TDR Project – Strip Down Day 5

The last few parts attached to the frame should have been removed today.  The following parts were left attached to frame:

• Rear brake light switch.
• Rear suspension relay arm.
• Frame identity tag.
• Helmet lock.

Rear Suspension Relay Arm And Brake Switch

The rear brake switch spring is looking a little slack and tired but the switch itself seems to be in very good condition and was easily removed.  Note again some more interesting electrical work by a previous owner….

Rear Brake Switch

The suspension relay arm was a different matter altogether.  The bolt will not come out, it just turns in the relay arm.

Stuck Suspension Relay Arm

After consulting the better informed folks at the TDR Forum, it appears that this is a common problem where the bolt corrodes and seizes in a sleeve within the relay arm.  The only course of action is to carefully hacksaw either end of the bolt to free the relay arm.  I skipped that and will attempt it in a few days.

This just left the frame identity tag and the helmet lock to be removed.  The frame tag rivets are very hard and I could not easily centre-punch and drill them so I just ended up chiseling the rivets to snap the heads off.

Frame Identity Tag

When I saw the frame mount for the helmet lock I feared the worst but thankfully some of Halford’s finest freeze and free spray freed it up no problem.

Rear Of Helmet Lock

Front Of Helmet Lock

It was just a case of making sure that the star drive bit was properly engaged (with some percussive persuasion) before attempting to loosen the bolt.