jerseyJim

Just picked this up today. One owner.

Rims and spokes are a little rusty, tires are shot, seat obviously, paint is loose and flaky, otherwise fantastic condition.

Never restored an old bike but always wanted to try.


Any tips? Do's Don'ts. Should I repaint the frame or try to save as much of the paint as possible? Thanks.

auchencrow

DO NOT repaint that thing! It's rare to see one as well preserved and it's only original once!
Few Iver Johnsons survive and I'd even want to drop a few bucks to restore that saddle IIWY.

PS - I have a soft spot for IJ's because one was my very first bike.

wineslob

+1

The coolness factor of that seat warrants it.

cyclotoine

yeah... restore? There is nothing to restore. The condition is nothing short of amazing for a bike of it's age. Gentle cleansing and lubing only and should be kept in a temperature and moisture controlled environment as much as possible... like in your house... she's a beaut.

Michael Angelo 

Wood Rims? I for one would rebuild those, using the original rims and hubs, and get as close as possible correct spokes. Then just clean and preserve the rest.

jerseyJim

No they are metal rims painted to look like wood.

jerseyJim

Ok good it is my preference to keep the original paint. Should I remove all the loose paint and just leave the bare metal? As it is if I clean the bike quite a bit of paint is just going to fall off. How should I go about restoring the saddle?

Michael Angelo 

Then, you can locate similar rims, paint them to look like wood, and build new wheels with the original hubs.

jerseyJim

Thanks I feel very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to have this bike.

randomgear

Very gently clean as much rust from the spokes and rims as you can without damaging anything - think 0000 and 000 steel wool with a bit of oil as lubricant. Don't trash them, rebuilding the wheels will likely seriously lower it's value to any collector.
For the saddle, try asking around at a tack shop to find someone who repairs horse saddles, they might be able to repair/re cover yours.

auchencrow

Exploring it with a saddler would be good, or you could also check with @rhm here as well. He may be able to advise.

Any raw metal needs to be sealed somehow, but clear nail polish is the limit of my expertise in that regard. Perhaps someone else could comment.

long john

Yes don't do it. Brooks seat and ride it. Save seat though.

Walldog

the rims are probably original. I can't quite tell from the pictures though. IJ did paint grain metal rims to look wood. I've seen an original paint IJ tandem w/ the frame fully grained -it was cool!

jerseyJim

Thanks I will try this on the rims and spokes. I am not worried about the value but I want to clean it up right and be able to take it out for a spin now and then. I found this spec sheet for a similar bike. From what I can tell the bike is 100% original equipment.

jerseyJim

Don't recover the seat? Why?

vonfilm 

I would definitely contact rhm about recovering that saddle.

frameteam2003

If your not on the CABE go to their web site--it's the place for info on this bike
The Classic and Antique Bicycle Exchange

The Golden Boy 

Pharoah Blue and Rajah Red!

That's a great example of an old bike that the years just missed. I would say you're very fortunate, and I'm sure the people here and at the CABE will steer you in the right direction to take care of this bike!

David Newton

Congrats, that bike is sweet.
If I were you (but it is your bike) I would remove the wheels & crank and clean the frame with simple green and a rag, for the heavy grease, then with a stiff tooth brush and paste wax. Nothing else. I also wouldn't do anything to the saddle, I love how the horsehair padding is poking out from under the cover. It isn't like you will ride the bike much, and only on a dry sunny day. If you do want to ride it a lot, get another saddle for that, and save this one just like it is.
Think of it as a museum piece that you get to keep at home.

jerseyJim

I like this advice thanks, this is what I am going to do. Clean the frame like this and the rusty parts of the rims and spokes with oil and steel wool. Get an old brooks saddle and get a shelf to put this saddle on for show.

Thanks I was clueless now I have a plan.

The tires are rock hard and welded to the rims. Anybody have any experience getting tires in this condition off the rims without damaging them?

David Newton

Get some Turtle Wax liquid "rejuvinator" or Armor-all, something like that, and spray the rubber and joint between the rim and tire, let it soak. Those Carlisle "chain tread" tires surface from time to time, ask around on "the Cabe."

rhm

Beautiful bike! The condition of the chrome is really outstanding.

On the saddle, I like David's advice. If repair were desired, it's not a job for me at any rate. That looks like a job for someone who does upholstered leather items. There's this guy on the internet, no connection to me, possibly worth talking to:

Recovered Saddle - Custom Bicycle Saddle Covers, Repairs and Restoration

jerseyJim

Thought I would post an update and some pics. I had trouble getting the crankarm off so I decided to leave the crank alone and just shoot some grease in there. I was able take the front end apart and clean and regrease the headset and bearings. Cleaned and waxed the frame, fenders, kickstand and polished all the chrome.

I am going to rebuild the wheels and put a brooks flyer on it. I know it will impact the value but I think the bike should be ridden and I don't ever intend to sell it anyway.

Thanks for all the help and advice.

Walldog

Very nice chrome on that. Here's a break down of the crank assembly.

The left side crank arm is typically the painful part. It'll get seized on the spindle. Using some type of fork blade to get underneath it then leverage it off, but take care not too damage the other parts. If that alone won't work -put some heat onto the crank arm area to expand it some off the spindle.

jerseyJim

So I learned that this is not a '38 like I thought it's a'33 and it was repainted at some point and that the fenders are not original.

So I am going to leave the fenders off. I had new wheels built with 700c rims on the old hubs.

It is not a climber and it really takes some effort to get it going but once it is moving it rolls nice. It is not too nimble but is rides smooth as silk and handles very well in sweeping turns.

Hopefully someday I will be able to get a new set of tires that fit the old rims. Fornow though I am very happy with how the project turned out.