@@woden20 I imagine there must be many recommissioned bikes on the road now, only because of your father in law's skill! My series 1 rear forks will probably come his way at some point too.
Good to see all the nice places you did manage to visit. I never saw a frame failure coming on the horizon, a shock to us! Great video, keep us updated :)
@@simplexicated Despite the wind, rain, and frame shinnanigans, there were some very pleasant miles covered. It will certainly be a memorable trip. Thanks very much, hopefully there will be updates soon.
Good on you for getting so far, its an easy repair and you could even put a longer seat post in to strengthen further. looking forward to seeing the Moulton again in the future.
Thanks James, lovely video, even if the trip itself ended prematurely. I hope you get Major back on the road again in good shape .One of the best features of a steel frame is definitely its repairability.
@@heikkirautanen Cheers, most kind. I am definitely glad the frame isn't made from something exotic! A suitable repair should see the Major back in action soon.
longer seat post might help - noticed your seat height - you might have mentioned this - peole use extra long posts with AMs where seat tube have been known to bend
Enjoyed the video. I have a major and Raleigh Moulton. I bought the Major during lockdown but the gear hub was a bit rough . The frame is very good though. My major has a much better gear hub but the frame has a bit more surface rust. They are on sale on the Moultoneer website but I’m having second thoughts after seeing your videos. Perhaps I should make an effort to get them running.
@@paulhaworth6399 Thanks very much. Projects can easily build up and seem daunting, not to mention time consuming. My aim is always to keep my three f-frames road worthy and useable as opposed to all out restoration and perfect preservation. Moulton bicycles are generally a very good investment too, I think.
As already mentioned James, classic fatigue crack, most likely resulting from a much elevated seatpost. You look to be well above average height, but I'm sure extra long seatposts can be obtained, allowing more of it to reside in the seat tube, and acting as reinforcement.
@@frankdevaney5156 Certainly a fatigue crack due to being a high stress area of the frame. The seat clamp collar also takes load from the upper rear frame support strut. There is plenty of seatpost in the frame, however the double wall clamp section is the only actual contact point with the post. Below the clamp the tube size increases considerably down to it's largest diameter at the bottom bracket. I have persistently overloaded the bike for touring, and evidently have now found it's limits!
Must have been disappointing to miss the event but always a risk with this kind of thing. The frame should not be too difficult to repair as I don't think these were Reynolds 531 (which is not weldable). I have welded up similar cracks in that area on other frames. Always a weak point when you have a lot of seatpost sticking out which of course you always will with a Moulton.
@@frankdevaney5156 This is why it's mostly been replaced with Reynolds 525 and 631. The latter doesn't only not mind being welded, welding actually makes it stronger!
@@benc8386 Indeed very disappointing, but not entirely a surprise. The frame is not made from Reynolds 531, so should be a straight forward weld (for somebody with the necessary skills!) I have plenty of seatpost in the frame, although on an f-frame Moulton, the double wall collar that forms the clamp is the only actual contact area with the seatpost. Below here, the tubing diameter increases considerably to it's biggest diameter at the bottom bracket. No doubt this generally a high stress point on the frame as the upper rear frame support strut terminates here to.
@@Shedvelo It's a high stress point even with plenty of seat post insertion (although that helps). The only potential complication to the repair is melting out any braze in the seat lug. But I don't remember enough about exactly where the failure was.
@@colinwellman9480 The suspension copes exceptionally well. The rear suspension is a clever design that stiffens with load (even my overloading!). The bottom of the rear panniers sit just a little lower than the wheel axle, fully packed and with me on the bike. There is plenty of room for travel and I don't recall grounding out at any stage. I've ridden some light rough stuff also with little drama. The front is fairly well compressed with me and my touring load, but still delivers a smooth ride which is most welcome over long distance. It will bottom out if you hit anything severe, but I'm generally surprised how much it will soak up. Once the Major is back on the road, I will endeavour to lighten my touring load. It is quite clear that I have gone way beyond what was originally intended for this bike, even though it has coped admirably until now.
![กี่หมื่นฟ้า | Your Sky Series EP.1 [1/4]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vLGjxFL6U_I/mqdefault.jpg)
My father in law does the brazing for the Moulton bicycle club.
He's in their mag, issue 117.
Mostly the forks.
@@woden20
I imagine there must be many recommissioned bikes on the road now, only because of your father in law's skill!
My series 1 rear forks will probably come his way at some point too.
Good to see all the nice places you did manage to visit. I never saw a frame failure coming on the horizon, a shock to us!
Great video, keep us updated :)
@@simplexicated
Despite the wind, rain, and frame shinnanigans, there were some very pleasant miles covered. It will certainly be a memorable trip.
Thanks very much, hopefully there will be updates soon.
Good on you for getting so far, its an easy repair and you could even put a longer seat post in to strengthen further. looking forward to seeing the Moulton again in the future.
@@BrownPeterAnthony
Thanks very much, the Major won't be away too long (I hope).
Thanks James, lovely video, even if the trip itself ended prematurely. I hope you get Major back on the road again in good shape .One of the best features of a steel frame is definitely its repairability.
@@heikkirautanen
Cheers, most kind.
I am definitely glad the frame isn't made from something exotic! A suitable repair should see the Major back in action soon.
Love the jazz vibe
@@YuenMinLing-kw6qb
Thanks very much, I'm a big fan of jazz and swing music.
longer seat post might help - noticed your seat height - you might have mentioned this - peole use extra long posts with AMs where seat tube have been known to bend
I hope you make a video of the frame repair :)
@@johnjob8872
I should very much like to, hopefully this will be possible.
great video mate,looking forward to other interesting ones
Enjoyed the video. I have a major and Raleigh Moulton. I bought the Major during lockdown but the gear hub was a bit rough . The frame is very good though. My major has a much better gear hub but the frame has a bit more surface rust. They are on sale on the Moultoneer website but I’m having second thoughts after seeing your videos. Perhaps I should make an effort to get them running.
@@paulhaworth6399
Thanks very much.
Projects can easily build up and seem daunting, not to mention time consuming. My aim is always to keep my three f-frames road worthy and useable as opposed to all out restoration and perfect preservation.
Moulton bicycles are generally a very good investment too, I think.
As already mentioned James, classic fatigue crack, most likely resulting from a much elevated seatpost. You look to be well above average height, but I'm sure extra long seatposts can be obtained, allowing more of it to reside in the seat tube, and acting as reinforcement.
@@frankdevaney5156
Certainly a fatigue crack due to being a high stress area of the frame. The seat clamp collar also takes load from the upper rear frame support strut. There is plenty of seatpost in the frame, however the double wall clamp section is the only actual contact point with the post. Below the clamp the tube size increases considerably down to it's largest diameter at the bottom bracket.
I have persistently overloaded the bike for touring, and evidently have now found it's limits!
Sometimes we cant see the adventure for the trees
Must have been disappointing to miss the event but always a risk with this kind of thing. The frame should not be too difficult to repair as I don't think these were Reynolds 531 (which is not weldable). I have welded up similar cracks in that area on other frames. Always a weak point when you have a lot of seatpost sticking out which of course you always will with a Moulton.
Never knew that about 531 tubing, fine for brazing but not tig/mig - you live and learn :)
@@frankdevaney5156 This is why it's mostly been replaced with Reynolds 525 and 631. The latter doesn't only not mind being welded, welding actually makes it stronger!
@@benc8386
Indeed very disappointing, but not entirely a surprise.
The frame is not made from Reynolds 531, so should be a straight forward weld (for somebody with the necessary skills!)
I have plenty of seatpost in the frame, although on an f-frame Moulton, the double wall collar that forms the clamp is the only actual contact area with the seatpost. Below here, the tubing diameter increases considerably to it's biggest diameter at the bottom bracket.
No doubt this generally a high stress point on the frame as the upper rear frame support strut terminates here to.
@@Shedvelo It's a high stress point even with plenty of seat post insertion (although that helps). The only potential complication to the repair is melting out any braze in the seat lug. But I don't remember enough about exactly where the failure was.
How well does the suspension cope with the additional weight?
@@colinwellman9480
The suspension copes exceptionally well. The rear suspension is a clever design that stiffens with load (even my overloading!). The bottom of the rear panniers sit just a little lower than the wheel axle, fully packed and with me on the bike. There is plenty of room for travel and I don't recall grounding out at any stage. I've ridden some light rough stuff also with little drama.
The front is fairly well compressed with me and my touring load, but still delivers a smooth ride which is most welcome over long distance. It will bottom out if you hit anything severe, but I'm generally surprised how much it will soak up.
Once the Major is back on the road, I will endeavour to lighten my touring load. It is quite clear that I have gone way beyond what was originally intended for this bike, even though it has coped admirably until now.
Ah that's a bugger about the frame.
@@DIY-DaddyO
Certainly is, but it will mend at least.
@@Shedvelo Advantage of steel ✊
How annoying - try again next year :)
@@julianruneckles2198
I certainly will!
What a shame.
@@Group51
It was.
Plans are in place for repair though, so watch this space!