billnuke1 

These look almost brand new...

Not bent...weird angle...oh, yeah, replacement fork...rider...



Looks like an ass hatchet...

Holding air...

Hudson308 

Alot of great potential there, Bill.
I like that blue better than the lighter shade I see on others.

top506

Not at all.

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billnuke1 

Just rode it for the first time...except for the FD adjustment...chain got caught on the protruding ring nuts...it rode just fine...great sprinter!...I can still feel that hatchet, er, seat up my ass!
Maybe my mistake was riding without my padded shorts...no adjustment except raising the seat up, gotta put the nose down and level it...I’ll give it another chance after I do a proper fit this weekend...

JohnDThompson 

Interesting. I hadn't seen a Viscount with Milremo dropouts before.

billnuke1 

Hmmmmm...I’ll get a better close up pic this weekend...

noglider 

For what it's worth, my Viscount came with Milremo (clincher) rims.

ddeand 

Well, I picked up this Viscount (initially posted on the Appraisal Forum). It seems pretty solid, but it doesn’t have all the original bits. It has the third iteration of the “Death Fork” which I’ll probably leave on the bike this winter. I plan on using the bike on my trainer to start with. I will probably look for a similar-style aluminum fork or possibly a carbon fork to replace the original. I know the old Specialized Epic carbon bikes had a good looking aluminum fork. It’s going to hang in the garage for a bit until I can get a couple other projects cleared out of the workshop. Should be an interesting project!

noglider 

@ddeand, what is it missing? I might have it.

I had to change the bars on mine. Notice the drop is very deep. Much too deep for me.

ddeand 

Thanks! I really won’t know until I get it into the workshop to sort it out. But if there’s something essential, I’ll let you know. I was going to message you, too. It seems I’m riding on your coattails in terms of projects - first, the ‘74 Raleigh International and now this Viscount. The Raleigh has been a dream - it’s gotten most of my road miles this summer and is so fun to ride. Thanks for the help - I appreciate it!

triitout

Your Viscount looks pretty complete and original to my eyes. It's rare to find one with the "V" dust caps on the pedals and even rarer to find someone with extras that they'd part with. I've used Tange steel forks on my riders but like you, I've kept one for the indoor trainer with the original Type 3 aluminum fork. The biggest issue is the bottom bracket if it needs an overhaul. I've just popped off the seal on the BB bearings, cleaned and put new grease and carefully popped the seals back on with good success. Good luck with your project! Lots of good info at www.viscountandlambert.boards.net

ddeand 

Thanks for the info. I have a non-chrome Tange fork somewhere and could use that. But I won’t worry about the fork until next spring. I also have an old Serotta project I need to build up for next season. My initial thought on the fork was to try to find something like the pic here, but I’ll have to do some spec measuring to see if it comes close to the original. I love these projects!

noglider 

Maybe I'm crazy, but I ride mine with the death fork. It's either version 2 or version 3. If I find a cheap or free fork, maybe I'll replace it.

Trakhak

Not crazy, just dumb. It'll be fine until it fails, possibly catastrophically. This reminds me of a friend of mine who insisted on riding his brakeless track bike on the street (because, he smirked, as an artist, he valued the "aesthetics" of a brakeless bike). Then I watched one day when he accidentally unclipped his shoe on a downhill, spinning faster and faster toward a busy intersection. It was by the grace of God that he managed to clip back in before speeding into traffic and certain disaster. That was one of life's IQ tests. Riding a Viscount/Lambert with the original fork is another.

top506

Some Death Forks are more deadly than others. I have no qualms riding my Aerospace Pro with the third pattern fork on casual rides. If things get serious/hilly I can swap out the Tange replacement fork in less than 10 minutes, including the crown race.

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noglider 

@Trakhak, thanks for that perspective. Until recently, fixed gear bikes were very common in NYC where I normally live (but not for the pandemic). I roll my eyes and shake my head at the no-brakes-fixie riders. It's very foolish even if they're super skilled and alert. I always have a front brake on my fixie. I'll consider the idea that riding a death fork is as foolish. @top506, how do I tell if I have V2 or V3? I remember someone telling me I have one of the good ones. And I do not ride the bike in hilly terrain.

nlerner

Is your Google broken, Tom? Lambert & Viscount bikes: About those Lambert / Viscount Death Forks

noglider 

@nlerner thanks for the information, Neal. It will be a couple of weeks until I can look at the bike. I bet I can pick up a fork at the coop.

Flying G

My resto project from last winter. All original as far as I can tell.

Flying G

My resto project from last winter. All original as far as I can tell.

triitout

Well done! Just don't ride it with the Lambert version fork.

ddeand 

Anybody have any ideas how to remove the stem? The stem bolt is frozen solid, and I’m afraid I might strip the Torx-head bolt if I crank on it too hard. I tried a little Kroil on the head, but I don’t think it can reach the wedge threads. Will I have to destroy the stem, or is there some other solution for getting it out? Thanks!

top506

FWIW, my Aerospace Pro came with the Tange fork. Neal sent me the third pattern 'death fork', for which I still owe him beer if I ever see him.

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noglider 

@top506, what will you do with the death fork?

top506

It's on the bike. I do not fear death; "it is a good day to die". Old Lakota Sioux and Klingon proverb.

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