mcrane

Just picked up this Fuji Touring Series IV for $40.00 bucks. My intent is to use it as it was intended, as a touring bike. Like to know what anyone's thoughts are on this bike. It is interesting with the holder for spokes on the chain stay, the three mounts for water bottles, etc. Is this worth the cost and effort to restore? My thoughts are to send it off to get powder coated, clean the parts and replace as needed. The wheels are my biggest concern. I would want to get the wheels rebuilt, any thoughts as to keeping the 40 spoke rear wheel or could I get by with a solid 36 spoke wheel. I'm a big guy and loaded up I'm afraid it might be a bit much on a 36. Can you still buy 27" 40 spoke rims? Currently has the original derailleur set and they work fine, are they worth keeping? If I replace what's everyone's thoughts on a solid derailleur set? I'm excited to start on this project and like to build a solid, quality ride without breaking the bank!!

roadrunner2012

It's only original once.

Clean it, lube it and ride it.

Great score, BTW.

mcrane

Rust is previlent on the top cable guides, around the bottom bracket and some of the lugs. I might try just cleaning but doubt I can keep my hands off of wanting to (in my mind) improve the appearance and function.

cb400bill

In your pictures the paint looks fine. Why powder coat it?

edit: posted at the same time as your reply. Look on this forum for info about treating rust. Much can be saved without resorting to repainting.

roadrunner2012

Quit clamping on the top tube. You have a seatpost.

I could clean that and get $600 as it sits. $300 if you PC it.

gerv 

People are too quick to call the powder coater.

The rust on the cable guides can be dealt with. It looks pretty nice as is.

acoffin 

What is the concern with the wheels? Any reason you can't get them serviced or rebuilt? Great bike, nice components, and at an unbeatable price! No reason to rush into getting yourself under water on it. Treat yourself to a set of nice tires, a nice saddle and new bar tape. Clean and lube and ride. At least that is what I would do.

Chrome Molly

+1

Chrome Molly

If worried about the rust, give it an OA bath (not too strong) and then touch up the cable guides and the typical rust points. To powder coat it for a bit of rust really would break my heart...

eschlwc

check the serial number and the "all things f u j i" forum thread to determine the year. find the catalog pic on the 'classic fuji' web site, and let that be your guide in choosing bar tape and housing ... or not.

take it completely apart and overhaul every inch of it. polish everything with a file, auto quality sandpaper and aluminum polish. rid the dork disk. rebuild the rims with new spokes. ride like hell.

old's'cool

Is there any reason to think there's a problem with the wheels (i.e. assembly of hub/spokes/rims)? Unless they have very high miles or obvious defects, upon knowledgeable inspection, they should be good to go, perhaps with minor trueing. Of course teardown inspection of the hubs, cleaning, regreasing, assembly & proper adjustment would be in order, for a bike that age of unknown history.

gerv 

I would check for true and also I would check each spoke to see if there is any unusual looseness. If I had a tension meter, I'd check every spoke... but just using your fingers you verify that nothing is particularly loose.

If that all checked out, I'd repack the hubs and ride on.

zukahn1

No and again no need for powder coat on this one. Just clean up and polish the original paint. The rust is almost nothing and will go away with cleaning. Then just a little touch paint or nail polish.

eschlwc

after you polish the seat post, take 30 minutes to paint the flutes with black model paint and a tiny brush. it's easy to clean up with just a napkin if you goof, because the flutes are recessed. you can do the same with those faded black pedals to add the bling. little things, like bar tape, will make it feel new without painting the frame. scratch remover (compound) and wax also go a long way.

DiegoFrogs

There is a member here, and I can't recall who it is, who had the same bike in much worse shape (chrome flaking on the fork crown) who managed to bring it back to good condition. Does anyone remember who it was?

zukahn1

I'm against taking paint to black anoidized parts black perminant marker Sharpey gives a much better effect much cheaper and a fraction of the cost.

eschlwc

are either the sp or pedals anodized? i never thought of using a sharpy, but have used paint to great effect.

the_tool_man

Wow. Nice score. That bike is worth ten times what you paid (I wouldn't sell mine for $400). Clean it up and ride it. I bought mine new in 1983, and have been riding it ever since. I still use it as my daily commuter. I still have the original wheels, and drivetrain, except for regearing to 3x7 and NOS Suntour bar end shifters. Someone recommended repacking the wheel hubs. They came with sealed bearings. So if they're smooth, don't touch them. Also, I'd replace the old rubber brake shoes with something better and quieter, like Kool Stops. They make MTB shoes that work with the canti's. Lastly, I may be the only person on the planet who hasn't switched from the Grab-On foam grips that came on my bike. I love them, and have replaced them with the same when they finally become brittle and collapse. You might give them a try. I'm tempted to put them on my road bike when the time comes.

toytech

Excellent score! I would treat the rust and replace consumables tune it and ride the crap out of it. If you get tired of it later you will profit greatly from not powder coating it.

noglider 

What do you mean "restore?" It looks ready to ride. Maybe it needs lubrication and tires. Otherwise, ride it. Don't paint it. Just do any necessary repairs. It's hard to find 27" 40-spoke wheels, so just use this until this fails, which it might never do.