Classic & Vintage - Cannondale Refinish

I have a 1989 Cannondale 3.0 frame that I am considering refinishing. Powder coat is 1 option. What is done with what looks to be plastic cable guides on the top tube? Will they withstand the temp required? How to take them off and reattach them if they won't take the heat? I would guess even if painting it would be better to remove and reattach them.

Thanks,

Bill

why refinish? its al, can't rust. scratches and scuffs add character.

Whether you paint or powder coat, to do the job right you have to take off the cable guides (as well as the downtube shifter mounts, but that's a whole 'nuther story). I've refurbed a lot of these older Cannondales and have yet to find a way to remove the guides and re-use them. They use a funky tube-within-a-tube system (and them tubes are teeny) that's semi-molded into a new guide. So I just buy them from my Cannondale dealer for about $8 for a bag of three. One bag for each bike. Cost of admission, I guess.

But I have a bunch of guides in good shape and someday I'm gonna figure out how to securely remount them buggers.

Whether you paint or powder coat, to do the job right you have to take off the cable guides (as well as the downtube shifter mounts, but that's a whole 'nuther story). I've refurbed a lot of these older Cannondales and have yet to find a way to remove the guides and re-use them. They use a funky tube-within-a-tube system (and them tubes are teeny) that's semi-molded into a new guide. So I just buy them from my Cannondale dealer for about $8 for a bag of three. One bag for each bike. Cost of admission, I guess.

But I have a bunch of guides in good shape and someday I'm gonna figure out how to securely remount them buggers.

I forgot about the guide under the bottom beacket and shifter mounts

the shifter bosses come off with a small screwdriver but I forget the side it is on. yes it is inside the boss

91fm while aluminum does not rust it does corrode which while technically different sill destroys the frame.

91fm while aluminum does not rust it does corrode which while technically different sill destroys the frame.

I was going to mention that. There is some paint bubbling from the bottle cage mounts. Hopefully the frame is OK underneath. I've owned this frame since new.

Bill

Whether you paint or powder coat, to do the job right you have to take off the cable guides (as well as the downtube shifter mounts, but that's a whole 'nuther story). I've refurbed a lot of these older Cannondales and have yet to find a way to remove the guides and re-use them. They use a funky tube-within-a-tube system (and them tubes are teeny) that's semi-molded into a new guide. So I just buy them from my Cannondale dealer for about $8 for a bag of three. One bag for each bike. Cost of admission, I guess.

But I have a bunch of guides in good shape and someday I'm gonna figure out how to securely remount them buggers.

Is there a trick to getting them off or is it just force?

Thanks,

Bill

If you look at them closely you can see that there are two plastic pins. they need to be pushed down in to the top tube, they can be shaken out later if you want.
http://mikesbikes.com/merchant/344/images/large/ttcg.gif

When you go to put the new guides on, use a punch and be really careful and make sure you push the pins in straight down or you will bend them to the side and they will deform and you will have a hell of a time getting them in after that, don't ask how I figured that out.


Side note, does anybody know what Al these older Cannondales are made from? I would like to PC mine as well but want to know what temp range of powder I should be looking at.