caotropheus

Here it is as promised. I got a folding bicycle from a friend that works in a bicycle shop (more garage than shop!) in a Kibbutz in Israel. He told me this is a Russia made folding bicycle. I do not know if this is the case, but you can check by your selves in the slide show.

https://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/cjmvca...=/ce91&.src=ph

Few things are indeed different the bottom bracket shell is different in diameter from the European and American sizes. The rear coaster brake is different also in diameter for the sprocket. You may see some changes; the first headache was to "transform" the bottom bracket into European one so I could use a bottom bracket cartridge. So I measured the inside of the folding bike's bottom bracket: 40 mm, so far, so good. But, in the center the diameter was 36 or 37 mm, so transformation got a bit more difficult. At once I cut down the bottom bracket of a children's bicycle, filed it to bare metal and cut 21 mm long in the edges. I spread lots of epoxy glue in the interior of the folding bike and then inserted the two halves of the children's bicycle. To keep the 2 halves in place, I screwed a bottom bracket cartridge just to keep everything strait and in place.
The rear coaster brake had to be replaced by a made in Taiwan coaster brake. The bolt and nut of the stem were replaced by a bolt and nut to hold the set of chain rings to the crank. I use an old BMX saddle for the mean while until I buy a real saddle and a real seat post. The present bicycle weight is 10.4 kg.
As soon I have changes, I will let you know

LittlePixel

Great set of pictures! You have certainly gone for it to get a compatable BB!
I love the colour too - will be great when it's finished - I'm sure. Keep us posted!

Guy Yinon

Nice to meet a member who lives in Israel too

LWaB

A little late now but that BB looks like a standard European 'kids size' (with press-in cups?). Quite a few modern BMXs are built using that system, known amongst the kids as 'Spanish size'. Some nice three piece cranks and BBs available.

caotropheus

LWaB

I am not sure if this is the "Spanish size". I have also a children's BMX wheel 20 and other folding bicycle that the Bottom Bracket is treadless, it has 2 cups that are inserted with some pressure. But in this case, the bottom bracket shell as the same size as a threaded shell.

LWaB

Standard BMX 1-piece bottom brackets (Ashtabula) are about 2" internal diameter threadless. 'Spanish' is noticeably smaller, haven't got one here to measure. Just a guess anyway.

Guy Yinon

Do you mean a Thompson type BB ?

Chop!

Thanks for the great pictures! I've added it to my links as 'Kama'. Is this right?

caotropheus

Chop

I looked carefully to the stikers and in the seattube's sticker there is "loud and clear"

MADE IN USSR

Chop!

Top Banana!

v1nce

Da,.. Russian Teknology and Vodka is Superior! We drink now yess?

Ehm, allright enough of the stereotypes. Nice bike! Hopefull it is made like a tank just like many other Russian products.

caotropheus

Hello again guys

When I told you this bicycle was different in all aspects, that's because it is different in all aspects. Yesterday I bought a quality aluminium seat post with the build in saddle clamp, 25.4 mm diameter. So far, so good, but, when I tried to introduce this brand new seat post in the seat tube it doesn't enter. I took the calliper and I measured the inner diameter of the seat tube clamp area: 25 mm. $%&# I said. Please help me solve this problem so I can instal in my Soviet bicycle a modern aluminium seat post.

Thanks

clayface

I went through the same with my Victoria folder: first the bottom bracket and then the seat post. I bought a 26mm just to discover I needed a 25mm. I was lucky to find a brand new Kalloy one locally. Fortunately the headset is in a very good condition because threading is not either French or standard Italian.

LittlePixel

I had to get a shim to make my metric seatpost fit in my imperial sized Twenty. I'd get a post the next size down from the one you just got that's fractionally smaller than your seat tube and then get the appropriate shim to fill the gap between the two tube walls. If you can't find an exact shim for your needs there is usually a full-length slit cut along it's length meaning it would probably have enough flex to fit.

v1nce

Either have that post altered with a lathe (make sure it is still strong) or find one that fits. Whatever you do do not try to force it! I did that once when i was young with dire consequences for my frame.

caotropheus

I have to give my congratulations to the Alfred E Bike crew because within 5 days I could get the 25.0 mm seatpost in Israel, and by the way, it fits very well in the seattube. But I haven't achieved all my upgrade objectives for my Made in USSR bicycle. I want to set 2 configurations, both of them single speed: First an urban assault machine with rised handlebar and second a long distance preformer with a time trial handlebar. Now I am looking for an ajustable aluminium stem for a 1 inch threaded fork. I would like to get an extended dimension for the stem of about 30 - 35 cm. Is there such a thing available in the market?

clayface

Use a threadless adjustable 1 1/8" stem with an adapter for a 1" threaded fork steerer.