1970's Coventry Eagle Project For The Missus!

Picked up a bargain bike that is going to be my project for the missus as she's after a bike! The bike is a 1970's Coventry Eagle, wondering if anybody could help on what year it may be? Got the bike from snottyotter off the forum.

Anyway the bike is going to be as a birthday present for her in August so its going to be a slow and steady build but there's plenty to do! So trying to build this in secret shall be fun!

This is the photo taken before I collected it, got it home and wasted no time in stripping and seeing whats salvageable etc...

I'm having trouble getting the crankarms off using my removal tool, wont thread on. So I'm assuming its different with older frames? I'm only used to bmx and newer frames! Never worked with a vintage!

Plans are to build it up with lots of chrome goodies and get it powdercoated ones I've managed to find out what colour I should go for!

A standard crank extractor will do 95% of all square-taper cranks - for stronglight/TA there's a different extractor. If yours is a BMX-specific extractor it might have a different thread - I'm not familiar with BMX cranks.

Are you sure your forks aren't bent backwards?

Those cranks will take a normal extractor. If anything what you have been using on your newer ones might be an odd size. Do not force it on, and check the threads are ok.

Also wanted to say that I love Cov Eagles. This is an excellent example of one as nearly all are just gas pipe models with pressed dropouts and such. This one is premium.

^ I used to have a 1960s full 531 (inc forks and stays) Coventry Eagle frame, it had some really nice details like the cable-stops were integrated into the pump-pegs. I never built it up though.

Okay so I got the left side crank arm off, they had 2 nuts in which needed removing first, but whilst loosening the left side, the extractor snapped! Damn old bikes! Got the left side of the bottom bracket out too. Any idea how to get the right side off without extractor? Ive got the nut off both sides.

Also does anybody happen to know what size replacement bottom bracket I would need, converting it to fixed. Or a way of measuring it?

Sorry for the n00b questions!

Cov eagles will use a normal ISO/british BB. Its only the things made in the raleigh factory that use odd size. In terms of spindle length you will have to measure your chainline. But it will probably be around 110mm.

You can get crank arms off by getting something on the inner side and hitting it with a hammer. If you threads are ok I dont know why you would want to though.

Just buy a new crank extractor. If your old one broke it probably wasn't that great. It's a good excuse to build up your tool collection.

There's something called the transmission database in mech and fixing, which has a list of what BB and hubs give you what chainline.
https://www.lfgss.com/thread3372-9.html#post2814062

There's also a good site here to give you some of the basics.
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/columns/bobgarage/indexb.htm

...and there are lots more videos/guides for things here: https://www.lfgss.com/thread19840.html

The search function here is your friend.

Managed to get the crank arms off!

Thanks for the help with bottom brackets too! :)

By the way, the 110mm BB recommendation was for single speed. For a double, just measure the existing one.

By the way, the 110mm BB recommendation was for single speed. For a double, just measure the existing one.

Cheers for clarifying :) It's going to be single anyway so that's grand!

^ I used to have a 1960s full 531 (inc forks and stays) Coventry Eagle frame, it had some really nice details like the cable-stops were integrated into the pump-pegs. I never built it up though.

you still got that frame lewis ??

Fully stripped! Got the whole frame fully stripped down and checked over, Nice straight frame and no dents! Purrrfect.

First load of parts are getting ordered end of this week so shall start to see some real progress, going to be rolling it ratty for a little while then its getting shot blasted and powdercoated.

I massivley regret getting my eagle painted, even though it was way rusty. see if you can persuade her indoors to love the patina.

Cant see her wanting it looking ratty, but at least it isn't going pink! I'm going to use it ratty for a little until I get it powercoated and give it her ha!

making my girlfriend a coventry eagle based bike too - this is it after I bought it (£40! :) with a polish and fettle and some new bars - thinking i'll strip and paint it seafoam greenish, cos she can't hack the awesome silver. Wuss...
I'll get off your thread and make my own methinks. Good luck!

haha cheers mate it looks tidy!

Can anyone suggest anywhere to get Coventry Eagle decals? I've tried doing a good search but it just turns up the motorcycle manufacturer not the bicycle one >__<

Got afew bits in the post this morning so update later :)

good picture of the decals - convert to vectors - laser cut should be plausible? I was thinking about just copying them by hand and cutting out a stencil to screen print them though, always thought it would be a cool project to make a curved screen for doing bikes. Actually, imma do that right now.

Cool cheers! I also have NO idea what colour to go for with this, gunmetal grey, metallic red or metallic blue?

Well what does the missus like? ;)

being fussy!

Then you're bound to be wrong whatever you do...

I'd go with a very pale pastel sort of colour, green, blue, yellow etc :)

I love good mail days! Lots of goodies this morning...

BB & Headset
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4513/20120420115249.jpg

And some shiny goodies
http://img859.imageshack.us/img859/2020/20120424123059.jpg

Bars are going to be cut down, and the frame and forks are going to the powdercoaters tonight/tomorrow

Nice update! Is that a 600 crank? Looks nice.

Yeah It's a 600 with a single ring, looks better than it did in the photograph when I purchased it so rather chuffed!