What have you been wrenching on lately?
#4076
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: City of Angels
Posts: 5,101
Bikes: A few too many
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1341 Post(s)
Liked 2,078 Times
in
1,143 Posts
I just picked up this last Friday.

I was looking for a frame to build and came across this on Craig's list. Never was a big Bianchi geek but once the weather clears up I'll ride it and see what the fuss is all about. I stripped everything off and cleaned and waxed the frame. Lubed all the bearings, replaced the Shimano cartridge bearing bottom bracket (don't think that was original) with a SKF roller bearing bb, new gear cables and San Marco saddle.
I ordered a pair of Modolo brake levers and Celeste cable housing.

I was looking for a frame to build and came across this on Craig's list. Never was a big Bianchi geek but once the weather clears up I'll ride it and see what the fuss is all about. I stripped everything off and cleaned and waxed the frame. Lubed all the bearings, replaced the Shimano cartridge bearing bottom bracket (don't think that was original) with a SKF roller bearing bb, new gear cables and San Marco saddle.
I ordered a pair of Modolo brake levers and Celeste cable housing.
Very nice, I think after riding it you will understand what the fuss is all about! I wish that mine was as clean as yours....but all is good.
Enjoy your Bianchi.

Best, Ben
__________________
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
#4077
Full Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: The Lou
Posts: 340
Bikes: 82 Trek 710, 90 Trek 750, 86 Vitus, Nishiki Cervino, 1989 Bianchi CdI, 2 Nashbars, an Italian Steel MTB, Sears Spaceliner, and a 74 Schwinn Speedster. I also manage a fleet of Volcanic Patrol bikes, 83 of them.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 109 Post(s)
Liked 233 Times
in
119 Posts
Ben,
Which model do you have? I see a glimpse of red on the down tube similar to mine...
Which model do you have? I see a glimpse of red on the down tube similar to mine...
#4079
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Michigan USA
Posts: 807
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes.
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 225 Post(s)
Liked 716 Times
in
337 Posts
I bought the Austro Daimler frame from Andy_K . I picked up a Trek 720 wheelset, Maillard hubs, Matrix Titan T rims. Used a Shimano RSX group and some Cinelli bars.
Spent a while working on some of the frame touch-ups, it had a history of fixie and had quite a few chips. Luckily it came with a bottle of fairly close touch-up paint.
Now, to wait for spring..

Spent a while working on some of the frame touch-ups, it had a history of fixie and had quite a few chips. Luckily it came with a bottle of fairly close touch-up paint.
Now, to wait for spring..


Last edited by daverup; 02-24-21 at 06:04 AM. Reason: Added
Likes For daverup:
#4080
Senior Member
Durax Triple Cottered cranks on my Gitane Hosteller. Just looking for some 9mm cotters still, contacting some forum members first before ordering from a retailer. It will be my first time filing cotters, as I've lucked out in the past with a good LBS that somehow had perfect matches.

Likes For RALEIGH_COMP:
#4081
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Jersey near PHL
Posts: 771
Bikes: Frequently
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 157 Post(s)
Liked 244 Times
in
125 Posts
I've been working on this donated bike (late '80s Nishiki Custom) in order to Craigslist it for a non-profit. Decent 12-speed bike, worth the rehab.
Was pretty far along before finding out that the rear derailleur is FUBAR. *urk* Apparently someone thought the way to remove the chain was by bending the der all to hell. Oh well. Found a replacement on the bay, just gotta wait for it to arrive.
Was pretty far along before finding out that the rear derailleur is FUBAR. *urk* Apparently someone thought the way to remove the chain was by bending the der all to hell. Oh well. Found a replacement on the bay, just gotta wait for it to arrive.

