Ian May rebuild

[JhnBssll]

As you may know I recently purchased this tired old Ian May masquerading as a Colnago.

I thought I would start up a new thread to document its revival I'll update it as I progress and it will give me a place to ask the daft questions I'm bound to have I'm currently mid-fettle but I'll pop the first update up shortly

 

[wisdom]

Looking forward to this thread.
Nice frame by the way.

 

[otek59]

Me too keep the updates coming

 

[JhnBssll]

Thanks, I do love a good project and hope to have some fun with this one

The plan is to strip the frame of paint and make any adjustments or changes before repainting it in blue and ivory, although this may change if my painting skills aren't up to the job It's been a while since I last wielded a rattle can in anger

Components have started turning up, I've been scouring eBay since I bought the frame and have a few decent bits on the way already. I've mostly gone for Campag Chorus as a middle of the road offering to match the middle of the road frame

Hubs were first to arrive, I test fitted them this evening.

Great success, the hubs fit in the drop outs

Next up were brakes. Here I encountered the first problem - the slightly more modern style brake calipers have the recessed nuts that require a larger diameter hole in the rear of the frame and forks but the frame had a 5mm hole all the way through. I considered using alternative calipers but I like the look of these and think they'll suit the overall style I'm aiming for so decided to machine out the frame and forks Sorry

So with those first few bits fitted she looks like this...

Pleased with progress I decided to whip the bits off again and smear some nitromors on the downtube to see how stubborn the paint was going to be when I tackle it for real. Of course my small test patch soon turned in to the whole downtube and headtube

The gold top layer of paint melted at the sight of the nitromors; the original red underneath it was far more stubborn but it comes away with some elbow grease and a wire brush. I suspect I'll spend a few evenings this week in the garage making a mess Here's how she's looking for now...

The frame fittings are far neater with the thick gold paint removed, it really is rather nice under there I'll post more pics as more bits arrive and more paint is removed I think I'll tackle the forks first as I'll be able to completely strip them, prime them and paint them fairly fast allowing me to see if the colours work as intended... Sounds like a plan anyway

 

[raleighnut]

Coming along nicely.

Normally I'd have suggested that you don't drill out the rear brake bridge (just use a front calliper with the longer bolt) but there is plenty of 'meat' on that 3 piece one to do it.

 

[Milkfloat]

What was the decal on the red? It does not look like Ian May.

 

[JhnBssll]

What was the decal on the red? It does not look like Ian May.

I could definitely make out "MAY" but the first bit was obscured. It certainly looks like the Ian May downtube graphics I've seen to date.

 

[JhnBssll]

Some more progress this evening, I've managed to strip the last of the paint from the frame and forks The frame is in excellent shape bar one small dent on the top tube - I haven't decided if I'm going to leave it as evidence of battles won or fill it yet. I suspect I'll fill it

Next up for the frame is some rust treatment in a few patches then a clean and degrease before priming

I managed to source some Ian May decals on eBay which arrived today I've just ordered some new Reynolds decals as the original was different to the one that has come with the set and I may as well do it right

Thats all for now, more updates as I progress

 

[wisdom]

Loving this one.keep em coming.

 

[midlife]

Lovely shorelines on those lugs . A modern thin powder coat might be in order to show the frame off..

 

[JhnBssll]

No work on the bicycle this evening but a few more bits arrived in the post for me

I should clarify that the Di2 wireless unit is for another build

 

[JhnBssll]

I had a few hours spare this evening so I spent a bit of time in the garage. Progress today:

Filled the dent in the top tube, might need another skim but I'll prime it first and see.

I sanded the remnants of the old primer off about half of the frame, I'll hopefully finish the other half over the weekend. Once sanded there are a few spots of rust to treat before priming.

I got a lot done on the forks - I sanded them back to bare metal then rust treated the few small spots. With that all cleared up I cleaned and degreased them before priming them...

I'll give them a light sand with P1200 when I get a chance then give them a colour coat and see how they look

 

[biggs682]

@JhnBssll lugs and top cable guide look very similar to mine , is the tubing normal profile or squashed aero like mine ?

 

[JhnBssll]

@JhnBssll lugs and top cable guide look very similar to mine , is the tubing normal profile or squashed aero like mine ?

The tubes are round, not squashed. Had an exciting development today - I finished sanding the bottom bracket area ready for rust treatment and found this...

"014 IMC" So it would appear it's a real Ian May made by Ian himself, and potentially only the 14th one he made I think I may need to take a bit more care of it now

Anyway, forks have their first colour coat this morning... The blue looks rather nice

I need to do some digging now I have the frame number to see if I can find out anything more about the bike

 

[biggs682]

The tubes are round, not squashed. Had an exciting development today - I finished sanding the bottom bracket area ready for rust treatment and found this...


"014 IMC" So it would appear it's a real Ian May made by Ian himself, and potentially only the 14th one he made I think I may need to take a bit more care of it now

Anyway, forks have their first colour coat this morning... The blue looks rather nice

View attachment 466947

I need to do some digging now I have the frame number to see if I can find out anything more about the bike

Ooh very interesting indeed