Author Topic: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel  (Read 12979 times)

Earl Greybeard

  • Earl Greybeard
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Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #25 on: 13 June, 2020, 10:57:24 pm »
If you bought a B&M Lyt for £15-20 you could just mount the whole B&M light in the case. A clear lense would just allow the light out of the casing
Get a plus version, and it won't go out when you stop.
Sounds simple enough even for me. I was wondering about the purpose of the battery mounted on the Raleigh. Could it be that it is meant to provide the standing lighting. I guess it would do no harm to have a B&M plus in addition to a battery backup.

Cheers guys.
Trouble always come in cycles

Dave_C

  • Trying to get rid of my belly... and failing!
Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #26 on: 13 June, 2020, 11:06:39 pm »
You won't need a battery pack with a Lyt plus. Leave it empty, or as a small starage box for a pump etc. The Lyt btw is an example of a budget B&M light. You can get much better lights for not a lot more, and smaller too.
Focus on getting the bike good and that will give you time to research the right dynamo lights.

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Earl Greybeard

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Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #27 on: 13 June, 2020, 11:18:42 pm »
Focus on getting the bike good and that will give you time to research the right dynamo lights.
OK. I will try your light for size, and go from there. But I agree, there is other work to be done.

I am OK from here I think. Many thanks everyone for helping me out here.

Best wishes,

Raymond
Trouble always come in cycles

Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #28 on: 14 June, 2020, 12:37:38 pm »
Sorry I'm late to this party!

I did something similar with my 1946 Hetchins when I 'restored' it in 2014.
It's got a SA Dynohub and original Sturmey Chrome shelled front & rear lights - but the gubbins are LED.
The website with all you need to know is at http://www.reflectalite.com/
For the LED lights to work correctly with a Dynohub then you'll need a 'regulator' from them - I've just checked and I've got a GENX2 fitted across the Dynohub terminals. (see   http://www.reflectalite.com/regulatorpage.html )
I bought the correct fitting 'bulbs' for my lights from them as well and the system has worked well for the last 6 years (albeit with limited use).
It's not a cheap route, even back then I spent £28 on regulator and two LEDs.
I used new wiring, the original would have been white/cream which would have looked shite even if I could have found some.
The correct fittings to the hub are 'horseshoe' style crimped & soldered ends.

As regards the 'battery box' - this was a common fitting on utility bikes (and possibly some tourers) had a cylinder on the seat tube to contain three D cells that would act as a back-up for when the generator wasn't running. All the Sturmey Archer front lights that I've come across have a three position switch that allows for this to be switched in (possibly) automatically. The wiring to make this work is something that has always defeated me - indeed the wiring of the front lamp without the battery back up is bizarre enough (IMO). These original battery cases do come up on eBay occasionally at silly money - if you were so inclined I suggest they're easy to bodge. It wasn't a fitment on my bike originally so I've never bothered, but more to the point I like having the security of a second light source.
Too many angry people - breathe & relax.

Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #29 on: 14 June, 2020, 12:39:54 pm »
Crap picture of the regulator (this wheel is off the bike for the moment)
Too many angry people - breathe & relax.

Earl Greybeard

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Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #30 on: 14 June, 2020, 01:15:38 pm »
Sorry I'm late to this party!
Not at all. It is kind of you to reply at all.

I checked out your "Reflectalite" link, and it does seem a good site. What the guys here are suggesting is that I put the entire gubbins of a B&M hub light into the original SA case. Given that this would be built for use with a dynamo, I would suppose the regulator part was there already, wouldn't you think? But yes, if I do have a looser arrangement with my own homemade LED fitting, then I will need to follow your route. I will see how it turns out, and (eventually) report back  8)

Many thanks for all your good advice.

Raymond. 
Trouble always come in cycles

Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #31 on: 14 June, 2020, 07:06:07 pm »
Thanks for your kind words Greybeard
I'm not too hot on electrons, but it's my understanding that older SA Dynohubs give a different output compared to modern hub dynamos. I think that the differences are that the older hubs have less power (amps) and the frequency (hertz) is much more variable - but the voltage remains the same.
I'd be tempted to try stuffing the B&M works into the shell and seeing what happens!
Too many angry people - breathe & relax.

