Claud Butler (Majestic) re-build

This was my first 531 steel frame off ebay, has been in the attic as the steerer column is slightly too short for even the shortest stack headset to have enough thread to lock the locking nut.

Stem seized also.

That said, I picked up a Golden Arrow groupset from Adscan on here and already have some nice MA40's with Campy Chorus hubs (or rebuild onto Mavics from *m.f.), all of which not being the exact age of the Majestic, should work ok - the frame took 27" but I've long drop calipers which will allow 700c to be used.

Things it needs - sort seized stem, steerer column fixing or new fork, respray & new decals, "vintage" saddle, possibly different shifters, more appropriate bar tape.

Ideally I'll have it sorted as a geared bike once more at some point in 2012, funds and mojo permitting, here's how it looked when being ridden fixed in Cov:

http://www.lfgss.com/picture.php?albumid=878&pictureid=5427

Interestingly, or not, the only catalogue pic (1977) of a Majestic shows the pump attachments along the top tube, on this one these are on the seat tube.

This has made me wonder if it is indeed a Majestic, or even a Claud Butler - the current decals are quite badly applied, someone may have been trying to pass off something else as being a CB.

Frame # is 016925.

I have one which has the pegs on the seat tube. I think the braze ons changed each year. The later models, I rode one in 82, did not have pegs at all.

Try the Herne Hill jumble on New Years day for parts.

Nice one, thanks for the info on the pegs.

Hope to get to the Manc jumble on 15th Jan to scout for owt I'm missing.

how long ago did you buy that off ebay? tenuous straw clutching i know, but i sold one once upon a time and always wondered what became of it. either way, very much like what you've done there...

late 2008 or early 2009 on ebay I think?

has slightly crinkly decals and was sent with spare headset if that rings any bells?

i have a claud i think it's a majestic, number is 028468 so your number looks right

nice one

update, bought Nov 08

right time, wrong frame. never mind, the majestic spirit in strong in this one so i'll just assume mine ended up in similarly good hands. or at least with an audaxer whose beard is just long enough to tickle her bars as they ride.

freed up the stem today, swapped over bottom bracket for longer axle, now looking at putting the Golden Arrow group on. Looking ok. Will never be showroom quality but hopefully a nice early 80's look once finished.

right time, wrong frame. never mind, the majestic spirit in strong in this one so i'll just assume mine ended up in similarly good hands. or at least with an audaxer whose beard is just long enough to tickle her bars as they ride.

hopefully that is the case :)

your pic is too small to make anything out

i wanted to see the lugs (because i'm a pervert)

ah, all done via phoneternet so will put better pics up via proper computer, lug fetish noted.

For Hilly Ben

Others looking beyond the Lug might notice the crinkled decal and sketchy paintwork.

Mine has same lugs and also pump pegs on seat tube

cool, any pics?

Manchester Jumble on Sunday, list of bits needed now, hopefully tick a few off after the weekends has been:

Spindle code 3P 119mm, rh 35mm, lh 32mm c 52mm

6 spd block to screw onto campagnolo hub
6sp chain

Friction Shifters, band on

Hoods for the Brake levers

Spring clip for keeping the Lever on one of the QR's in place.

Might replace bar tape, 80's saddle.

Still got to deal with front fork & headset locknut issue too.

Got all the above parts at the weekend, except Bar Tape.

Highlight (?) was these to complete (and upstage) the Golden Arrow drivetrain:

Cabled up tonight, and shifting is smooth, albeit not yet fitted the chain.

Going to perservere with original fork for a bit, but glad to have picked up a spare with longer threaded steerer.

its really attractive in blue.have you found a head badge or decals yet.something artisan would look perfect?

It has the decals and headbadge already dude...

and scratches on the paint.

Was puzzled that the 6 speed block was a tight squeeze and the chain catches the frame on smallest cog... re-measured to confirm 126mm spacing with 130mm hub, error - it's 120mm and current hub is 126mm.

Doh. 5 speed block anyone? For now I can bodge it using the limit screw to stop the chain shifting down to #6 so not a major bother.

It's finished... for now.

Thanks to Adscan on here for the Golden Arrow groupset.

Needs new bar tape as I re-used the old stuff that looks tatty. Might swap out the headset for a tange passage (short stack) which could salvage the fork, otherwise have a different fork (thanks to Kingcutter) to put on with longer steerer.

Test ride will show if the locknut stays put or not. Also have some nice Mavic Hubs from *m.f to build on to 27" Rims, which would allow swap from Polygon long drop to Golden Arrow brakeset.

Had to ride 44 miles for work yesterday - home -> Altrincham -> Sale - > Manchester -> Bury and back the scenic way, so took this out for a proper spin.

Locknut on headset was fine. Which was good.

Chain lasted less than a mile before it snapped as I tried to get on a roadies wheel to draft them for a bit. Removed broken link, and took it easy on that the rest of the day.

Bike fine, slightly heavy and obv with only 10sp on a 42/52 double made the climbs interesting compared to on my usual triple day to day bike...

Really smooth though, soaks up the rough roads nicely.

Need to put 2cm longer stem on and adjust saddle position, will improve fit.

Pic:

Looks grand rhb. Congrats.

hear hear

only thing left is for Rod Munch to use your cat photo

Thread hijack, but it is a Claud Butler rebuild.

On a wet day in January I bought Hilly Ben's frame, and rebuilt it this week end. I'm warmly pleased with it.

The cranks, headset, rims, levers and brakes needed a cash outlay, the rest of the bike came from the boxes of parts that might be useful one day.

6 speed gearing & no fancy stuff, for a 14 year old to mooch about on in West London.

Some butchery has been involved, but it's surgery on the puppy, not murder. The brake mounts are now allen fitting, the wheel size 700, tape goes all the way to the stem to cover the scratched up bars and the headset stack height is no longer as generous as it was. Someone cut the steerer too short, and had to face off the top lug to get a Tange Levin to work with what was left. WAC. If the seat post bolt gives any grief, the angle grinder is coming out.