Completely reviving a rusty old bike?

[sabian92]

Hello,

In the garden, there's an old kids bike that my girlfriend's grandad bought her just before he died. It's been out there for years (and I mean years, he died 10 years ago and the bike is older than that.). It's rusted to buggery, the wheels are knackered, the gears are buggered and I'm sure if you picked it up it'd all fall apart. Oh, and there's no saddle. None of those really bother me, apart from the rust. It's baaaad.

I don't plan on putting expensive stuff on it (most definitely not Shimano XTs, put it that way...), Just making it look nice for her again as a nice present for her birthday (thankfully, in Nov.)

As the experts here, is it worth doing? The rust is ankle deep pretty much, and it was a cheap kids bike originally anyway, so she won't be riding it, considering she's 6ft!

Cheers.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Time for the great skip in the sky. Definitely not worth the time, trouble or expense.

 

[tyred]

Anything's possible. Does it look any worse than my Rudge Roadster did? I didn't spend that much on it but I was willing to accept less than perfect chrome.

 

[sabian92]

Not quite but it is pretty bad. You did a bloody good job of restoring that old bike, it looks like it's just been bought, aside from the brake levers!

Mind giving me a quick run through on how you did it? Thanks a lot.

 

[Davidc]

Before even thinking about it do check that the rust hasn't gone so far it's weakened the tubes or welds of the frame.

 

[tyred]

The frame itself is pretty easy to deal with. Sand it down, inspect for structural rust and treat the rust with something like Jenolite or Hammerite Kurust (either should be available from a decent motorfactors) and then paint it. I used a brush and two coats of Japlac Enamel paint. Sending it to a frame builder for proper refurb would give a much better finish but is likely to be expensive.

Chrome presents the biggest problem IMO. You need to first decide what you're dealing with. If the chrome plating has actually flaked off (like my wheel rims) the best you can probably achieve is to paint it with chrome effect paint (I had an aerosol I had bought in a model shop a few ago). If it's a case of rust braking through the chrome, try cleaning it with fine wire wool or one of those plastic pads you get for cleaning saucepans. You can't afford to use anything too abrasive or you will scratch the remaining chrome beyond repair. Another option is to use a razor blade to scrape of the rust (careful doing this for obvious reasons). Once you have removed the big rusty scabs, roll up a piece of tin foil into a ball and dip in coke and rub the chrome with it. Finish off with a polish with Autosol/Brasso/Duraglitz or some similar metal polish.

It's possible you will find the handlebar stem and/or seatpost stuck in the frame. For the stem, turn the bike upside and take the wheel and mudguard off and fill the steerer with diesel and allow it to soak before trying to move it.

Your chain, brake and gear cables and tyres will most probably be junk. If you have chrome rims which are really rusty and the wheels are a common size, I would replace them (wasn't an option with my Rudge as 32/40 hole Westwood 28" rims haven't been produced in about 50 years) rather than paint them.

 

[swee'pea99]

No. Without question. You've got till November. You'll be able to get a far better bike, in decent nick, off ebay between then and now for far less money than it would cost you to put even the most basic bits on that. Don't waste your time - and money. If 'she' is 6ft, a kid's bike is going to be no use to her anyway. First find out what size you need, then keep your eye on ebay.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

To be fair to the OP, I think this is more about the sentimental value of this particular bike to his other half than about getting a usable bike. In which case, a cosmetic restoration, along the lines already suggested in the thread so far, should be easy enough.

Although it does beg the question ... if it's of sentimental value, why did she leave it in the garden for ten years?

 

[asterix]

Use it as a garden feature. For that, rust is good. Maybe a wicker basket on front to hold flower pots (with flowers in, obviously).

 

[sabian92]

Indeed. It's her 21st this year and I know it means a lot to her. Unfortunately it was left in the garden because there was nowhere else for it to go!

Thanks a lot to those who posted helpful tips, much appreciated.