Re: [CR]Anybody ever shorten a Silca frame pump?

(Example: Framebuilding:Brazing Technique)

Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 23:29:25 -0400
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "John Betmanis" <johnb@oxford.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Anybody ever shorten a Silca frame pump?
In-Reply-To: <20060924012935.96771.qmail@web35604.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
References: <BAY122-F23522CB48DC9C70FEB4012F5270@phx.gbl>


At 06:29 PM 9/23/06 -0700, Thomas Adams wrote:
>Steve Willis at the Bike Stand in Scotch Plains NJ does this work very well. He shortened a white pump for my Nobilette and an orange one for my Algurn. Couldn't tell they didn't come from the factory that length. The key is to take some of the tube from both ends, to keep the logo centered in the shaft. One pic here (albeit not centered on the pump):
>
> http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2024583060040632288gVfGgs

That's certainly a more elegant way than what I did, especially if the pump has to be shortened more than an inch or two. Mine ended up with the top part of the barrel logo hidden by the handle. However, Matthew just needs to shorten his by 3/8" or 1/2". I looked at the other end and it looks like the bottom part is cemented into the barrel. I don't know how deep it is, but if it's more than about the same length that the pump needs to be shortened, it could be just cut at the bottom, the remainder of the barrel machined off, and re-cemented. For such a small change in length, the change in the logo location would be negligible. However, it could also be done my way and nobody would be the wiser unless they saw the screw heads when using the pump. When I did mine, it was "just a pump" I picked up at the LBS to replace one I'd lost.

John Betmanis
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada