Dawes child's bike; help please

[psychling24]

Hi everyone,

I just joined the forum because I bought a Dawes bike for my daughter.

I was hoping that the kind folks on here could helpe me with a few things...

First of all, forgive all the quesitons. I haven't rebuilt a bike before, and I haven't had a headset apart since I was a kid (won't say how long ago that was )

First, when was this bicycle made? [/img] I've attached some pictures. Despite the name 'Kingpin' this is not a folding bike, but a child's one. The frame from BB to the top of the seat tube is 14-1/2" It is a little too big for my daughter who is 119 cm (48 inches, in old money) tall.

Apologies for the small size of the picture of the assembled bike, but I'm afraid I don't have a better one.

Other questions...

I would like to have the frame re-painted. How do I put the head badge back on, after?

The headset was some time in the past, assembled with a few bearings missing (I'm guessing someone lost a few & just couldn't be bothered to do the job right). The cups are slightly scored as a result. I think I can clean them up. Should I bother trying? The bearings are small (1/8", I think). If I use an emory cloth or something to remove the scoring on the cups, can I re-use them? Or will I make the surface too sloppy/uneven for small bearings? Should I just replace the headset? If I replace the headset, what do I need to know before I order it? Can anyone recommend a headset?

Thanks in advance.

 

[biggs682]

headbadge should be ok with rivets , somebody will come along and confirm that or not .

if cups ok just buy a pr of caged brgs of correct size on the internet

 

[keithglos]

You probably have the standard roadster 30 1/8 inch balls. Often assembled with a few less. The complete headset in the 1960's would have been about 2 shillings. They were pretty rough, case hardened, and used in many millions of roadster bikes. Try it with the best of the head lug races in the bottom lug, it'll never be as smooth as a modern headset.

 

[psychling24]

I guessed that there were 30 originally. I took 29 out of the top & 24 out of the bottom. The bottom cup is in worse shape than the top.

I wondered if I should just replace the headset?

 

[psychling24]

Also, I was hoping that someone could tell me when it was built? I guessed 1970, but keithglos suggested 1960s.

Thanks!