So - yesterday I had a bit of time so I scurried over to the workshop, giggling all the way, with my hands full of inner-tubes and tyre levers.....
First point of business was trying to figure out why the Puch was still pissing gearbox oil.
It "seemed" to be coming from the "fill-level-hole", so I unscrewed the screw, cleaned the face of the hole, fitted a second new crush washer and doubled up with blue hylomar to seal the fucker properly. 5 minutes later there's oil dripping AGAIN.
GAH!
spent a bit more time looking at it (getting underneath it for a properly look is a pain), then realised there was a smear of oil all along the lower face of the casing... where the join runs. Grabbed a PZ3 screwdriver bit and went round the screws (yes, screws) that hold the casing on... and 3 of the 5 were fucking loose!! No wonder it was pissing oil!
So - with that issue sorted, I moved the JAPton around in the workshop to give me more room.
I'd been wondering how I'd get the wheels out of the Puch and realised I had the perfect piece of equipment which was otherwise superfluous to requirements.... (this is why I never throw anything away if it's still "working").
It's a "sit-stand" desk unit that I was using during Covid when working off the dining room table. The spring in it isn't capable of lifting the Puch by itself, but the pneumatic brace is perfectly happy to hold the bike once it's up. Bit of a heave is all that's required.
It even came with the brackets for the straps.
(well - they're actually the brackets for the keyboard shelf, but they work fine in the new position).
So - lovely little work lift for a lightweight bike.
Very pleased with myself I dropped the front wheel out and proceeded to strip out the old inner tube.
F*ck me, I haven't done this for over 30 years (changed an inner tube), and with a 14" wheel the tyre was NOT happy to come off.
But eventually, with a lot of swearing and sweating it did eventually get over the rim.
Pulled out the old inner tube - it actually "looks" fine... but I think the valve itself was the leak (oddly). It's not a usual Shrader though, so the valve cores that came with the tyre lever kit wouldn't fit. So - I pulled out the new one and commenced to get it into place.
Bit more sweating and swearing and it's in.... get the pump out and get busy.
w.
t.
f.
hisssssssssssssssssssssss
The sodding NEW inner tube LEAKS.
At that point it was half past 6 and I had to be at the station to pick up the other half at 7, so I swore a lot more, left the wheel where it was sitting, left a very disappointed review for the inner tube on Amazon and stomped back to the house in a foul mood.
Anyone know a good source of RELIABLE inner tubes in unusual sizes? This one is a 14"/2.5 (the rear is a 12"/2.75-3.00)
