Help needed: Trying to remove back wheel on my 'new' Rambler
 

I picked up my 'new' bike on the weekend. From what I can see it is a Rambler (ladies town bike style) single speed with a coaster brake (which says Sachs Torpedo Jet), age unknown. I have hit my first technical challenge with a flat rear tyre, as I have no idea how to get the back wheel off the change the tyre (I am used to modern quick release wheels).

I am guessing I have to somehow dismantle the chain cover, but it is fully encased in a plastic cover so I'm not sure how to remove it without damaging the cover. Has anyone got any experience working with this kind of bike?

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=227109

An update: I have managed to dismantle the chain guard and take the chain off the gear teeth, but the next problem is that the rear mud catcher restricts the wheel moving backwards. It seems a bit strange that I need to dismantle the back of the bike completely to fix a flat - have I missed something really obvious?

did you remove the coaster brake bracket ( clamp ) that attaches to the frame.???

Yes, getting the rear wheel off of a roadster really is a giant pain. It's not just you. Are you totally sure you can't patch the tube without removing the wheel? Try that first, if you haven't.

If not, then you'll probably need to take the chain off (at least, that's the case with my Raleigh DL-1). If there's no master link, you'll need a chain-breaker tool. If it's not the chain that's restricting it, but just the mudguard, then you've got two options: 1) take the tire off the rim (which you're intending to do anyway), if you think that'll give you enough clearance to slip the rim past the mudguard, or 2) detach the mudguard (which may be held on by the same bolt that holds the seat stay to the chain stay; don't be scared).

Sorry that there's no easy way to do it. The only consolation is that this is not a precision machine, so you can pretty much just attack it with a spanner -- you're unlikely to hurt it!

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I removed the coaster break clamp, and got the chain off as well, which left me with the final restriction - the mudguard. I could get it to flex a bit, but I haven't managed to remove it. I'll see if getting the tyre off (I've got tyre levers so that should be reasonably straightforward) gives me enough clearance to get the wheel past.

I swear, once I get this sorted I am going to get kevlar lining or something like that for the tyres so I never have to change a flat again!

Can't help you much with your question, as I don't remember the slightest bit of how I changed rear tubes on a bike I owned some 30 years ago which had that style chainguard etc.

Just wanted to tell that I find it a bit surprising that there are "Rambler"s outside of Sweden Here's what a Swedish Rambler may look like http://cykelhistoriska.se/cyklarr.htm (scroll down a bit).

I absolutely adore the pretty unique style of Swedish standard bikes from c. 1935-1960.

Don't remove anything, unless you have to replace a tire (and even then you can wrestle out the tire on the non-drive side without too much dismantling).
This is how flats are traditionally repaired:

http://media.schlijper.nl/normal/05/...nd-plakken.jpg

good god that looks awful

Beware.
I bought a pair of Panarace Pasela Tourguards with just that in mind; then went out for a 50 miler, with a shadow of my normal tool set. Guess what? And, once something gets through that kevlar far enough to puncture the tube, it is not coming back out.