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Child Item

Project Steel

CianRyan

I was talking to a friend yesterday and I got thinking afterwards that I'd really love a nice simple, classic steel frame road bike or even single speed. Then it hit me, about three years ago I pulled an old bike out of a skip in work, through it in the back of my (then) Nissan Micra and buried it in the shed because I'm basically a hopeless horder!

So out I go to the shed to see what kind of state it's in and even if it's worth putting any time into and well, it looks like back in it's day it would have been a very nice bike.
It's clearly had a rough time and someone has converted it into a much unloved (thrown in a skip when they bought a car) fixie.
I can't make out who built it, there is a serial number but it's been painted over so it's very hard to make out but it's got tonne of Shimano 600 groupset parts, Dura-Ace downtube shifters and it at least has stickers indicating that it may be made of Columbus steel!

It is a long way off looking pretty but everything bar the obvious lack of a front brake function and a front wheel bearing with quite substantial play, it doesn't look in too bad of a condition.
It'll will make a nice project to dig into while I'm not in work, I just wish all of my tools weren't locked away in my garage.

I suspect this will be a slow progress "resto-mod" kind of project, as much as I'd like to keep things somewhat original I imagine parts for this would be very hard to come by.
I do have a lovely set of Cinelli bars which would look fantastic on it but they're currently on my main bike. :pac:

Anyway, here's some pictures.
If anyone could shed some light on what I've pulled from the trash heap, that'd be really cool!

20200409_141206 by Cian Ryan, on Flickr

20200409_141025 by Cian Ryan, on Flickr

20200409_141059 by Cian Ryan, on Flickr

20200409_141223 by Cian Ryan, on Flickr

20200409_141615 by Cian Ryan, on Flickr

20200409_140952 by Cian Ryan, on Flickr

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ARX

cletus wrote: »

They're not hammers, they're persuaders...

AKA the 'Swindon micrometer' (referring to the Swindon railway works of the Great Western Railway).

Smilinpolitely

Smilinpolitely wrote: »

Nice work cian. Great to see the pedals off.
I had a productive week. Finished the painting, I'm reasonably happy with the finish considering it was done outside. I even managed to get the bottom bracket and front fork reattached today.

A quick pic

CianRyan

British racing green, I love it!

A really light wet sand with the highest grit you get and a polish would really bring that up. If you have a machine polisher, then even better!

Smilinpolitely

Thanks cian I reckon I could borrow a polishing machine from mate. I'm really liking the green its fairly close to the frames original colour under all the dodgy paint jobs over the years

cletus

Cian, you were talking inanother thread about building wheels.

Park Tools have just released a 5 video series on wheel truing, which might be helpful.

CianRyan

Today I got a package in the mail and I was like kid at christ. It was none other than one of Cletus' home made bike tools! A bottom bracket pin spanner.

I having previously taken the head off a circlip pliars, the pin spanner was a god send, it had no resistance removing the 30/40 year old part. The side was not looking pretty but all parts are intact so I decided to try and reuse the original BB. If it doesn't hold up I'll buy a sealed unit... I do love old things though.

Once apart I removed the chunky, gritty grease, used some brake cleaner and then 400/600 grit wet and dry with WD40 to clean the spindle and cups. I used a small copper brush to gently remove corrosion from the ball bearings and cages, cleaned again and let sit in WD40 again before reassembling with Molybdenum Disulfide grease. This is used for CV and universal joints on cars because it's long lasting, has a high melting point and over time builds a chemical layer on metal that helps to protect and improve bearing efficiency... I have a big tub of it laying around.

All back together bar the lock ring as I was called in for dinner, it feels a hell of a lot better now than before it was apart. It may last, it may not but I'm glad to have at least tried to save an old part.
Next I've to order my headset bearing and look at building these wheel. Fun!
Pics as always.

cletus

8valve

CianRyan wrote: »

Today I got a package in the mail and I was like kid at christ. It was none other than one of Cletus' home made bike tools! A bottom bracket pin spanner.

I having previously taken the head off a circlip pliars, the pin spanner was a god send, it had no resistance removing the 30/40 year old part. The side was not looking pretty but all parts are intact so I decided to try and reuse the original BB. If it doesn't hold up I'll buy a sealed unit... I do love old things though.

Once apart I removed the chunky, gritty grease, used some brake cleaner and then 400/600 grit wet and dry with WD40 to clean the spindle and cups. I used a small copper brush to gently remove corrosion from the ball bearings and cages, cleaned again and let sit in WD40 again before reassembling with Molybdenum Disulfide grease. This is used for CV and universal joints on cars because it's long lasting, has a high melting point and over time builds a chemical layer on metal that helps to protect and improve bearing efficiency... I have a big tub of it laying around.

