I want to tidy up a Peugeot CFX 10, should I?

[mrseanman]

Hi I recently acquired this Peugeot CFX-10, from a recycling skip...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/98339058@ ... 069163615/

The bike It's in really good condition (I think) for it's age. As it came, from the skip, the gears were quick and crisp and the brakes were very effective, with no squeaking. The tyres didn't even need air!
It isn't in perfect condition though, it could really do with a wash (its quite dusty) and there are some areas where rust has occurred, mainly with the clips that hold the brake cable going to the rear wheel. I really would like to treat this rust, and let this lovely bit of engineering last another few years.
I'm inexperienced with this specifically but generally very handy. Would it be possible to rid the rust and do a minor paint job? (Theres no rust on any decal, but the paint isn't plain black, its got silvery tones) I was also planning on replacing the clips with plastic ones. Also, when I'm cleaning it are there any precautions I should take?
Any advice on areas related to cleaning/treating old bikes and what I should do to this bike would be very appreciated.
P.S info on the bike would be pretty interesting too!

 

[Grafix]

mrseanman,
I'm not able to offer insight into the correct way to take on a frame restoration because I'm only just learning about that and the various options/pitfalls myself at the moment - but I did want to encourage you.

I own a Peugeot Aravis from 1988 which has 'the same' frame as yours as far as I can tell - full 531P including forks and stays - and it rides beautifully. Fast and smooth.

So I would say it is definitely worth you preserving that bike and bringing it back to full health - it was not a cheap or low-line frame at all.

Here's mine as it is today - to try and further convince you to do it

 

[Bats]

That bike is beyond just a "minor paint job". The rust spots look severe. Pull the seat post out, see if there's any rust inside.

Full paint strip and attack the rust with a wire wheel. Hope to god it doesn't go all the way though.

Shame, it's a good bike.

 

[mrseanman]

That bike is beyond just a "minor paint job". The rust spots look severe. Pull the seat post out, see if there's any rust inside.

Full paint strip and attack the rust with a wire wheel. Hope to god it doesn't go all the way though.

Shame, it's a good bike.

No rust on the inside of that pipe. None of the rust is all the way through.
I'd be ok with a full strip and repaint, further advice would be needed though. Do you think there's any way to save the decals?

 

[torqueless]

Re:

Would it be possible to rid the rust and do a minor paint job?

There is always a way, but it depends on whether you insist on the illusion of 'Just left the showroom' or you just want functional full-coverage paint, which doesn't have to be bad paint or ugly paint, but is unlikely to appeal to people who like showrooms. My most-used bike is a kind of rolling paintshop. That is, when I'm not riding it I might be painting some of it. Most of the original paint is intact, but areas of corrosion were scraped back to bare metal and primed. A bit later I rubbed down the primer a bit and they got a few coats of white. Later still I rubbed that down a bit and put some colour on. That's all brushwork with little cans of Humbrol, over weeks and months. Some time when I feel like it I'll probably do a bit of t-cut. If I go through the colour to the white, I'll stop. I call that tidying up- minimum intervention. I'm aware that some people might call it 'wasting time and making a bloody mess'. I wouldn't necessarily call such a method a 'minor paint job'. It's a 'bit by bit' paint job, and all being well, you get to keep your transfers, and most of your original paint.

I do recommend stripping the frame completely of components before starting, though, (and, obviously, cleaning the frame of grease and dirt). That might not be necessary if the corrosion is confined to easily accessible places on the main tubes, but in my case there was a lot of work to do around the bottom bracket.

Also, when I'm cleaning it are there any precautions I should take?

Your post gives no clue as to whether you're aware of it, but that is a lightweight race frame, and those frame tubes, especially the three main tubes away from the lugs, are pretty thin-walled when new, not much more than half a mm.?, so bear that in mind if you scrape back to bare metal. If it is pitted, poke the 'pits' with a compass-point or something to make sure they don't go all the way through.