Earl Greybeard

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Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #32 on: 14 June, 2020, 07:40:32 pm »
I'd be tempted to try stuffing the B&M works into the shell and seeing what happens!
That's the plan. The weak point, as you may have spotted, is the rear light. The easiest approach there might be to put in your suggested hub regulator anyway, and just put an upgrade LED bulb in at the back. Not sure I could fit in entire other light into the smaller space that the rear light offers. Let's see  ;D
Trouble always come in cycles

Dave_C

  • Trying to get rid of my belly... and failing!
Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #33 on: 14 June, 2020, 07:57:45 pm »
The rear light looks fine to put in an led light.

As you can see this Standlite from Busch & Muller at around £12 has a tiny circuit board at 40mm by 30mm.

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Earl Greybeard

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Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #34 on: 14 June, 2020, 08:03:40 pm »
The rear light looks fine to put in an led light...
Gosh! Don't they look small when you take the back off. I will measure the old light when the thunderstorms have passed. Thanks again Dave.
Trouble always come in cycles

fuaran

  • rothair gasta
Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #35 on: 14 June, 2020, 08:05:16 pm »
Or something like the B&M Toplight Line Small is even smaller. Should be easy enough to cut the bolt holes off the sides.
http://en.bumm.de/produkte/dynamo-ruecklicht/toplight-line-small.html
There's also a SON version, but its a lot more expensive.

Dave_C

  • Trying to get rid of my belly... and failing!
Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #36 on: 14 June, 2020, 08:10:29 pm »
Or something like the B&M Toplight Line Small is even smaller. Should be easy enough to cut the bolt holes off the sides.
http://en.bumm.de/produkte/dynamo-ruecklicht/toplight-line-small.html
There's also a SON version, but its a lot more expensive.
Ooo the Son rear lights are tiny!

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Earl Greybeard

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Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #37 on: 14 June, 2020, 08:47:46 pm »
Or something like the B&M Toplight Line Small is even smaller...
Ooo the Son rear lights are tiny!
Some good choices there. I'll measure up, and go with the cheapest that will fit.

Thanks Guys...
Trouble always come in cycles

Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #38 on: 14 June, 2020, 11:02:25 pm »
That looks a lot like my old Raleigh Superb. Have you been riding this bike (especially in the rain)? I ask because I hated the rod brakes so much I ended up building myself a new front wheel with a hub brake - I just didn't feel safe on it! If your rod brakes work well then that's fantastic.
I was thinking about trying to use the dyno to drive modern lights inside the old cases, but in the end I changed commute and swapped it for a MTB. I'd love to see how you achieve this... :)

Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #39 on: 15 June, 2020, 08:55:05 am »
A few years ago I tried to get an old style dynamo for a project and found they simply weren't available for some reason.  I think it is a good idea to keep them in their original form.  If I had a nice old classic like the OPs I would only ride it on sunny days. 

Dynamos are a bit old hat it seems. On my old steelie I have added a SON and keep the lights on all the time; when out on a club ride just before lockdown an old-timer on the latest carbon fibre seemed to think it was some sort of power assistance.  I don't think I convinced him otherwise. :(
Move Faster and Bake Things

Earl Greybeard

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Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #40 on: 15 June, 2020, 09:59:46 am »
That looks a lot like my old Raleigh Superb...
No, I have never ridden this. I have a 1998 Marin Muirwoods that keeps me going. The Raleigh sat in a garage for decades (my Mum died last week just short of 90). It's not in a condition to be ridden. Yet!
The bike in general is not up to modern standards, as you would expect. My main reason for posting here was to find out how far I could go without spoiling the bike for collectors. I hadn't thought of riding it myself. Am I allowed to say that it's a ladies bike? It is the sort of thing that 1940s re-enactors might like.
Trouble always come in cycles

Earl Greybeard

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Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #41 on: 15 June, 2020, 10:46:59 am »
A few years ago I tried to get an old style dynamo for a project and found they simply weren't available for some reason.  I think it is a good idea to keep them in their original form.  If I had a nice old classic like the OPs I would only ride it on sunny days. 

