Small renovation project

[LabRatt]

Hello folks. This is my first post outside the hello forum, so for those who don't bother reading it: Hello.

Short version of my story - I'm after getting riding again, steadily gaining approval from my GF and have permission to pootle around in the local country park to get my legs back. To this end I'm going to get the old MTB up to reasonable riding condition before splashing out on a lightweight hybrid or proper road bike. That comes later... Forgive any bad terminology, I'm fairly new to this stuff (though I did a reasonable job of maintaining my early bikes when I was a kid, replacing axles and bearings, fixing punctures and so on).

So here's the beast:



It's an old Raleigh, probably a Maverick, lugged steel. It used to belong to my brother-in-law who decided he didn't want it when moving house and, literally, threw it away. Thanks to the rough landing it's had some welding done on the rear fork, the rear axle was broken (already replaced that) and various bits got bent. I straightened the rear derailleur myself and the mechanism seems sound, but there's some wobble at the front and I think the spindle might be bent. I'm swapping the old rear wheel (freewheel rather than cassette, unfortunately) that has a row of five missing teeth on the smallest sprocket with another from a friend that only has two. Yes, I'm at that level. Ultimately this'll be the bike I take with me, at first at least, on holiday or on country rides, but for now it's just a knockabout.

All I was trying to do to start with was clean it up and swap the wheel, and at that point I realised that this chain doesn't have a master link. I've just got a very standard set of tools (spanners, socket set, etc) so I've got to head out to buy a chain tool.

I'm not far out of my comfort zone yet, but I'd be interested in hearing from anyone else on what I should look out for, what tools I absolutely, definitely, have to have, and what I probably shouldn't try. I know two missing teeth isn't good, but I can just miss out that gear if it's too bad. I think this wheel's straighter than the old one anyway.

 

[Bensbikespares]

If i was you ill buy a complete tool set from Chainreactioncycles and buy some cable cutters to, thats how i stated and now ive got basicly evrytool you can think of. Well i did then ive kind of lost them so ill be ordering some tools after augest when i might be getting my road bike to go school evryday

 

[Alembicbassman]

Wilkinsons sell very cheap bike bits

Complete brake cable inners/outers for £1.50, Tyres for £6.50 each, brake blocks, tubes etc....

Bearings are about £2 a pack, you'll need BB bearings, front + rear hubs and headset

Lidl had a tool kit last week with most of the tooks you'll need for a refurb, but it was £25 (you can buy a fully functioning bike for that now)

For the bottom bracket you'll need a lockring tool (assuming it's not sealed cartridge)

The freewheel requires a freewheel spline tool

Crank puller

Headset wrench

Chain tool

Cone spanners

(All in the Lidl tool kit)

If you want to replace the freewheel they're about £6 for a six speed. New chain is about £5

To be honest it's better to buy a fully functioning used MTB of the same vintage, they're dirt cheap.

 

[LabRatt]

I went out and picked up a chain tool, and I've got the usual spanners and so on already (never throw a tool away, you see). I like tinkering with stuff (professional general-purpose geek) so this'll be the target for the tinkeing. As you say, it'll be cheap enough to replace should I do anything too bad.