Re: [CR]very early cotterless cranks - BSA tendicatena

(Example: History:Norris Lockley)

From: "Pete Geurds" <raleighpro@dejazzd.com>
To: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <326.64c46af.31cae008@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]very early cotterless cranks - BSA tendicatena
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 15:48:35 -0400
reply-type=original

From: <Hughethornton@aol.com> Subject: Re: [CR]very early cotterless cranks - BSA tendicatena
> These snail cams fitted over the axle between the rear hub locknuts and
> the
> rear facing (track style) dropouts. The rear axle was "flatted" so that
> the
> cams rotated with the axle and were synchronized with each other. The
> rear
> axle had a small square at the end (same size as on a small chainring
> bolt) so
> that the axle could be turned with a spanner prior to tightening the wheel
> nuts. There were stops inside the dropouts and just forward of the axle
> slots. When the wheel was inserted, the snail cams bore up against the
> stops, the
> axle was turned to rotate the cams and adjust the wheel position and then
> the wheel nuts tightened to lock everything in place. The advantage was
> fine
> adjustment of wheel position for optimum chain tension and then secure
> fixing
> of the wheel so that it couldn't be pulled out of position by extreme
> pedalling forces.
>
> Clear as mud?
>
> Hugh Thornton
> Cheshire, England

Thanks Hugh. That makes sense to me. Maybe a bit of overkill on BSA's part perhaps?

Pete Geurds
Douglassville, Pa