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Post by moggers on Feb 6, 2016 23:52:31 GMT
Firstly can I say what a wonderful forum you have here! I have spent the last few hours reading the posts and have been amazed at the level of knowledge and all round feeling of helpfulness and community here. Before stumbling onto this forum I purchased a Viscount aerospace from "flea bay" as my next project. I had never heard of Viscount before the purchase and have been renovating more common marques over the last few years as a hobby. Recently the appeal of owning locally made bicycles to me and bikes that are just a little unusual has gotten the better of me. When I saw the Viscount I couldn't help myself ( ten minute drive from me!) and thought it would be ideal to tinker with for the next few weeks in the shed. I was shocked to see that the bike I bought is in fact on your forum on the thread to let people know what is available! I have stripped the bicycle down and found some interesting jobs are required on this strange bicycle. The list is not exhaustive but these are the first things I have noticed that need attention: The suntour perfect freewheel has a tooth broken off on the second cog. ( I can already feel the loss of my knuckle skin getting the cogs off! ) The bottom bracket seals are feeling very dry and crunchy and will need replacing. The paintwork is quite rough on the frame. I think a clean and some time with a touch up brush maybe in order just to get it looking semi reasonable with a view to seeing how it rides before I make a decision on re-powder coating. The seat post has to go! I have got a SR seatpost in the shed which will fit but would prefer the original which looks totally different. does anyone know where I am likely to find one? New brake and gear cables and brake blocks. The pedals are Olimpic 64 pedals with no caps on, I have some caps from some old MKS which might fit ......  ? New toe clips as the originals are too far gone. I notice on the thread where the bicycle was mentioned cusqueno suggested it maybe a Areospace Sport. Is there a way of confirming the model? The bicycle has the Crane rear deraileur with the Dura ace front changer, the Chainset is a SR Apex double, brakes are standard Wienmann centre pull. The decals just say areopspace with no model name. The deraileur and chain set are both 1976 / 1977 respectively. The more I read about the bicycle the more it is growing on me purely due to the sheer amount of information you members have shared! I promise to post some pictures once I have tinkered with it, skinned knuckles, lost that one component which I put in a very safe place because I didn't want to lose it and sat drinking coffee for many hours wondering which order I should do all the work in! Below is the original photograph of the E Bay sale.  Regards, Moggers |
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Feb 7, 2016 5:25:11 GMT
Hello Moggers and welcome to the forum! I too restore classic bicycles and began a Viscount project because it was different. I have nearly completed my first Viscount project (photos coming soon) and now have a second as well. As classic bicycles go, I consider the Viscount to be very underrated (at least in the USA). As far as I can tell, the Aerospace Sport had the same frame, but different fork and components as the rest of the Aerospace line (see attached). It seems to me you will be needing some bottom bracket bearings. Your Sport should have the Lambert/Viscount press fit, sealed bearing BB. If so, the bearings are type 6003, easy to find and inexpensive on eBay. All the Best Jim Viscount Product Line Bicycling 1976.pdf (813.1 KB) |
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,389 
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Post by Jem on Feb 7, 2016 8:44:25 GMT
Welcome to the forum Moggers.
Nice find. Looks to be original except for the seat post?
As to the model...well, others will know more about this, so I should just wait till they arrive and give their opinion. But I believe, the Pro and the Sport are only differentiated by some components, the frame is the same for both models. (I think this is the case , but I could be wrong).
And to make this a little more complicated, it is well documented that Viscount had supply issues and on many occasions fitted whatever components that they had to hand. Sometimes this would be a bonus for someone buying a cheaper model , finding that they had parts associated with the top of the range Pro , or then again, you might not.
So, you could theoretically badge it as either and not be wrong.(maybe?)
In terms of the work schedule - again , others will be far better placed to help. I personally would think that if the BB needs an overhaul and new bearings, then although it is by far the toughest job on that bike , it would be heartbreaking to finish all the other jobs, get to that job and find you hit a problem. There are lots of threads on here that might help.
Tip -If you don't want to go the whole way to respray then Halfords do a grey mini touch up car paint that has it's own built in brush. It isn't exact but if you stand 3 feet away it looks fine and if you are doing 17mph, then it's as good as any expensive respray, and gives a boost to a tired old looking frame.
What a great time to buy it though. You have a couple of dark months to source the few parts you need. I'd say the MKS end caps will fit. The SR will be a good replacement (is it that fluted one?) The original might have been one of those with the micro-tilt campag style ones with 3 bolt adjustments?
