Re: [CR] Lucas Cyclometer: is it safe?

(Example: Production Builders)

Date: Fri, 04 Aug 2006 08:49:20 -0400
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "John Betmanis" <johnb@oxford.net>
Subject: Re: [CR] Lucas Cyclometer: is it safe?
In-Reply-To: <9270-44D32D5D-1700@storefull-3276.bay.webtv.net>


Yes, those of us over "a certain age" all remember the cyclometers. We mounted them on our forks, but after a while the click-click-click became annoying and we took them off. I'm sure many of them seized up or broke. As I recall, there was a 5-pointed star wheel that was advanced 1/5 of a turn by a peg screwed to a spoke. To the best of my memory, there was no positive ratcheting mechanism, but the star wheel's rotation was limited by friction, but I could be wrong. I think most of them broke if the star wheel advanced too far and got hit on a point by the peg. I'm thinking that the grease in a NOS cyclometer might be dried up by now and it may not function for too long. However, the worst that could happen might be that it wouldn't advance properly and twist the peg on the spoke. I'm sure the successors of "The Prince of Darkness" would not assume any liabitity for subsequent damage.

John Betmanis Ontario, Canada

At 05:19 AM 8/4/06 -0600, Bob Hanson wrote:
>I'd like to mount a Lucas "King of the road" Cyclometer on one of my
>bikes. This is a small metal housed odometer which clamps onto your
>front hub and displayes cumulative mileage on an analog counter. They
>are waterproof, dustproof, need no lubrication, and this one is brand
>new and still in it's original box, so I'm sure it is in flawless
>working condition.
>
>However, reading the instruction papers, I noticed the warning "This
>cyclometer must not be driven at speeds in excess of 18-19 m.p.h. (230
>rev / min)". The last time I had used one of these low-tech marvels
>they were probably still considered high-tech. That was on my Raleigh
>Sports, over 40 years ago and my speed was not likely ever an issue.
>But, I'm a bit concerned about the warning now, since with it mounted on
>a road bike and especially during steep descents, I will have the
>potential of actually doubling the recommended maximum speed.
>
>I believe that some form of the original company [Joseph Lucas
>Electrical, LTD, Birmingham, England] is still around today, but I
>doubt that anyone currently with the company would be at all familiar
>with this instrument. Their warning was posted long before US attorneys
>made product liability litigation a popular American sport, so I'm
>really quite concerned about their caution.
>
>My mainly concerned is that perhaps the warning was not simply to
>protect the device from internal malfunction, but rather that at higher
>speeds it could somehow jam in the spokes - obviously with catastrophic
>results.
>
>So, could someone please advise me:
>
>Should I heed their warning and simply not use the device?
>
>Has anyone ever surpassed the limit on these gadgets with unfortunate
>outcome?
>
>Do you think the current corporation will still honor my product
>warranty? ~ [I must admit it would certainly be fun to call and ask
>about it.]
>
>Thanks!
>Bob Hanson,
>Albuquerque, NM, USA