Project Dad

[beagle]

My dad recently started riding again so I've decided to build him a decent bike a present. It won't be anything special but it'll be better than what he's riding and as good as I can make it within my budget. Thought I'd better start a build thread as it saves me spamming the forum with all the boring questions I'm no doubt going to be asking you all.

Here's the starting point, a cheap 95 Stumpy with a mismatched fork from a different 95 Stumpy:

It will going to the powdercoaters as soon as I've sorted out a few issues. First is rust in stays, they sound like rainsticks but it seems structurally fine so Kurust will be pumped into them and the rest of the frame and fork to stabilise the rust. Sort of wish I'd known before I bought it, but what do you expect from an old steel frame you didn't pay much money for?

Second, there seems to be half a seatpost jammed in the seat tube. Well, something's jammed in the seat tube and I'm assuming it's half a seatpost. It's too far down to cause any problems. Gonna see if it can be removed anyway but no big deal if not. So first question: caustic soda or ammonia? I know there's a million threads on this. Seems like for every person that says ammonia works, someone else says it doesn't. And what size posts do these take anyway, 30.4?

I'll update as and when some actual work is done.

 

[tintin40]

That looks a big project. How about drill out the 'stuck' post??

 

[retrokona]

I had the same problem on a 1989 cinder cone. The bottom bracket was removed as well as the small greasing screw at the bottom of the frame. Then I used some penetration oil inside the seat tube over night. After a good soaking turned I the frame upside down and using a hard thin 'stick' inserted through the grease hole and in turn the hole at the bottom of the seat tube was able to gentle push and free the stuck post. The 'stick' was one of the garden lantern hangers from the garden (I had tried knitting needles, wire shirt hangers, thin screwdrivers etc but I couldn't reach the post!).
Not sure if this will help but I know it took me a couple of months to get mine out so I do hope this will save some time!

 

[beagle]

tintin: yeah, it is rougher than I'd hoped, think it should be fine once rust has been treated. Drilling the post out is an idea, haven't got the tools to drill the post out myself and don't know where to take it to get that done.

retrokona: nice one, never heard that method before and sounds like your frame was the same as this so that could be a goer.

Got to admit, I'm interested in trying the caustic soda/ammonia method just to see what happens.

 

[Yog Sothoth]

Careful. I tried drilling out a siezed post on my '99 Rockhopper and went through the side of the seat tube! Bye bye bike. :cry:

 

[trickylad]

Crikey. Hope you get it roadworthy mate and it doesn't become a big problem. I think I nearly bought this frame - off Jamie right? Pay much?

Good luck chief

 

[Andy R]

I wish my kids would buy me a bike............. :roll:

Sadly, I don't think that's going to happen .

 

[beagle]

Well, the post is out (caustic soda) and the Kurust treatment's been done. Just had it sand blasted and it's ok apart from the chainstay bridge which went straight through. Figure I'll fill it and the dent in the chainstay and get it powdercoated. My dad isn't going to be doing big 360s on it so I don't see that the (lack of) bracing in that area is going to be a big problem. Although at this point I'm wonder why I don't just sell it for scrap.

 

[Andy R]

Well, the post is out (caustic soda) and the Kurust treatment's been done. Just had it sand blasted and it's ok apart from the chainstay bridge which went straight through. Figure I'll fill it and the dent in the chainstay and get it powdercoated. My dad isn't going to be doing big 360s on it so I don't see that the (lack of) bracing in that area is going to be a big problem. Although at this point I'm wonder why I don't just sell it for scrap.

Note that if you're going to get it powdercoated, then you can't use polyester car body filler

 

[beagle]

Right, this has been to the powdercoaters. The powdercoater dropped it off this afternoon and buggered off before I had a chance to check it properly. It's covered what looks like little bubbles, what would cause that? I sanded an area back and it seems like they didn't prepare the frame properly before powdercoating.

The powdercoat has also shown up half a dozen other little dings that you couldn't see with the original paint. Pretty pissed off with it now, thinking about cutting my losses and looking for another frame or bike that isn't such a dog.