Last edited by NJgreyhead; 02-16-21 at 09:18 PM.
Likes For NJgreyhead:
#4082
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 1,230
Bikes: Bianchi Ti Megatube; Colnago Competition; Planet-X EC-130E; Klein Pulse; Amp Research B4; Litespeed Catalyst; Trek Y11
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 584 Post(s)
Liked 441 Times
in
241 Posts
Since there's nothing else to do, as it's windy as hell, raining, and there's a 5km radius lockdown still in effect... let's do another bottom bracket check!
This time it's the 1996 Bianchi Ti Megatube.
I figured it would be fine, as I did it before and greased the hell out of everything correctly. But I didn't expect it to be this perfect. How long ago was it when I did it? Time flies, it was 2014!
When I changed it before, it was pretty crusty (see the 2014 photo with the original, along with the current one), though at that point it was probably the original from '96.
Here's the bike as it is today.

When I took the bottom bracket out today, Feb 2021.

When I installed it new in Aug 2014, along with the original crusty one that I removed. If I remember correctly, it did not come out easy.
This time it's the 1996 Bianchi Ti Megatube.
I figured it would be fine, as I did it before and greased the hell out of everything correctly. But I didn't expect it to be this perfect. How long ago was it when I did it? Time flies, it was 2014!
When I changed it before, it was pretty crusty (see the 2014 photo with the original, along with the current one), though at that point it was probably the original from '96.
Here's the bike as it is today.

When I took the bottom bracket out today, Feb 2021.

When I installed it new in Aug 2014, along with the original crusty one that I removed. If I remember correctly, it did not come out easy.

Likes For ridelikeaturtle:
#4083
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Medford MA
Posts: 2,083
Bikes: Ron Cooper touring, 1959 Jack Taylor 650b ladyback touring tandem, Vitus 979, Joe Bell painted Claud Butler Dalesman, Colin Laing curved tube tandem, heavily-Dilberted 1982 Trek 6xx, René Herse tandem
Mentioned: 79 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 960 Post(s)
Liked 1,435 Times
in
719 Posts
This past Saturday, BF member @plonz gave me a nice Specialized Expedition to take out my frustrations on!
Two hours later, here is the result.

The cut I had to make was only 2.5" long, with the expander slot helping me out and guiding the "Alcatraz special" (hacksaw blade wrapped in electrical tape for a handle).
Poor stem, I wish I could have saved it. It was _really_ stuck. Inspired me to go around and regrease a couple seatposts and stems of my own. I realize as I get older and time speeds up, that this sort of thing could happen to me!
Two hours later, here is the result.

The cut I had to make was only 2.5" long, with the expander slot helping me out and guiding the "Alcatraz special" (hacksaw blade wrapped in electrical tape for a handle).
Poor stem, I wish I could have saved it. It was _really_ stuck. Inspired me to go around and regrease a couple seatposts and stems of my own. I realize as I get older and time speeds up, that this sort of thing could happen to me!
__________________
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Likes For scarlson:
#4084
Senior Member
Building new wheels for my '79 Fuji America.
Origin8 LD-2100 hubs, silver Sapim Laser spokes with silver-plated Sapin brass nipples, Pacenti Brevet 700c 36H roles.



Prepping the spokes.


4-cross.

These spokes are very thin, so I drew alignment lines with a Sharpie to keep an eye on windup. I probably also should have used pliers or a cable-holding tool to hold the spokes: it would have made the adjustments at high tension easier, and probably been better for the spokes than just winging it.

Tubeless tape for tubeless rim. Cotton tape would have built the rim bed too high, and this should serve as a smoother bed for the latex tubes as well.

Genuine SunTour high-performance aerodynamic wheel cover. Definitely not a spoke protector.

Wheels fully assembled with 28mm GP5000 tires, Vittoria 25/28mm latex tubes, and a Shimano TZ20 6-speed 14-28 freewheel. A SunRace freewheel would look nicer, but both times I've tried SunRace freewheels, the bearings began to fail within a few hundred miles. So Shimano it is.
Origin8 LD-2100 hubs, silver Sapim Laser spokes with silver-plated Sapin brass nipples, Pacenti Brevet 700c 36H roles.



Prepping the spokes.


4-cross.

