Mystery 1970's Bottecchia Project
 

I recently bought a mid 1970's Bottecchia and plan on restoring it mostly myself. It has a plain steel frame, should be around 23-24 lb's,

Lots of nice parts, Campy, Gipiemmi, Zeus, 3ttt, etc.

The frame appears to be straight and no tell tale issues and should clean up nicely and with the original decals and paint.

All the parts will need to be cleaned, lubed, adjusted. The bearings in the hubs, bottom bracket, pulleys, pedals will need TLC and will get new Campy dérailleur cables. Going to try to clean the brake cables as well as the chain (if not stretched).

Basically, a complete overhaul. I will post before and after pic's

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=361282679256

@BigGoogyjim - The frame may be straight but he fork is bent. You might find this useful: Dave Moulton's Blog - Dave Moulton's Bike Blog - Straightening steel*forks

Have fun!
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...psskpkoejb.jpg

Haven't examined the fork yet, might just be the picture and angle it was taken. I will have it checked out at my LBS.

You might be interested in the last two rows of pictures here of the fork I recently purchased and found it to be bent. I doesn't' look too bad and I think it can be repaired. Some will not like the liability with recommending bending it back, but Dave makes some good points about how the fork was made originally. The thing is to check the TT and DT just behind the head lugs. The other check would be the steerer as sometimes it gets bent too. The bend will happen between the bearings. There is also a possibility that the crown is bent too.

It is likely the LBS value will be confirmation of it being bent or not. There option that it is toast would be just that, an option.

This is the first bent fork I encountered while riding the bike:
[IMG]https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3864/1...21c04857_b.jpgP6010926 by Patrick Boulden, on Flickr[/IMG]

SJX:

I'm at work and merely looking at the pic's., it does look slightly bent back. The good news, my LBS, has a machine designed to fix them if needed.

Funny thing about projects, they will always have a surprise or two and cost more than budgeted.

In the end, you have a restored vintage bike and the pride of ownership,

Jim

Just walked in the door and looked at the fork and don't see any issues, it follows the head tube correctly. Nevertheless, I will have it looked at by other eyes.

Jim

if it looks bent in the pic, but not in person, it is just the angle of the pic and nothing to worry about

Pull the fork off the bike and put a ruler against the steerer tube to see what you're dealing with; judging by the pic it's going to be bent buuuut I've been wrong before. I recently restored a french bike myself and can attest to the steerers being able to take a rebend without issue if it is :)

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450778

Lots of speculation at this point, hopefully just that. If the fork or steerer is bent, it will be dealt with in the restoration, which this thread is about. There will be a definitive answer hopefully tomorrow when the frame set is inspected.

Jim

My LBS said the fork was fine and that the steerer tube/headset were loose.

Once i get it taken appart, I will begin posting pictures.

Jim

I am pleased for you. It is always a bad feeling when you realize something like a bent fork! Congrats.

All parts removed. Frame weighs 2608gm and the fork 951. Gonna just clean the frame/fork and enjoy the nicks, chips and honest wear.

http://www.bikeforums.net/webkit-fak...9c0d/imagejpeg

More pic's tomorrow. Was able clean the frame, fork, crankset today. The decals on the seat tube are a bit dry, not bad enough to remove and replace at this point in time. The frame is chrome under the paint and red primer, while there are scratches, rubs and 40 years of love, it still has a nice look to the eye.

Located and bought a Campy seat post, Selle saddle, Campy NOS derailleur cables/housing. One of the sew ups is good and will become the spare.

I used water and Spic & Span household cleaner to clean the frameset, citrus based degreaser for the crankset. I employed a tile & grout brush to lift the caked on oil/grease. I will use Brasso for the aluminum parts that need shined up, pedals, spokes, hubs, brakes, rims as they have minor pitting and oxidation. I will attempt to clean and restore the chain, but it may be beyond help.

The headset/bottom bracket bearings look good and a good douching and repacking is in order. Haven't examined the Campy Record Hub bearings yet, but will repack them as well.

Jim

https://www.flickr.com/photos/133196.../shares/29521A

pic's of the before and after brakes and crankset. Wasn't able to shoot the before and after of the frame/fork.

Jim

Been too busy working to work on the bike. Anyway, the Campy seat post arrives and is very tight due to a dirty seat tube that will need to be cleaned up, possibly honed to properly address the issue. Will save it for the end of the project. Next up is cleaning the derailleurs.

Jim

Sort of abandoned the before and after shots, been done before too many times. Found some time and cleaned up the freewheel, derailleurs, (will need to go over the rear derailleur one more time, the BB and rear wheel. The seat post will need to be cleaned on the inside as the seat post will not go in properly. Hoping it can be done with some Emory cloth and a piece of doweling.

The rear derailleur was missing the lower adjustment screw and found one that is the right size, albeit with a larger head. Need to find a proper compression spring for it.

Half the battle is having the correct tools and since I haven't been riding in too many years/decades, I literally have to buy each required tool. That said, still worth it.

Still not sure what model it is, the only dating on it is the tape bands on the handle bars showing 1975.

Making steady progress, the chain is taking a long time, from about 20 frozen links down to 1. It is actually starting to look silver again. Rebuilding the pedals and again, it took a long time to get the old caked white (light brown) grease removed. The cones look very nice and should turn out nicely when I pack them tomorrow.

The lesson learned so far is patience and take it on in stages.

Jim

Great job Jim!

Following this build and hope to see the finished product soon. Stick with it, and you'll have a real keeper when your done.

Glad to hear the fork is not bent!:)

That's a pretty good lesson. I just caught this thread now - that looks like a fun project, and plenty clean to my eye. It has a history to it. Enjoy, I'd bet it'll be a blast to ride.

Giacomo 1:

I think it will be a keeper as well. It's throwing me some road blocks here and there, the chain alone was 4 hours to get it back from the dead. I look upon this project as a learning experience with the payoff a nice vintage circa 1973-1975 Italian Road Bike, a rideable work of art.

Jim

@Biggoofyjim - looking good! I haven't started on mine yet, low in the queue.

Jim, certainly agree the rewards bringing something like an old bike back to life, even a chain. But fours worth? That's dedication!
Kiddin' aside, keep up the good worth. More pics :)

(Btw: I ride an older, lower end Bottecchia. Its been thru a few changes but in keeping character of a classic rider. Though eclectic, parts don't match exact periods but mostly pre-1970, some 50's. I'm attracted to old lightweight performance 'steel' parts. Love it.)

Crank...

There exists a synergy between the crank, cog, chain that I wanted to keep. I considered replacing the cog to a period Regina as the cog it came to me with was a suntour 7 speed, and would have also gone with a period correct chain.

I'm trying to do most of this with my own hands. With that, I'm taking the frame to my LBS, to lightly ream out the seat tube to fit the seat tube...don't have the proper tools for this task.

Jim

https://flic.kr/p/txPq1ZWould you re-tape or clean it up and maintain the 8/75 dating?