John's Bicycle Restorations: Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Pegeot Prestige Preservation

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Complete

Out of the millions of bikes I have seen and the thousands I have worked on I have never seen this Peugeot in person, not even at a bike show. I have only seen the all gold Simplex group once in person and they want a ton of money for it, this is so cool to get to do the preservation work on this Peugeot PY-10!!

The Peugeot PY-10 is in fantastically original condition, this is not so much a restoration but more of a preservation to ensure the Peugeot stays pristine for years to come. The main thing with the Peugeot is mainly dirt, grime and some dullness. The Peugeot will be broken down to the components, everything cleaned, the gold anodizing lightly hand polished, the chrome and alloy polished and protected, the bearings, bottom bracket, headset and wheel hubs will all be overhauled and polished. NOS (New Old Stock) handlebar tape installed and NOS cables and housings installed.

The frame has a few spots that need attention and then I will just bring the shine out, there is just a few very small spots I will put a dab of clear in to prevent it from rusting.

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Handlebars

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Brake Levers

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Front Brake

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Rim

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Stem

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Headset

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Shift Levers

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Saddle

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Seat Lug

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Stronglite Crank

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Front Derailleur

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Rear Brake

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Rear Derailleur

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel

The Frame is in fantastic original condition, very few scuffs or chips, a few spots of rust just starting that will be taken care of and protected. The frame has some dirt and grime that will be deep cleaned and then the polish brought out. Even the Reynolds 531 decal is in pretty good shape, great shape considering how most of them flake away.

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation -Frame Before

Removing the components was not easy, the first issue was it took e a few days to remove the drive side crank bolt dust cap, it was alloy and frozen in place and the Allen key socket was stripped. I drilled two small holes in the dust cap to fit a spanner in, and then very carefully heated the dust cap an use a contraption to extend the length of the spanner. With two people and a couple days of heating and cooling the dust cap broke free. It was a huge relief that it broke free because grinding it out and collapsing it is a huge ordeal and take precision not to damage the threads on the crank side.

The next problem was my new French crank puller would not fit, it was the first time I used it and after inspection it seemed to me the threads on the crank puller where not fully cut. I sent it back no problem and should get a replacement in a couple weeks. I still need the crank pulled quickly though so I took the Peugeot PY-10 to my good friend Darrell's house and he pulled the crank for me, Thank you Darrell! Darrell was also super impressed and as jealous as me of the Peugeot PY10 and was very happy to get to see it.

The third problem was the bottom bracket drive side fixed bearing cup. It is French thread but it would not budge. It also has an add hex nut size for the wrench. After some very careful work I decided it was best to leave the cup in place and clean and polish it there. I am sure it would break free with some torch heat but it could also very easily damage the paint in that area, even if it would cause no visible damage the heat transferred from the cup could weaken the paint.

With all the problems solved the frame is just in fantastic shape, there is some rust spots here and there, especially under the cable guides. I cleaned the rust the best it would with out doing damage and then polished the frame with a couple grits of polish. Later on I will add a little bit of clear in the bad areas for protection. The frame polished beautifully, just beautiful!! The chrome lugs shine!! The chrome stays shine, the decals are in fabulous condition, the silver is no longer dull!!! Just beautiful!!

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation -Frame Before
Head Tube

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation -Frame Before
Top Tube

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation -Frame Before
Down Tube - Reynolds 531 Decal

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation -Frame Before
Top Tube

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation -Frame Before
Seat Lug

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation -Frame Before
Seat Tube

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation -Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation -Frame Before
Rear Drop Outs

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation -Frame Before
Fork

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation -Frame Before
Fork Crown

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation -Frame Before
Fork Decals

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation -Frame Before
Fork Chrome

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Frame Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Frame Polished
Head Tube

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Frame Polished
Chrome Lugs - Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Frame Polished
Fantastic Decal - Love The Colorful Stripes!!

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Frame Polished
Prestige Peugeot Decal

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Frame Polished
Seat Tube

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Frame Polished
Seat Lug

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Frame Polished
Bottom Bracket

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Frame Polished
Brake Bridge

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Frame Polished
Fork

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Frame Polished
Fork Crown

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Frame Polished
Fork Decal

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Frame Polished
Fork Chrome

The headset and bottom bracket are just fantastic Simplex Competition, I have only had one of these go through my shop before. Another interesting thing is there is a cork piece that was in the fork tube, I do not know what this is for but I have also only seen this once before on another Peugeot. It almost looks like a wine bottle cork, is this a French thing??

I cleaned and polished the pieces of the headset and bottom bracket. The grease in both had the strongest toxic smell I have ever smelled from grease, I quickly cleaned it and got it out of the shop.