These spokes are very thin, so I drew alignment lines with a Sharpie to keep an eye on windup. I probably also should have used pliers or a cable-holding tool to hold the spokes: it would have made the adjustments at high tension easier, and probably been better for the spokes than just winging it.

Tubeless tape for tubeless rim. Cotton tape would have built the rim bed too high, and this should serve as a smoother bed for the latex tubes as well.

Genuine SunTour high-performance aerodynamic wheel cover. Definitely not a spoke protector.

Wheels fully assembled with 28mm GP5000 tires, Vittoria 25/28mm latex tubes, and a Shimano TZ20 6-speed 14-28 freewheel. A SunRace freewheel would look nicer, but both times I've tried SunRace freewheels, the bearings began to fail within a few hundred miles. So Shimano it is.

Likes For HTupolev:
#4085
Hoards Thumbshifters
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Signal Mountain, TN
Posts: 1,164
Bikes: '87 Bruce Gordon Chinook, '08 Jamis Aurora, '86 Trek 560, '97 Mongoose Rockadile, & '91 Trek 750
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 237 Post(s)
Liked 317 Times
in
185 Posts
Where did you end up buying your spokes and nipples? I have a few wheel projects in the future as well.
#4086
Hoards Thumbshifters
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Signal Mountain, TN
Posts: 1,164
Bikes: '87 Bruce Gordon Chinook, '08 Jamis Aurora, '86 Trek 560, '97 Mongoose Rockadile, & '91 Trek 750
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 237 Post(s)
Liked 317 Times
in
185 Posts
My Sunday nice weather project...


New grips and Microshift thumb shifters on my do all bike. Had to sort out derailleur alignment and shifting issues on this bike too.
Likes For mechanicmatt:
#4087
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,444
Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1550 Post(s)
Liked 2,102 Times
in
1,042 Posts
Not really bike related but I am working on rebuilding my 1/2" drive Snap On Impact wrench, IM 51. Here it is taken apart and with replacement parts kit on the right.

One of the challenges was to remove bearings and seals that were essentially blind holes. So I bought a blind hole bearing and seal remover kit.

Which I can use for the bikes with sealed bearings, like hubs, should the need arise. Also works on automotive bearings, I hope.
I have a mess of rims and wheels that I can't keep track of anymore. So a bunch of tags were ordered. They will work for a number of other projects too.

One of the challenges was to remove bearings and seals that were essentially blind holes. So I bought a blind hole bearing and seal remover kit.

Which I can use for the bikes with sealed bearings, like hubs, should the need arise. Also works on automotive bearings, I hope.
I have a mess of rims and wheels that I can't keep track of anymore. So a bunch of tags were ordered. They will work for a number of other projects too.

__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Likes For SJX426:
#4088
Senior Member
Likes For HTupolev:
#4089
Banned.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: PAZ
Posts: 12,394
Mentioned: 255 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2586 Post(s)
Liked 4,819 Times
in
1,709 Posts
Finally decided to get my thumb out and begin the final cleaning/polishing of a number of stems I've had sitting around awaiting refurbishment. Cleaned and polished up one of my Cinelli 1Rs to mate with a cleaned-up Campione del Mondo bar. I ended up with a lovely set to drop in as a replacement for the combo that was on the Medici; the stem in particular needed attention as it was missing some anodizing along the top and right side. Once I dropped the new one - already pre-taped and with a pair of brake clamps in place - I cabled up the brakes and am ready to go. Well, I was until I realized the polish job was too good and now the seatpost looked dull! I pulled it this afternoon and after an hour with bronze wool and varying sanding films I came up with a closely-matching finish I'm happy with.
Here's the ugly one; I'll be getting to this one day, but not soon because I'm out of anodizing stripper for the time being:

The new shiny bits:

DD
Here's the ugly one; I'll be getting to this one day, but not soon because I'm out of anodizing stripper for the time being:

The new shiny bits:

DD
#4090
Senior Member
Nice job on the polishing Jeff. I do that too, but use Drano crystals or my wifes lye. Goes pretty quik...
Getting the nicks out is the hard part...
#4091
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,006
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,539 Times
in
805 Posts
Here's a tease...
You can pick up certain details from these clues. Other clues: frame is Asian and aluminum, black on silver theme...

