Raleigh Project

Hi All, :)

I bought this Raleigh bike few days ago in a bit of a bad state and I’m really looking forward on this project. I owned another Raleigh bike like 10 years ago (I was only 15 at the time), but this one I am more looking forward to restore it. :)

From the information I got from the previous owner the bike was red and a one owner bike, the frame was sprayed yellow so no stickers are attached to identify the exact frame model, the only tag I have is a tag with Nottingham England (see below image).

Any idea on what the Frame model is?

This is the state of the bike as I got it:

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/483/24072012342.jpg[/FONT]
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[FONT=Calibri]http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/7086/24072012343.jpgNT]
http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/5619/24072012344.jpg

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8068/24072012346.jpg

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/5385/24072012349.jpgYesterday I started to uninstall the parts to have a good clean up and this is how currently the bike is.

http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/2342/25072012350.jpg

http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/1931/25072012360.jpg
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http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/179/25072012362.jpg
Now the next steps I have in mind is to remove all the paint and clean up the few bits left and hopefully paint the first undercoat. :)

Any suggestions and information are welcome.

Thanks for viewing my thread and will keep you updated with the latest progress. :)

Show us some pics of the lugs and the BB (esp if it has serial no) but from what I can see and the quality of parts on it, it looks like a bog standard gas pipe job.

Doesn't mean you shouldn't show it some TLC and get it back on the road again - much better being ridden than chucked away!

Helluva respray BTW - and some of those parts look like they've been ploughed up! Get busy with the degreaser :)

Yep, currently cleaning up all the parts, chain, changer etc. I'm also going to change some parts from the previous Raleigh I had, hopefully will be much much better :)

Looking at the chainset/components and as it was red, I'd guess its a Europa from the mid to late 70's. It was raleigh's Team replica and as Olly says, a standard gas pipe job. Still good fun to ride tho (I have one myself)

That stem needs some serious de-yellowing

Hi Corduroy, thanks for the info I also have the serial number, and from some information I got with the serial number indicates that it was manufactured in Nottingham on December 1979 (which quiet is the same information you gave me).

Today I had a problem to remove the stem from the frame, I will try again in the next days or go to a local bike shop.

@ tommmmmmm - yep I will remove the yellow color from the stem for sure.

Below are a few pics from today's update :)

Before applying paint remover on the frame.

After a few of the paint was removed.. still a lot of work to be done, but will keep you updated with the latest info.

Thanks again for the suggestions / information and for viewing my thread. :)

Looks identical to the frame I bought to restore. Few pics in its various stages on here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/81843726@N03/with/7498495768/#photo_7498495768

I Had the same problem with the stem coming out. Had to get creative with a angle grinder and a hammer.

Off the road at the minute. The threads in both crank arms wore away and the peddles started wobbling after about 3 weeks/200miles. Damn cheap eBay parts. In the process of upgrading to a newer alloy crankset, just need to figure out what length bb I will need.

Hi Greggbell, nice bike you got there :). as for the stem issue, you only unscrewed the top allen key screw? As I unscrewed the allen key screw and the stem is still like stuck.

Did you bash it with a hammer?

You have to knock out the expander or wedge that you have screwed in with the allen key. once you've unscrewed it a bit, tap the allen key with a hammer/a piece of wood and you will knock the wedge out, and the stem should come right out.

Hi tommmmmmm - thanks for the advise, I also found this website http://davesbikeblog.squarespace.com/blog/2010/1/28/removing-a-stuck-seat-post-or-handlebar-stem.html that also quotes the same as you told me. I'm going to try it out for sure.

Cool workshop stand by the way :-)

Hehe thanks :)

thought you might like this catalogue scan

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/SPOKESMAN/BICYCLES/Europa.jpg

Hi Corduroy, thanks for the above link, yes it's the same as mine, even the crankset :).

Mine was quite badly corroded and the allen key was rounded off. I had to cut the top of the bolt/stem off with a grinder. Then cut a bit more of the outer tube of the stem away so I could get at the bolt with a hammer. Got it out eventually.

@ Greggbell - the wedge seems to be loose but still, the Allen Key screw cannot come out, I will take a better look tomorrow maybe.

Also some more updates about paint removal and got the luck to restore back the seat post from black to nickel. :)

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9931/27072012369.jpg

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/1005/27072012368.jpg

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/8594/27072012370.jpg

If the expander wedge is loose it should come out with a bit of force. Try some wd40. Looks like it was painted without removing the stem so paint may have ran down Inbetween the stem and the forks and is acting like glue.

Hi Greggbell, tried yours above but still without any luck. Hopefully next Monday I will visit a local shop and will try to remove it himself.

Done few more work on bike, almost completely without paint, no pics though but will upload more pics in the upcoming days. :)

Thank you all for the comments and help, keep visiting the thread for more updates. :)

nice bike! and good job on that seat post man!

you might what to try putting some flat bars in the stem then holding the forks with you feet then twisting slightly while pulling up ;)

Hi Skintnick, thanks for the comment and for the suggestion :)

Hi All,

The stem is still an issue as it is badly corroded. Went to a local shop yesterday and came with the same idea to cut the stem and also the fork needs to be replaced.

Hopefully he has a stem and a fork in stock so by today or tomorrow I will start to paint the frame. :)

A few more updates and pics of the bike. :)

Regarding the stem, had to cut the stem off, but had the luck to put my hands on the below Raleigh stem & fork. Below few pics.

And some more Before and After pics.

This one after the first undercoat spray. :)

Will keep you updated with more pics and info.

Is he getting you a Raleigh threaded fork, otherwise you may beed to replace the headset?

Hi Dendenium - Yes it is a Raleigh fork, the white one in the picture above :). it's the same as the other I had installed.