All back together bar the lock ring as I was called in for dinner, it feels a hell of a lot better now than before it was apart. It may last, it may not but I'm glad to have at least tried to save an old part.
Next I've to order my headset bearing and look at building these wheel. Fun!
Pics as always.

great work.

well done, that man!

iwillhtfu

cletus wrote: »

I may have a little job for a man of your abilities. I need a spacer with a flange machined for and through axle to QR adapter axle. I found one but of course can't find the other. :rolleyes:

cletus

iwillhtfu wrote: »

I may have a little job for a man of your abilities. I need a spacer with a flange machined for and through axle to QR adapter axle. I found one but of course can't find the other. :rolleyes:

Take pictures and dimensions, send them on. If you don't have my mobile number, pm and I'll send it to you

eeeee

And with that the portal to custom bits opened...

cletus

eeeee wrote: »

And with that the portal to custom bits opened...

Just send your PM's, eeeee

CianRyan

This was no fun to buy, a cheap part that's in available in Ireland so I had to double the price with shipping.

Ah well, one step closer. I must tap the cranks this weekend if I get a minute. House renovations are taking up much of my time lately... The hardwood floor and garden are looking great but the bike is eh, still a project. :pac:

8valve

Tange. Nice.

A tool for pressing the cups in correctly is very easy to make, with some threaded bar, nuts and big washers.

cletus

8valve wrote: »

Tange. Nice.

A tool for pressing the cups in correctly is very easy to make, with some threaded bar, nuts and big washers.

I just use a lump hammer...

8valve

cletus wrote: »

I just use a lump hammer...

Picture a single tear running down my cheek...

cletus

8valve wrote: »

Picture a single tear running down my cheek...

My previous post may have been made for comedic effect

saccades

Retrobike.co.uk has a vintage road bike wanted/for sale sections.

It's where I go for old MTB bits.

Nitromors bitd had dichloromethane and methanol in it, too may people (Inc my dad refinishing his sailing dinghy) nearly died using it and had lots of health issues due to it.

I can see why it was made a lot less concentrated.

cletus

Any more progress, Cian?

CianRyan

Well, it's been a few months but I did say this would be a long term project (in-between my house, car and becoming a dad).

I finally got around to fitted the headset on Sunday night. Short of a press, I used a threaded bar, 3 nuts and two pieces of timber and it worked wonderfully... But I did have to use my rubber mallet once.

I'm going to pick up a tap set this weekend and salvage the cranks, find a nice set of bars and then tackle the wheels. I'm not saying when, but it's on the cards.

magicbastarder

there are a couple of decent enough frames for sale on adverts.ie at the moment.

cletus

@CianRyan good to see the work continuing, and congrats on becoming a dad. I made a similar headset press, but I turned down aluminium discs where you have the timber

@Weepsie what size is the croix de fer?

magicbastarder

cletus, this might also be your size? 56cm, though he states it's quite relaxed.

https://www.adverts.ie/bike-frames/vintage-531-frame-and-forks/25332837

cletus

Cheers @magicbastarder . I wonder is the "relaxed, feels like a 54" just a way of appealling to a wider audience 🤔.

If not, a 54 is too small, but no real way of testing that on a stripped frame...

magicbastarder

also cletus, this is a nice one though i don't know if you're looking for a cheap one to strip down?

https://www.adverts.ie/bike-frames/peugeot-bike-frame/23675651

though i'd be curious about the quality of the paint job, he seems to have painted the inside of the seat tube.

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118175197#Comment_118175197

Trying to recall how we compared up height wise when I brought those wheels off you a few years ago... 😀

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118175265#Comment_118175265

Thanks, mb. To be very honest, I don't know what I'm looking for myself. I just keep a half eye out from time to time to see if anything catches my eye

8valve

There's a whole raleigh record on donedeal, 531 with lots of nice parts on it......

Just saying.... ;-)

@CianRyan nice progress.

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118182961#Comment_118182961

Yeah, but some fella already did all the fun stuff with it

CianRyan

Hey hey, it's been a while.

It is starting to look like a bike again, new head set, new bottom bracket bearings, front wheel is decent but the rear wheel isn't coming together so will probably try and pick one up, I'd love to have this ridable this summer, even if not perfect.

Rear stays are on odd/old size. Anyone got a single speed or fixed gear wheel in good shape with a 125mm hub?

Will also try and salvage the crank arms this weekend. Anyone know the threat pattern for a 90's Shimano 600?