f-frame rear forks, and it mention something about the kirby factory not performing the best welds or brazes on some bikes, but doesn't really relate this issue to the cracking, since it was supposedly a design flaw, i still believe this happened only to rough riding moultoneers.

any F-frame users shime in, this discussion will help a lot of moulton fans.:thumb:

I will try to post some pics of mine. Its just like yours but a year earlier. The kickstand on these bike suck. I don't find the Middlemore saddle comfortabe. The bike rides good. No problem with the forks but I will recheck. Mine is in very fine condition given its age. Four speed adjustment is very finicky. I had to play with it a bit to get all four speeds to work.

I will try to post some pics of mine. Its just like yours but a year earlier. The kickstand on these bike suck. I don't find the Middlemore saddle comfortabe. The bike rides good. No problem with the forks but I will recheck. Mine is in very fine condition given its age. Four speed adjustment is very finicky. I had to play with it a bit to get all four speeds to work.

oh plz post some pics bro!:thumb:
the four speed, i would say you get used to inner hub gears and their personality ;) i personally like them better cause if they go out of tune you just tighten or loosen a string, unlike deraillers that have 4+ screws to fiddle with.
the middlemore....hmmm....it looks cool, its original but my butt didn't appreciate it today after my first commute day. Since i'm new to it i may need to adjust it better and repost my opinion.


Today a great friend who's a "tool and dimmer" with lots of useful tools heated up the crank and we pulled the bent crank arm, its straight now.:D

Very nice F Frame.:thumb: They must have used inferior metal in the crank arms. My stowaway's left hand crank was bent inwards like your drive side one was.

I think the Moulton owners club had exchange swingarms that were rewelded.

I didnt weld my Moultons. I sold the bikes to a collector. He was a car mechanic. I told him about the cracks. He knew they did that. He could repair them.

If I had one now. I would weld another plate of metal underneath.

I have the exact same bike. They were made by Moulton in the UK and then marketted here through Huffy. Mine still has the Huffy stickers (in addition to Moulton's).

Bought mine in a local yard sale. New tires cost me twice what I paid for the bike.

Incidentally, Alex Moulton was an automotive engineer who designed the suspension on the first Mini's which came out in the late 50's then he quit and started making these bicycles.

Here is a picture of mine. I just put the Brooks saddle on. It needs a little less back slope. I dislike taking off the stock Middlemore but the Brooks is more comfortabe.

If you look close you can see I modded the kickstand by adding a piece to it to change the tilt of the bike.

Here is a picture of mine. I just put the Brooks saddle on. It needs a little less back slope. I dislike taking off the stock Middlemore but the Brooks is more comfortabe.

If you look close you can see I modded the kickstand by adding a piece to it to change the tilt of the bike.
thats a super nice moulton!:thumb: your paint is much better than mine....i notice your rear rack is white and the bike is more creme...why is this..mine has the same characteristic, i thought mine were repainted at some point.

also, how tall are you? that moulton seems setup for a very tall person.

I think all rear racks and front racks were painted that color. At least, the Huffy imports. Isn't yours like that too? I am 5'-9. I used to be 5-10 when I was younger. I raised the seat at least a 1/4" and changed the tilt of saddle since the picture. I like the seat relatively high. I guess.

I think all rear racks and front racks were painted that color. At least, the Huffy imports. Isn't yours like that too? I am 5'-9. I used to be 5-10 when I was younger. I raised the seat at least a 1/4" and changed the tilt of saddle since the picture. I like the seat relatively high. I guess.

well i guessed you were taller than me (5'10") cause the front stem was higher...i wish mine could go higher, but the sturmey archer selector cable is too short, right now its at maximum hight...

do you know i fi could get a replacement cable anywere?

well i guessed you were taller than me (5'10") cause the front stem was higher...i wish mine could go higher, but the sturmey archer selector cable is too short, right now its at maximum hight...

do you know i fi could get a replacement cable anywere?

These are for three speed but I am not sure if there is a difference. Call them about the length.

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/sturmey-archer-parts.html

There is this one ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-3-speed-shifter-cable-and-housing-Cruiser_W0QQitemZ120464421442QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c0c3d3242&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14I have bought from this seller before.

Again I would ask about the length. Women's bikes probably had shorter cables.

Love it - Moultons look great in grey...

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VpTv7iD0j2I/Sr61r9CtlKI/AAAAAAAADHg/aiNyc9GDyws/s800/DSCI1299.JPG
My 1964 Stowaway. Freshly serviced and cleaned.

NICE!:thumb: