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Post by siegeworks on Jan 27, 2015 10:24:12 GMT
Hi Guys and Gals, This is the work so far on restoring a 1981 600EX
All original as far as I can tell. Full Shimano 600ex group set with turbo saddle on Mavic module E3 rims. In the process of a full strip down and rebuild. Only bad bits so far is a cracked wheel rim and a stuck headset. I have a doner for the rim and im working at Duxford this week so have full access to an industrial machine shop. They will have something to break the seize I'm sure.
 
   
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Post by cusqueno on Jan 27, 2015 10:48:49 GMT
Hi. Nice frame and I think the same colour as my 600ax frame - a sort of pinky metallic colour. Do you have any idea what the paint's name is? I could do with a tin of touch-up for some bare patches on my frame.
The 600ax frame is very similar, if not identical, to the 600ex, but the bike was fitted with (unsurprisingly) 600ax 'aero' components. I have nearly all the bits to build up my bike but am very envious of your 600ax seat pin.
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Post by siegeworks on Jan 27, 2015 12:39:32 GMT
Yeah the paint is pinky grey under normal light. Made from Chrome Molybdenum I think. lovely and light!
I don't know the paint colour. I have a few dings on my frame but I'm willing to live with it. The used look suits my clumsiness!
Not sure why the seat post is an AX and the rest is EX. still it's a nice piece to have. If you find one on ebay its usually pricey!
Would love to see this bike in the AX version. The AX groupset was designed for time trial wasn't it? I nearly bought a set as it was nothing like the standard stuff.
Very much looking forward to riding this! Roll on the light evenings
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Post by sprockit on Jan 27, 2015 19:48:02 GMT
Love those fork crowns.
There are one or two contributors on here who have fork crowns with embellishments cast in, but I haven't seen your particular style before.
The Viscount factory was well known for having parts supply issues, which could be one explanation for the AX seat post on an EX bike.
One to keep and enjoy once you've restored it, I think.
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Post by siegeworks on Jan 27, 2015 21:25:38 GMT
I know it was a good purchase when I saw those crowns. The bike has lots of nice details though out from the embellished EX kit to the posh cable outers. Thanks for the explanation on the post. I'll look out for more odd bits when I get hold of my next Viscount.
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foss
Viscount
Posts: 132 
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Post by foss on Jan 27, 2015 22:13:38 GMT
That will be a great bike , I too am looking forward to the lighter evenings so I can ride 'Biscuit' to work again .
It's great to see another fork crown like mine , yours is only the first I've seen other than mine .
Foss
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foss
Viscount
Posts: 132
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Post by foss on Jan 27, 2015 22:22:32 GMT
Could you take a full picture of the crown so I can get a view of the colours as I didn't know it was colored my 600 ex was painted badly with British racing green paint and adorned with Shimano stickers when I bought it , and I've always thought I would like to colour the logo .
Foss
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Post by cusqueno on Jan 28, 2015 10:26:33 GMT
Frame colour - I've finally done what I should have done ages ago and checked the Viscount product data sheet I have for the 600ax - on Flickr here. According to that, the only colour on offer was 'Topaz'. Unfortunately, as the semi-precious stone comes in a range of colours, so does 'Topaz' paint - from deep blue to brick red. I am searching for something near, but I might resort to taking the forks to my local car spares shop and asking if they have anything close. The received wisdom on Viscount colours is that the firm only used standard, off-the-shelf colours, so I have not abandoned hope of finding a match. Incidentally, the 600ex spec sheet is here. Which gives its colour as 'Linden' - which is the colour of my 600ex, but it is possible that the specs, even for the same model, changed on a yearly basis - for instance, my 600ex frame is different to this one and has plain, sloping fork crowns and 'Viscount' engraved on the top of the seat stays. Added later - how about this: looks close? Nissan Figaro 'Import Pink'Last link changed - I think this is the nearer match. |
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Post by velocipete on Jan 28, 2015 11:19:25 GMT
You'd be better taking them to an auto paint specialist.They can compare the forks to manufacturer's paint charts
thus getting a match. It would probably be best to lightly "T" cut them first,to get rid of the top layer of dead
paint.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by siegeworks on Jan 28, 2015 12:14:34 GMT
Hi Foss, I'll take a proper picture of the crown tonight and post it up for you Cusqueno, Why did you post this? now I'm going to be on a mission to source all the original bits I'm missing! I really need to have a gold uniglide chain!! found one on ebay for about £40  I would recommend the body shop option. A place near me can do colour matching on anything I take them. I think you might have more luck then holding out for an original. I'll get some pics up of what I think is a Grand Sport frame. Its green and has engraved seat stays. all the bits are campagnolo gran sport (assuming this is a real model, the frame has no stickers) Have you got a spec sheet for that? be good to see what its meant to look like. Cheers |
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Post by siegeworks on Jan 29, 2015 21:31:59 GMT
Hi Foss, here's that's Crown image you were after. Also a few images of the other frame I have. Unsure of its model but I'm guessing a grand sport or touring as all the bits are Campagnolo G.S. Sorry about the image quality. I do not recommend getting an HTC one mini 2. it does not have a good camera!
 
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foss
Viscount
Posts: 132
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Post by foss on Jan 29, 2015 21:35:41 GMT
Thank you .
Foss
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Post by cusqueno on Jan 29, 2015 21:54:13 GMT
The green frame looks like my 600ex frame, including the colour - 'Linden'. Linden green is a colour that is still obtainable, by the way. Is there anything stamped on the rear drop-outs?
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Post by velocipete on Jan 29, 2015 21:56:15 GMT
Campag on a Viscount?  Call me an old unbeliever,'cos I am! But,I've never heard of any Italian kit on a Viscount as original equipment.It shows that someone in the dim and distant times, tried to get rid of the "S" word.Fair play to them,I've been trying to do it for years! Cheers, Pete. |
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Post by siegeworks on Jan 30, 2015 0:01:14 GMT
The front fork dropouts are stamped Tange. not sure about the rears. They are still caked in dirt.
The compag set is mostly complete bar the rear derailleur which was a nasty modern thing. The campag set is called a Gran Sport hence why I thought the model might be a Grand Sport. I'm probably grabbing at straws though.
The frame joints are very similar to my 600ex minus the engraved seat stays and no casting on the fork crown.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,389
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Post by Jem on Jan 30, 2015 6:06:12 GMT
Pretty sure that has got to be a 600ex ? - just basing that on the colour and the stamp 'Viscount' on rear seat stays.
All the Campag will be added afterwards...The only thing I can think, if the components look totally as if they were fitted from new, is that an employee took the frame home and built it up to his own spec. But not out of the factory for sale like that with Campag.
How did you come about that bike, if you don't mind me asking. I'm always into the story behind a bike.
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Post by siegeworks on Jan 30, 2015 10:00:33 GMT
I bought it off a lady in Ashwell a village in North Hertfordshire. It was listed on Ebay as a racing bike. I couldn't tell from the pic that it was a Viscount but I noticed a couple of parts were Campagnolo and therefore worth a few quid. I paid £60 for the bike in the end. When I got home and looked at it in the light I found I would pay £60 just for the crank alone on Ebay so did well there. It was clear the seller did not know what they were selling and didn't give me any history.
It does have an aftermarket bottom bracket on it. no idea of its type or design yet but it leads me to think that this could be someone's project. The wheels were both Mavic but mismatched.
In conclusion I think we might be looking at a 600EX frame as everyone seems to think. I'll strip it properly and clean it up at the weekend then let you all know what I find under the dirt.
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foss
Viscount
Posts: 132
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Post by foss on Jan 30, 2015 15:09:16 GMT
My 600 EX has EX 33 clearly stamped into the rear left dropout , if that's any help .
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Post by siegeworks on Jan 30, 2015 19:17:48 GMT
The plot thickens! I had to scrape paint off the dropouts to see the makers mark. Makes me think the green is potentially not a factory original scheme as the application of paint shouldn't be on the drop outs mounting surface.
It turns out the rear dropouts are stamped Sun Tour, what does this mean?
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,389
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Post by Jem on Jan 31, 2015 9:53:08 GMT
The plot thickens! I had to scrape paint off the dropouts to see the makers mark. Makes me think the green is potentially not a factory original scheme as the application of paint shouldn't be on the drop outs mounting surface. It turns out the rear dropouts are stamped Sun Tour, what does this mean? I got to say that green (Linden green?) looks a dead ringer for the other 600's I've seen - I'd bet a moderate amount on it being out of the factory like that. |
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Post by cusqueno on Jan 31, 2015 12:50:56 GMT
My 600ax frame has AX 24 stamped on one of the rear drop outs. Is there a pattern emerging here? My LInden green 600ex however has SunTour rear drop outs.
Manufacturers used drop outs from specific suppliers for building up good quality frames - such as SunTour, Shimano, Tange, Campagnolo and others less well known. Where front drop outs are concerned, it may mean that the complete fork was made by the manufacturer whose name is on the drop-out - for instance Tange, who produced a lot of forks (including the ones supplied in the Viscount Death Forks recall). But in other cases the forks might be produced by the frame maker.
Most drop-outs used on Viscount frames, especially early ones, seemed to have been no-name; albeit generally good-quality, forged ones. (But see an exchange somewhere here between Velocipete and me about whether forged drop-outs or those cut from sheet steel were always used on good frames.)
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Post by siegeworks on Feb 2, 2015 16:02:30 GMT
Thanks Guys, very helpful. I still haven't got round to fully stripping the frame but it seems like it might all be coming clear as to why it has ended up the way it has. I'll be carrying on with the silver 600EX tonight and then put the green frame on the to do list next. Should make a nice base for the next project and it looks like I can still get the right decals off EBay to get it back to the way its meant to be!
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Call me an old unbeliever,'cos I am!