1986 Raleigh Record Ace - all original - newbie restorer :)

[1duck]

After having had to wrestle a seat post free from a steel framed bike with the help of my father and a 24 inch pipe wrench i second the greasing statement.

 

[retro-rich]

I took out the seat post last night and the stem, both just slid straight out and was covered in stilll very gloopy grease, had to wipe a load off to stop it going all over the place.

On my last bike I used this:
http://www.holden.co.uk/displayProduct. ... de=090.925
some general purpose castrol stuff
is that suitable for all round use on a bike like this, for all bearings such as headset, wheel hubs and pedals and also the seatpost etc? doesn't need anything more fancy?

Good tip re the bar tape, especially as it's white leather. I'm hoping a touch of soapy water will bring that back up.

 

[alanf1968]

It looks very clean and original, just clean it up as best you can and enjoy it, I have several of the previous model Raleigh Record Aces' and have had a couple re-sprayed, I havent seen transfers available for your model which would make a re-spray a difficult and expensive option, collectors currently prefer original to re-sprays so dont get carried away with it

 

[retro-rich]

Thanks Alan

I am going to keep the original and not respray. Really trying not to spend too much on it, but chain, pads and cables are required.

However, I was cleaning the frame up last night, the rust seems to be worse than I thought and it doesn't show on that picture. There are several patches of what I think is just surface rust, as the inside looks quite clean from what I can tell.

I've started to remove the rust with a bit of tin foil scrunched up, seems to work, it leaves quite a smear but then rub it over with metal polish and it clears up, but does leave a small black mark in its place, is this where the paint got chipped originally I wonder?

I did try some autosol, but it damaged the paintwork, thankfully on the underside of the downtube so wont be too noticeable, maybe I used too much.

Will post some close up pics later.

Rich

 

[1duck]

if you are using aluminium foil wad it up and use vinegar with it, that brings things up a charm... It's a lot less abrasive compared to autosol.

 

[retro-rich]

ok will try that - was using the tin foil dry and polishing afterwards, but have also been told to use coca cola

 

[alanf1968]

this is a pair from my collection

http://www.pedalroom.com/bike/2-x-1983- ... ce-12-2386

 

[retro-rich]

A couple of pics after my efforts to get the rust off. Think I'm going to leave it at that as it really should have a respray before it looks right, but I'm fairly happy with it for my first effort.

Moving onto the chrome next, I've autosol'd the cranks, pedals (couldn't get these off so have polished them in place ) and the brake calipers.

Will start on the rest of it when we get some clear weather.

 

[retro-rich]

more pics

 

[alanf1968]

It should look ok when it is built, I dont think there are any decals available for that model as yet, so get a bit longer out of the current paintwork