EDIT: Oh. Neither vintage nor classic, unfortunately.

EDIT: Oh. Neither vintage nor classic, unfortunately.
#4092
Happy With My Bike
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 1,875
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 719 Post(s)
Liked 1,900 Times
in
911 Posts
I picked up a mixte for my wife last week. She doesn't appreciate the 39 year old brown paint job as much as me. If it is the difference between her liking the bike enough to ride with me once in a while or not, I guess I will look into spray.bike and give it a go.





__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
Likes For Chuck M:
Likes For daverup:
#4094
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: City of Angels
Posts: 5,101
Bikes: A few too many
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1341 Post(s)
Liked 2,078 Times
in
1,143 Posts
Finally decided to get my thumb out and begin the final cleaning/polishing of a number of stems I've had sitting around awaiting refurbishment. Cleaned and polished up one of my Cinelli 1Rs to mate with a cleaned-up Campione del Mondo bar. I ended up with a lovely set to drop in as a replacement for the combo that was on the Medici; the stem in particular needed attention as it was missing some anodizing along the top and right side. Once I dropped the new one - already pre-taped and with a pair of brake clamps in place - I cabled up the brakes and am ready to go. Well, I was until I realized the polish job was too good and now the seatpost looked dull! I pulled it this afternoon and after an hour with bronze wool and varying sanding films I came up with a closely-matching finish I'm happy with.
Here's the ugly one; I'll be getting to this one day, but not soon because I'm out of anodizing stripper for the time being:

The new shiny bits:

DD
Here's the ugly one; I'll be getting to this one day, but not soon because I'm out of anodizing stripper for the time being:

The new shiny bits:

DD
I hope you're not having NAGO withdrawal, it was a beaut.



Best, Ben
__________________
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
Likes For xiaoman1:
#4095
52psi
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 4,089
Bikes: Schwinn Volare ('78); Raleigh Competition GS ('79)
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 779 Post(s)
Liked 754 Times
in
365 Posts
Switching some things up on the single-speed Raleigh:

Cleaning up the look after running MAFAC Racers for the last however long. Should've done it sooner.

Cleaning up the look after running MAFAC Racers for the last however long. Should've done it sooner.
__________________
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
Likes For Fahrenheit531:
#4096
Happy With My Bike
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 1,875
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 719 Post(s)
Liked 1,900 Times
in
911 Posts
Discussing it over gumbo and craft beers tonight, she agrees the original paint needs to stay. If she rides it and doesn't like the color, I'll look for another survivor in a color she likes.
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
#4097
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Michigan USA
Posts: 807
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes.
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 225 Post(s)
Liked 716 Times
in
337 Posts
Nice! I think it was a great pick however it works out. I fixed up a 80's Centurion Mixte for my wife and she really likes it.
Likes For daverup:
#4098
Not lost wanderer.
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Lititz, Pa
Posts: 3,316
Bikes: In USA; 73 Raleigh Super Course dingle speed, 72 Raleigh Gran Sport SS, 72 Geoffry Butler, 81 Centurion Pro-Tour, 74 Gugie Grandier Sportier
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 878 Post(s)
Liked 929 Times
in
493 Posts
Two Japanese recycle hybrids that I am fixing up for some neighbors.


#4099
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Kips Bay, NY
Posts: 2,171
Bikes: Ritchey Swiss Cross | Teesdale Kona Hot | Haro Extreme | Specialized Stumpjumper Comp | Cannondale F1000 | Shogun 1000 | Cannondale M500 | Norco Charger | Marin Muirwoods 29er | Shogun Kaze | Breezer Lightning
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 562 Post(s)
Liked 921 Times
in
466 Posts
Building new wheels for my '79 Fuji America.
Origin8 LD-2100 hubs, silver Sapim Laser spokes with silver-plated Sapin brass nipples, Pacenti Brevet 700c 36H roles.