Does it have stickers on the wheel rims? What are they?
All the best!
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Post by raymondo on Feb 7, 2016 9:12:53 GMT
Hi,
Its a aerospace pro. I have exactly the same bike, I brought it from Hoddesdon Herts , mine was originally from local dealer shop near me in Sawbridgeworth cycle king ne Thakes . The bike I think is a Potters Bar Viscount. The only thing that confused me was the non black painted headstock that other Pro Aerospace bikes have , but its a typical Viscount mish mash. Mine is Suntour, SR , olympic 64 (missing caps) but the free wheel was a sprint road race close ratio fir cone with tubbed sprint rims. Light as a feather in that spec.
I had chrome issues with the front forks and sprayed them in the end bright silver as to chrome the tips would cost more than i paid for the bike. Changed the decals and as Jem said used a silver touch up paint stick and lots of elbow grease.
Great bike have fun
Ray
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Post by moggers on Feb 7, 2016 11:03:07 GMT
Wow, thanks for the quick replies and the warm welcome.
Sooper8, the wheels are badged as Mavic with viscount hubs. Oddly the front is stamped viscount but the rear isn't but they appear to be the same. It does have the pressed in bearings so I will order in some replacements. I will try to get to a Halfords over the next week to see about the paint. I have ordered a humbrol enamel pot for Ral 7305 for a few pounds and see how that looks on a patch underneath.
Jim, thanks for the attachments. I feel a montage of photo's, spec sheets and artwork in a frame for my wall coming on.
Raymondo, thanks for the information. Strangely I am just down the road from you in one of the villages near Buntingford ....spooky. The front forks on my seem to need some attention as well. The powder coating has come off and it looks a little tatty. I may need to raise the join and polish up the existing chrome. When I get the chance I will photograph the fork and you will see what I mean.
The quirks on this bicycle make it so interesting. The frame is crying out for shimano 600 brakes to go with the other shimano parts but I do like the hanger adjusters which I haven't seen on other bicycles. I think I will keep original for now and maybe look for another one to Frankenstein with a shimano 600 arabesque groupset I have hidden away......one bicycle purchase always seems to lead to another!
With that in mind do you think it is worth investing in some bearing pullers for the wheels and bottom bracket ..... Any suggestions as to size etc as I have never used them before but love the process of discovery with these lovely old machines.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,389
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Post by Jem on Feb 7, 2016 16:34:26 GMT
Here's the paint that Raymondo and I used, although for the life of me, I can't recall if it's the silver, grey or undercoat. It made a decent job of the gear cable guide as can be seen in the first pic. Then a couple of shots of Shimano 600 break levers, and then Arabesque gear levers. I also have the matching Arabesque 600 rear derailleur but kept the original Crane on there. I put a modern pair of pedals and straps on and they look the part. Ironically, it took me ages to get around to finding and fitting the components and then I realised that I just couldn't make the bike comfy for me as it was too big by about an inch. I'm pondering what to do with it now. Apologies for bizarre photos. The bike is upside down, with a wheel out, in a crammed shed. But, you get the idea.    
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bendo
Viscount
Posts: 538
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Post by bendo on Feb 8, 2016 12:53:36 GMT
Welcome Moggers and thanks for your story. Looking forward to updates! b
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Post by busaste on Feb 18, 2016 11:16:58 GMT
Hi Moggers
I know what Viscount you have, it's a 1978 Potters Bar made Aerospace Pro. Sadly, it was the last year of the Pro although unsold stock was still around in 1979. The last Pro is interesting because Viscount had started to use off the shelf parts as their own stash of former Lambert stuff was running out. Hence we saw the fitting of quality stuff like SR cranks, SR bars/bar stems, Olympic pedals and Weinmann CP brakes. The Viscount hubs remained albeit fitted with Pelisser QR skewers! Sadly, the 'death' fork was no more being replaced by a cr-mo steel one with a nice sloping Vagner made crown. If you peel the wet finish paint back (the rest of the frame was powder coated) you often find that the fork is fully chromed!
It all added up to a fantastic race winning bike for silly cheap money - £170 in 1978!
The saddle/seat post are not standard on your bike (originally it was a cripplingly uncomfortable Middlemores leather jobbie) but the superb Mavic rims (usually Module E) are.
Cheers
Steve
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Post by moggers on Feb 20, 2016 14:42:24 GMT
Thank you all for your replies and advice. I have striped the bicycle down and am now pontificating on the way forward with this project.
