Classic & Vintage - Rehab this 1980's Puch Pathfinder?

I'm usually found on the Commuter or Women's board but I am in desperate need of marital advice :rolleyes: . My husband has seen me having fun on my bike for the past few months (newlyweds) and wants to start biking. He pulled out......a 1980's vintage Puch Pathfinder from the back of the garden shed and thinks it'll just take a little work. My guess is that the salvageable parts are the frame, wheels and surprisingly the gearing still works. It was rideable after 2 hours of tinkering and was a sweet ride after my commuter beast (Breezer Villager). Guestimates ladies and gents? How should I go about this??
Thanks in advance!

The only other major component is the brakes. Hard to be sure about them until the bike is rolling though. Standard procedure is new tires/cables as well as overhauling the bearings in the bottom bracket and headset. None of this is hard but takes specialized tools. Won't be real cheap in a shop but alot cheaper than even a low quality WalMart bike. If you want to buy the tools the "Bike Mechanics" page on this site has a thread for the Barnetts Manual which will give thorough directions in PDF format.

The tools will cost ~as much as a shop overhaul but then the tools are yours.

Good luck.

:beer:

The only other major component is the brakes. Hard to be sure about them until the bike is rolling though. Standard procedure is new tires/cables as well as overhauling the bearings in the bottom bracket and headset. None of this is hard but takes specialized tools. Won't be real cheap in a shop but alot cheaper than even a low quality WalMart bike. If you want to buy the tools the "Bike Mechanics" page on this site has a thread for the Barnetts Manual which will give thorough directions in PDF format.

The tools will cost ~as much as a shop overhaul but then the tools are yours.

Good luck.

:beer:
Yeah, the tools are yours and the bike rides better when you're proud of fixing it!

Thanks. My husband is a mechanic and looks at this as a challenge. I will be taking it by the LBS to find out what's fesiable and what's not.

Lube the chain before you do anything. New tires are never a bad idea if you are not as cheap as I am. As far as the bearings go I have seen grease still good as new at 40 years. Only one bike out of at least 25 has had the grease go bad . ( a Raleigh Grand Sports that the grease turned to epoxy) Chances are If you don't know exactly what you are you doing you are doing more damage than doing nothing.

Lube the chain before you do anything. New tires are never a bad idea if you are not as cheap as I am. As far as the bearings go I have seen grease still good as new at 40 years. Only one bike out of at least 25 has had the grease go bad . ( a Raleigh Grand Sports that the grease turned to epoxy) Chances are If you don't know exactly what you are you doing you are doing more damage than doing nothing.

No, I don't know exactly what I'm doing, just approximately! I'm going to change the tires, lube the chain, from the way it handles I don't think the grease has turned to epoxy and change out the brake pads. Rust removal has already been achieved except for the grip area. Looks like new seat and post, handlebars and brake grips, and have the LBS look at the bike and probably laugh. It needs lights and a HELMET to make it street legal. If husband doesn't wear a helmet, it causes the tires to magically go flat. Old ER nurses can be such control freaks....I like him therefore I don't want to worry about changing his diaper due to a head injury ----such a witch I am!

Above all, install new brake pads, preferably KoolStops! If the chain has stretched by more than 1/16" per 24 half-links, replace it. There is nothing wrong with old Austrian bikes. :)

It IS a sweet ride. Nice short frame for short people.

lets see a picture of it already!

Puch was made by Austro-Daimler and built a good machine.
Elbow grease, real grease and some new stuff like tires/tubes/brake pads and maybe cables and you'll be ready to roll!

UH-OH! A picture? I think I'll be able to get the camera and give you a pic later today. I was at the LBS yesterday and on line pricing out the parts. I liked the KoolStops. Unfortunately the teenager behind the counter didn't know anything about brakes and the mechanics were very busy.