9 votes

Vintage bicycle repair

I love bicycles. I really love the aesthetic of vintage bicycles and the easy-ish to repair nature of them. They are mostly standard off-the-shelf parts, nuts, bolts and washers etc.

Look for opportunities to give old things new life, a quote that inspired me from a YouTube channel titled Old Shovel. He repairs old tools and recently bicycles.

Since then, I have been restoring a 1974 Canadian Tire branded Japanese Bridgestone Youngway.

Any advice for a newbie hobby vintage bicycle restorer?

6 comments

  1. [2]
    poopfeast6969
    Link
    I haven't restored a bicycle, but I know with a lot of Japanese products (including motorcycles), many of the Phillips looking fasteners are actually something called JIS fasteners. The...

    I haven't restored a bicycle, but I know with a lot of Japanese products (including motorcycles), many of the Phillips looking fasteners are actually something called JIS fasteners. The differences are not really visible to the naked eye, aside from a mark that is sometimes cast into the head:
    http://www.agcoauto.com/content/images/fastener/screws_JIS_phillips_pozidriv.jpg

    If you find yourself stripping star fasteners then maybe you could try a JIS screwdriver. (And some penetrating oil and heat of course).

    2 votes
    1. mmarco2121
      Link Parent
      Thanks for the tip. I haven't come across a JIS fastener yet. Oil and heat have worked and standard wrenches and pliers.

      Thanks for the tip. I haven't come across a JIS fastener yet. Oil and heat have worked and standard wrenches and pliers.

      1 vote
  2. [4]
    cmccabe
    Link
    Welcome to the hobby! I’m working on a Bridgestone myself right now, a 400, although not quite as old (mid 1980s). What tools are you working with? The right toolkit can make a big difference. Do...

    Welcome to the hobby! I’m working on a Bridgestone myself right now, a 400, although not quite as old (mid 1980s).

    What tools are you working with? The right toolkit can make a big difference.

    Do you have a bike coop in your area? If so, that could give you invaluable access to both tools and people willing to help you learn.

    Sheldon Brown’s website is a great informational resource, although it has become infuriatingly packed with ads since Sheldon’s death. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/

    And Reddit’s r/bikewrench is a really helpful community if you have questions. It is one of the few Reddit subs that I can still stomach.

    WD-40 and or PB Blaster will be your friends!

    1. [3]
      mmarco2121
      Link Parent
      Thanks! That’s great. Are you doing a complete tear-down and rebuild? Unfortunately, there are no co-ops around me. I’ll be sure to check out the website. I have checked out r/bikewrench. A lot of...

      Thanks! That’s great. Are you doing a complete tear-down and rebuild?

      Unfortunately, there are no co-ops around me.

      I’ll be sure to check out the website.

      I have checked out r/bikewrench. A lot of good tips in there.

      WD-40 for sure. Haven’t used PB Blaster yet.

      1. [2]
        cmccabe
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        So far, this one doesn't look like it's going to need a complete rebuild. I've had to unstick the brakes and derailleurs and otherwise give it a general tune up (lube, adjustments, new cables,...

        So far, this one doesn't look like it's going to need a complete rebuild. I've had to unstick the brakes and derailleurs and otherwise give it a general tune up (lube, adjustments, new cables, etc). And the tread peeled off the rear tire so I have to replace that. The hubs seem to be spinning very smoothly. I don't plan to repaint as, despite a lot of chips and scrapes, this one has a neat light violet color that I think is really unique. I have a picture on another device and I'll post a link when I have access.

        Edit: Here's a link to the photo

        1. mmarco2121
          Link Parent
          Sweet! That’d be great. I have stripped mine down. In the process of sanding the frame for a repaint. Then rebuild. Parts are cleaned. Only changing the cables and tires.

          Sweet! That’d be great.

          I have stripped mine down. In the process of sanding the frame for a repaint.

          Then rebuild. Parts are cleaned. Only changing the cables and tires.