Prepping the spokes.


4-cross.

These spokes are very thin, so I drew alignment lines with a Sharpie to keep an eye on windup. I probably also should have used pliers or a cable-holding tool to hold the spokes: it would have made the adjustments at high tension easier, and probably been better for the spokes than just winging it.

Tubeless tape for tubeless rim. Cotton tape would have built the rim bed too high, and this should serve as a smoother bed for the latex tubes as well.

Genuine SunTour high-performance aerodynamic wheel cover. Definitely not a spoke protector.

Wheels fully assembled with 28mm GP5000 tires, Vittoria 25/28mm latex tubes, and a Shimano TZ20 6-speed 14-28 freewheel. A SunRace freewheel would look nicer, but both times I've tried SunRace freewheels, the bearings began to fail within a few hundred miles. So Shimano it is.

Origin8 LD-2100 hubs, silver Sapim Laser spokes with silver-plated Sapin brass nipples, Pacenti Brevet 700c 36H roles.



Prepping the spokes.


4-cross.

These spokes are very thin, so I drew alignment lines with a Sharpie to keep an eye on windup. I probably also should have used pliers or a cable-holding tool to hold the spokes: it would have made the adjustments at high tension easier, and probably been better for the spokes than just winging it.

Tubeless tape for tubeless rim. Cotton tape would have built the rim bed too high, and this should serve as a smoother bed for the latex tubes as well.

Genuine SunTour high-performance aerodynamic wheel cover. Definitely not a spoke protector.

Wheels fully assembled with 28mm GP5000 tires, Vittoria 25/28mm latex tubes, and a Shimano TZ20 6-speed 14-28 freewheel. A SunRace freewheel would look nicer, but both times I've tried SunRace freewheels, the bearings began to fail within a few hundred miles. So Shimano it is.

#4100
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Saratoga calif.
Posts: 1,005
Bikes: Miyata 610(66cm), GT Vantara Hybrid (64cm), Nishiki International (64cm), Peugeot rat rod (62 cm), Trek 800 Burning Man helicopter bike, Bob Jackson frame (to be restored?) plus a never ending stream of neglected waifs from the Bike exchange.
Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 327 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 490 Times
in
193 Posts
I just finished this SR Semi pro. The bike came into the Bike exchange looking pretty tired. I decided to give it a repaint but didn't want to strip off all the old paint so I sanded and treated the rusty bits then sanded down the existing paint, primed with Rustoleum primer then again with Rustoleum primer filler for the pits and scratcher , sanded, then top coated with Rustoleum Hammered copper. Everything went well until I sprayed a coat of Rustoleum Automotive clear as a final coat. The solvents in the clear attacked the still soft undercoat and alligatored the paint around the lugs. Major PITA. I called the Rustoleum tech dept. and they told me that the clear has a mostly acetone solvent that, if the paint underneath isn't completely cured, will attack it and cause the alligatoring. I have used this clear successfully on a number of bikes over weathered original paint with great results but have had problems with a couple other repaints and have decided it is not worth the risk on new work. If you do want to clear coat new paint please let the paint cure for at least a couple weeks, preferably in the sunlight or a very warm place before spraying the clear.
After painting the bike I wanted to put a chain stay protector. I had a small piece of soft copper flashing I picked up on a construction site and cut it into shape them using 3m 90 spray adhesive. glued it to the stay and gave it a hammered finish.
Next up is a Windsor Carrera Sport coming soon. I understand the SR and the Carrera were both made by the same Mexican company.
After painting the bike I wanted to put a chain stay protector. I had a small piece of soft copper flashing I picked up on a construction site and cut it into shape them using 3m 90 spray adhesive. glued it to the stay and gave it a hammered finish.
Next up is a Windsor Carrera Sport coming soon. I understand the SR and the Carrera were both made by the same Mexican company.

Likes For capnjonny: