Hi guys, I bought a 2009 Trek FX 7.3 bike from Craigslist for $300. It's in working order, but cosmetically it needs work. There's some paint scratches and chips. And the tension wires/cables, screws, nuts, and bolts have rust on them.

I plan on repainting it, so obviously I need to disassemble it, but I am a complete bike rookie. I'm afraid of touching the gears, derailer, etc. Are there any detailed tutorials on how to disassemble a Trek bike?

Also, what do you guys recommend to treat the rust on the wires/cables, scews, nuts, and bolts, etc. Thanks.

You need to replace all of the rusted cabling and chain. There is some sort of acid that the C&Vers usually put on their old rusted stuff, someone else will have to chime in on what that's called.

Hey there Caunyd!

Just relax about it. You're now here with people who can help you.


First of all, if your bike is that rusty, you're right to want to disassemble the bike for proper maintenance.
Sounds like you're going to need some liquid wrench or something to loosen things up, before you actually begin taking the bike apart.

Things you'll most definitely need:

(1) Screw Drivers

a. Phillips
b. Flathead

(2) Metric Wrenches # 8,9,10,12, 13, & maybe 15

(3) An Adjustable Wrench

(4) Cone Wrenches for your hubs

(5) Allen Wrenches 4, 5, & 6

(6) Cable Cutters

(7) Fourth Hand

(8) Chain Break Tool

(9) Tire Lever

(10) Camera

(11) Hammer ( Hopefully, you won't need this one)

(12) Patience

(13) Third Hand

(14) Pliers

Procedure:

Day 1

First, take close-up pictures on your derailleurs (both front and back), your brakes (both front and back), your chain arrangement (especially how its aligned with both the front and rear derailleurs). Also, take pictures of your headset and handlebar arrangement. You might want to take pictures of the rear hub area where your cassette is located. Of course, you should have already done that when you snapped pics on the chain. Spray liquid wrench on all really super rusty parts.

Day 2

Second, take the bike to the garage or some place where you can hang it up. Or rent a bike stand. Or just turn the bike upside down and rest it on its handlebars and seat.

If you can hang it up, make certain that you're working at eye-level or you're looking down on your work area. Tie rope up under the bicycle stem and the seat. Attach this rope to the above beam, hanging across the roof or ceiling.

To be continued...

Post on mechanics board.

rust on the wires/cables, - Replace the cables and even the housings. Especially brakes as it is a safety issue, and fairly cheap. You will need some specialized clippers.

parktool.com
sheldonbrown.com

+1

My favorite rust remover on other parts is 0000 steel wool and elbow grease.

There may not be good tutorials on the specific bike, but Google tutorials on specific parts and you'll do fine. Take it slow, use the correct tool and take pictures.

Unless you have quite the setup and are a skilled painter, you might regret attempting a repaint. Home paint jobs tend to not only come out inferior to factory paint, they're also usually much more prone to chipping.

Day 3

Look at the chain on your bike. Look for a point where two links are closer together than the other links. If you don't see such a point, its ok. However, if you do, start there with your chain break tool. Now go to Google's "video search" and type in "bicycle chain removal". Look at this video three times. Now when you remove your chain, make certain that you don't push the pin all of the way out. Just push it out far enough to pull the chain apart. Now, place the removed chain in a metal bucket or ceramic bowl that contains some type of organic solvent (gasoline, mineral spirits, charcoal lighter fluid, lighter fluid, etc). After soaking your chain for a couple hours, take a tooth brush and brush clean. Now place the chain in clean solvent for a couple minutes, then hang it up to dry. After it's dry, run 3 in 1 oil over it before you reinstall your chain.

Now go to your wheels. Disengage any quick releases on your brakes (both front and rear). If you don't have quick releases, then use your wrenches to loosen your brakes. Make certain that you have enough clearance to remove your wheels. Now, remove your wheels. Fill both your tire with air to their recommended capacities. Now, if that was successful, press in your Schrader valve on your rim and release the air from your tire. Remove your tire from your rim (Go to youtube for this). Clean your rims. If your tires or rims need replacing, do it at this time. Now, place your tires back onto your rims (go to youtube for this).

For the remainder of your instruction, just go to video search and type in your task. There will be many videos available for your viewing pleasure. Alternatively, you could go to the Mechanics Board, as already suggested.

While there may or may not be specific videos on how to disassemble your bike in particular, there are videos on how to accomplish just about any basic mechanical task on any traditional triangular framed bicycle like your Trek.

Good Luck!

+1 Rattle can paint = chips all the time. Trek is noted for world class paint jobs on their bikes.

Rusty consumables = replace them. I use oxalic acid to remove rust on fasteners and small parts, but you have to make sure to disassemble as it attacks aluminum. If you want to try oxalic acid, use search, as it has been thoroughly discussed a couple of thousand times.

I have a friend with an FX 7.something, in this nice satin finish. Has held up well to years of abuse. The only way to get a bike nicely repainted without having prior experience would be to go to a framebuilder, or maybe an auto body shop. I looked into it when I was building my brother a mountain bike, but it was too expensive to be worth it. Just leave it as is, and get a new chain and cables (the bad paint will be a badge of honor, like buying a "reliced" guitar, but less stupid). Even if you don't end up repainting it, dissassemble it if you're comfortable. It's good to know how your bike works, and if you need to replace or repair anything in the future, it won't seem as scary.

As said on mechanics - Don't bother repainting, you will never rattlecan it better than it was. New cables and chain.

Oxalic acid on rust. Lots of penitrating oil (best from a car shop) and if something is really stuck penitrating oil and into a freezer - as the metal shrinks it gives the oil a chance to get in there. Do a search for rattle can painting - it can be quite good. Good luck

Oh and the Park Tool tutorials!!!!!!

Nail polish comes in 29 billion colors, so you should be able to find a match to the frame's current paint job. Great for touch-ups, and the praise you'll receive for having your nails match your bike -- wear fingerless gloves!