Dynamos are a bit old hat it seems. On my old steelie I have added a SON and keep the lights on all the time; when out on a club ride just before lockdown an old-timer on the latest carbon fibre seemed to think it was some sort of power assistance.  I don't think I convinced him otherwise. :(
I agree that this would be a 'sunny days only' bike. For an outing of the 1940s re-enactment society. Or for a remake of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.  People my age do mostly realise that power assistance worked in the opposite direction in those days  ;)
Trouble always come in cycles

Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #42 on: 15 June, 2020, 05:40:27 pm »
That looks a lot like my old Raleigh Superb...
No, I have never ridden this. I have a 1998 Marin Muirwoods that keeps me going. The Raleigh sat in a garage for decades (my Mum died last week just short of 90). It's not in a condition to be ridden. Yet!
The bike in general is not up to modern standards, as you would expect. My main reason for posting here was to find out how far I could go without spoiling the bike for collectors. I hadn't thought of riding it myself. Am I allowed to say that it's a ladies bike? It is the sort of thing that 1940s re-enactors might like.
The Veteran Cycle Club (VCC   https://v-cc.org.uk/  ) is the font of all knowledge - and I do mean all! The website is a bit rubbish, but the magazines are top notch. It's full of collectors of all ilks - from those with one old bike they care for (like me) right through to museum curators. Most members are interested in keeping their machines in some sort of original condition (cue the usual debate about restoration, renovation and the value of patina!)
Members who ride with the VCC sections ride everything from the sort of roadster you are looking at right the way through to 19th Century exotica. They aren't really into re-enacting and dressing up, but more into the minutia of the history of bikes, accessories, the shops and the people in cycling history.
Too many angry people - breathe & relax.

Earl Greybeard

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Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #43 on: 15 June, 2020, 05:54:47 pm »
The Veteran Cycle Club (VCC   https://v-cc.org.uk/  ) is the font of all knowledge - and I do mean all! The website is a bit rubbish, but the magazines are top notch. It's full of collectors of all ilks - from those with one old bike they care for (like me) right through to museum curators. Most members are interested in keeping their machines in some sort of original condition (cue the usual debate about restoration, renovation and the value of patina!)
Members who ride with the VCC sections ride everything from the sort of roadster you are looking at right the way through to 19th Century exotica. They aren't really into re-enacting and dressing up, but more into the minutia of the history of bikes, accessories, the shops and the people in cycling history.
Gosh. They sound heavy dudes  :D

I am actually a re-enactor myself (a musician), but my time period is medieval and Tudor. I do of course meet people from other periods, and the emphasis is usually on costume and living history rather than the bicycles per se. How much of a market there is within that fraternity for vintage bikes is something I aim to discover. When I get round to completing Mum's bike!
Trouble always come in cycles

Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #44 on: 27 December, 2020, 02:31:17 pm »
Sounds simple enough even for me. I was wondering about the purpose of the battery mounted on the Raleigh. Could it be that it is meant to provide the standing lighting.

there are three different versions of the battery tube and they all work differently from one another, and do slightly different things.

cheers

Earl Greybeard

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Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #45 on: 27 December, 2020, 02:40:08 pm »
Aha! Ok Brucey, thanks. That's really helpful. I guess I will find out which I have when I try it. Project is on the back burner just now, but will likely come to life again in better weather. ::-)
Trouble always come in cycles

Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #46 on: 15 March, 2021, 11:27:42 pm »
Sorry I'm late to this party!
Not at all. It is kind of you to reply at all.

I checked out your "Reflectalite" link, and it does seem a good site.

Raymond.
A bit OT, but some time ago I was at chez Mrs B mère & discovered that one of her old earthquake/typhoon torches* had a blown bulb (filament). Torch was excellent, apart from being old tech. Decades of life left in it. But by modern standards, dim & battery-hungry.

So when I got home I sent her two NL322 led bulbs from Reflectalite for her emergency torches. She loves 'em. Brighter than the filament bulbs they replace, more robust (they bounce if dropped on a hard floor) & use less power. And much cheaper than new LED torches of equivalent quality to her old incandescent bulb ones.

*Every Japanese house has at least one, more or less. Something bright, solid, & reliable.
"A woman on a bicycle has all the world before her where to choose; she can go where she will, no man hindering." The Type-Writer Girl, 1897

Earl Greybeard

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Re: Refurbishing lights on a vintage Raleigh All Steel
« Reply #47 on: 16 March, 2021, 08:52:12 am »
Nice story. I guess that the Japanese have them in case of an earthquake?

My project is on hold just now, but I am hoping to get back to it when the weather warms up, and my 'round tuit' arrives in the post  :)
Trouble always come in cycles