The paint work is rough, I have looked at touching it up and riding with a view to getting it re powder coated later. I cast my eye around at the prices of powder coating and found a place near me in Hertfordshire that will do the frame for £60. It seems silly to strip the bicycle down twice so will get the frame re-powder coated.
That leaves me with the issue of decals. I see there are various options available but none of then listed have the same black decal with the viscount head badge on for my down tube. Maybe buying some black vinyl car wrap and adding the head tube sticker to is an option. The price of the decals also seems quite costly in comparison to the cost of the bicycle and powder coating. £45 for velocal with import taxes etc. Has anyone found a cheaper option? The other sites I have checked soon add up with the different decals priced separately.
I have ordered the bearings for the bottom bracket and wheels and the rest of the components have polished up really well.
Busaste you are absolutely right about the forks. The paints has flaked off and it does look like they are chromed underneath. I think I will remove all the paint and polish up the original chrome which will come up a treat. Not sure how easy it will be to remove the paint in a way that protects the chrome underneath but I have a feeling it is going to be time consuming!
Any help and suggestions are welcome. These bicycles are really quite quirky and I am loving the strangeness and story of them. This bicycle is definitely a keeper and will sit next to my other pride and joy my Claud Butler Dalesman Tourer really well .....one vintage touring bicycle and one vintage racing bicycle. ( That Is how I have sold it my better half!)
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Post by moggers on Feb 20, 2016 16:05:01 GMT
On a completely separate note I "won" a set of first generation dura ace side pulls on flea bay for a ridiculous £11 including postage. Your thoughts on replacing the Weinmann centre pulls for these .....? The bicycle seems to have high grade components, light weight tubing and the heaviest brakes you could possibly get! I am not one of these light is better freaks but the side pulls seem to feel right.
Of course I would keep the originals and hangers so can change back.
Have any of you " adapted" the original spec components with sensible alternatives?
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bendo
Viscount
Posts: 538
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Post by bendo on Feb 21, 2016 2:46:07 GMT
Can never go wrong with first gen Dura Ace! b
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 558
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Post by robt on Feb 21, 2016 22:29:00 GMT
That leaves me with the issue of decals. I see there are various options available but none of then listed have the same black decal with the viscount head badge on for my down tube. Maybe buying some black vinyl car wrap and adding the head tube sticker to is an option. The price of the decals also seems quite costly in comparison to the cost of the bicycle and powder coating. £45 for velocal with import taxes etc. Has anyone found a cheaper option? The other sites I have checked soon add up with the different decals priced separately. Try this link to Bicycle Stickers if you're not too fussy about the top tube decal (A/S sport instead of A/S pro), currently being offered for £9.95. Just the one head badge with silver surround per set, but they are OK for a tenner if you're looking to make your Viscount presentable rather than a full as-new restoration. Perhaps some whittling with a craft knife could turn the 'por' in sport into 'pro'? |
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Post by moggers on Feb 22, 2016 0:15:26 GMT
Thanks for directing me to those decals. They look like a good way of making the bicycle presentable. I have e-mailed the company asking if they can give me a price for changing it and adding another head tube decal. If it is too much then I can always order this and get an individual one from Lloyds with two Areospace pro decals.
Or the other option is that the original decals on my bicycle didn't have the Areospace Pro on the top tube so I would be restoring it to how it was originally!
Thanks for your help Robt!
I managed to finish the full strip down yesterday and was pleased that the bottom bracket bearings came out without too much fuss. Hopefully I will be dropping the frame off at a Powder coaters nearby. I got a quote for £60 pounds for the frame in Ware. I am going to strip the front fork and see if I can polish up the chrome underneath.
I have pictures but all the files seem to big to post!
Moggers
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Post by moggers on Feb 22, 2016 0:24:08 GMT
Thanks for directing me to those decals. They look like a good way of making the bicycle presentable. I have e-mailed the company asking if they can give me a price for changing it and adding another head tube decal. If it is too much then I can always order this and get an individual one from Lloyds with two Areospace pro decals.
Or the other option is that the original decals on my bicycle didn't have the Areospace Pro on the top tube so I would be restoring it to how it was originally!
Thanks for your help Robt!
I managed to finish the full strip down yesterday and was pleased that the bottom bracket bearings came out without too much fuss. Hopefully I will be dropping the frame off at a Powder coaters nearby. I am going to strip the front fork and see if I can polish up the chrome underneath.
I have pictures but all the files seem to big to post!
Moggers
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