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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Sept 14, 2015 0:14:36 GMT
I am bringing a neglected 1986 Trek 2000 back to the land of the living. I bought it as parts and saved it from life as a fixie. Today was clean the rims day. This poor wheels have had several sets of tubular tires glued (and taped) on without cleaning the rims; what a mess. I thought some of you might be interested in my little cleaning system. Basically I set the rim on a truing stand with a little acetone bath at the base. I turn the rim while scrubbing with a brass brush and popsicle sticks. These poor rims even had the spoke holes filled with glue. Oh well, the rims are now clean.
I don't know if the Trek 2000 was exported or not. For those not familiar it was Treks first departure from lugged, brazed steel frames. They were hand assembled using internal aluminum lugs and 7000 series aluminum (stiffer than 6061 but couldn't be welded). The frames were glued and baked in an oven. They were light, stiff, and nicely finished. The high cost of production eventually led Trek to replace it with a welded 6061 frame; so the early ones were the good ones. The bike came as a frameset or with the first generation Dura Ace SIS. Very cool back in the day.
Jim
  
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Post by cusqueno on Sept 14, 2015 13:57:37 GMT
This is quite a high tech solution - well done! I have had good results from rubbing on paint brush cleaner with a rag. (Woolworth's own brand, from before the company went bust in the UK, so it has been sitting round in the shed for a long time.) Whatever solvent is used, it's likely to be quite nasty, so really this should be done with gloves on, possibly a mask or at least in a well ventilated room or outside. H&S warning completed.
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Sept 14, 2015 20:27:50 GMT
Yes, I use gloves and the area is well ventilated. The depth of the acetone is just low enough to miss the rim decals.
Jim
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Post by 54roadie on Sept 17, 2015 5:58:04 GMT
Hi Jim, that's a very nice bike. Well executed and this one is quite pristine. Nice find and a great rescue. That bike as a fixie is a fate worse than death.
How often do you ride tubulars? Does that work out where you are at? Brand and model of tire (tyre)? PSI?
I've been surprised with mine this year - I rode them for about 300 miles without incident, then on a ride in semi-rural Michigan, where you would think you'd be safe, picked up a small bit of wire and a slow leak. Fixed with the sealant kit, I'm glad to say.
Frank
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Sept 18, 2015 6:02:40 GMT
I rode tubulars years ago (we called them sew ups back then) and I had some luck using condensed milk as a sealant. The pain of fixing a tubular that went flat usually ended up with me tossing it out and buying another (and they were expensive). A flat while far from home required a road fix which was even more painful. For convenience I switched everything to clinchers many years back. The new sealants have made me optimistic enough use them again. Also, they are light and feel so nice when you ride. I am mounting this set with Tufo S33's. I used to use nearly maximum pressure in the dry. Perhaps I will switch some more as I have go a little softer in my old age. I was surprised to find that the Tufo's are so tight that thus far I have been unable to get them on a rim for their first pressurized stretch. My fingers are not what they used to be but I still think them to be very tight; next time Vittorias.
As for punctures, our main problem here is sharp gravel (usually just cuts the tire) and the dreaded Goat Head Thorn (pictured).
All the best
Jim
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Post by velocipete on Sept 18, 2015 6:25:10 GMT
I've found Vittorias to be hard going to get on the rims the first time as well.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Sept 18, 2015 6:35:44 GMT
Thanks Pete and rats, are they all very tight these days? Maybe they fear litigation and now make them tighter; or maybe its just seems that way when working with my old fingers.
All the Best
Jim
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Post by stoatie on Sept 18, 2015 11:32:17 GMT
I've got Vittoria Rallye's on mine, didn't think they were that hard to get on the rim. Although the puncture protection on them is terrible. I was down in the garage having a ciggy and head this air whooshing noise, only to find out that it was my rear tub. Hadn't even ridden it for weeks.
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Post by cusqueno on Sept 18, 2015 17:31:05 GMT
I use Rallys (Rallies?) as well and have not found them too difficult to fit. Do you stretch them first? I stand on them and pull up on the opposite side. Not sure if that's the answer but it builds biceps :-)
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Post by velocipete on Sept 18, 2015 17:51:40 GMT
Ok for Popeye wannabes amongst us. I'm like Jim,fingers(arthrytic),and general muscles,aint what they used to be!
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by 54roadie on Sept 24, 2015 19:37:01 GMT
I have Tufo S33s on a set of Arraya aero rims and Viscount hubs. Love them! I inflated the tires off the rim for a few days to stretch. Since they are rated to 170psi, I went high - 145 I think. Then I followed their directions, including using the Tufo tape, and all went quite well. Take ALL the air out of the tire and lock down the valve prior to installation. They have a video link on their website that shows the whole thing. The sealant does it's trick too.
I do believe that at 140psi they ride far better than my Gatorskins or GP4000s do at 115. Chicago being littered with everything nasty, and covered with pavement "irregularities" known to swallow entire Smart Cars, I run high pressures to avoid pinch flats and check frequently to rid the tread of intruders, such as the tiny bit of glass trying to make it's way inside a tire this morning.
Frank
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Sept 26, 2015 4:39:41 GMT
Thanks for the advice! The tires are on the rims stretching, the glue pot will be used for the next step. I should have the bike going in a week or so. Then back to the Viscount project.
Jim
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