The pieces polished fantastic, I love it!! I installed the headset and bottom bracket and could not be more pleased with the results!!

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Headset Cups
Pressed

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Headset
Complete

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bottom Bracket
New Bearings - Packed

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Bottom Bracket
Complete

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Complete

The crank is a beautiful Stronglite crank, my favorite of the French cranks. As I mentioned before Darrell had to pull the crank for me. I disassembled the crank and cleaned all the pieces, I then worked through polishing grits on the polishing wheel and cleaned the pieces again. it turned out fantastic, just amazing!! Such high quality alloy that polishes like a dream.

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Crank - Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Crank - Exploded

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Crank - Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Crank - Compelte

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation
Crank - Installed

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Crank - Installed

Te handlebars and stem are beautiful and have the gold anodizing. I disassembled the handlebars and stem and cleaned them very carefully. I hand polished the stem and handlebars but polished the stem bolts and nuts on the power polisher. The polished silver and the hand polished gold are stunning together!! The stem and handlebars installed are also stunning against the frame and chrome!!

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Handlebars - Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Handlebars & Stem
Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Stem - Exploded

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Stem - Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Stem - Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Stem & Handlebars
Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Handlebars - Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Stem & Handlebars
Installed

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Stem & Handlebars
Complete

The derailleurs are beautiful Simplex gold. Being gold it actually took more time to overhaul then if I could put everything on the polishing wheel. I deeply cleaned the pieces and hand polished the gold, I polished all the other pieces I could on the power polisher. I greased and lubricated all the proper places an assembled the derailleurs.

The derailleurs are stunning, just stunning!!! They are beautiful and just pop against the frame and chrome. I was trying to figure out where I have seen these derailleurs in person before and remembered tis morning, the one time I have seen them where on a J.P. Weigle frame that the customer had these derailleur in NOS for it, crazy!

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Rear Derailleur - Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation
Rear Derailleur - Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Rear Derailleur - Exploded

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Rear Derailleur
Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation
Rear Derailleur - Installed - Beautiful!!!

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Front Derailleur - Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Front Derailleur
Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Front Derailleur
Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Front Derailleur
Installed - Amazing!!!!

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Derailleurs
Complete

Gold Mafac brake calipers, just amazing!! I disassembled the brake calipers and hand polished the gold caliper arms. I polished all of the other pieces on the power polisher. I greased and lubricated all the proper places and assembled the calipers. The calipers are stunning as everything else has been stunning!! The highly polished silver pieces against the hand polished gold is just beautiful and installed on the frame even better!!

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Mafac Calipers
Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Mafac Calipers
Exploded

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Mafac Calipers
Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Mafac Calipers
Complete

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Front Mafac
Caliper - Installed

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation
Rear Mafac Caliper - Installed

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Mafac Calipers
Complete

Next are the wheels, just beautiful wheels. I can not remove the freewheel, I do not have a freewheel tool that will fit and doubt I would find one quickly, it is a two prong tool like a Suntour freewheel tool but a completely different size. It is not necessary to remove the freewheel to overhaul the hub and do the polishing.

The wheels are amazing with the copper color wire around the spokes.

So far I have the wheels disassembled and the rims polished on the power polisher as far as I can with out removing the spokes, I will then finish the wheel rims and hubs by hand polishing.

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Front Wheel
Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Front Wheel Hub
Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Copper Color
Spoke Tied

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Front Wheel Rim - Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Front Wheel Rim
Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Front Wheel Hub
Old Grease

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Rear Wheel Freewheel
Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Rear Wheel Hub
Old Grease

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Rear Wheel Hub - Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Rear Wheel Bearings Packed
New Grease

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Front Wheel Hub
Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Front Wheel Bearings
Packed

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Front Wheel
Complete

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Front Wheel Rim
Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Rear Wheel - Complete

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Rear Wheel Rim
Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Wheels - Complete

The saddle and seat post are very cool, however I would not want to ride a century on the saddle. I have talked to the chrome plater I have used and they said it would be crazy expensive to redo the old on the seat post, its not a huge issue as it is mostly hidden in the frame. I cleaned all the pieces and polished the seat post by hand, it all came out pretty good and looks great installed.

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Saddle & Seat Post
Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Seat Post Exploded

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Seat Post
Polished

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Seat Post & Saddle
Installed

Ray has NOS Simplex brake cable brackets to replace the current, an amazing thing to have. The old are in okay shape and polished nice but to have perfect ones are so nice to have. They look great installed.

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - NOS Simplex
Brake Cable Brackets

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - NOS Brake Cable
Bracket - Installed

Today I installed the brake levers. Ray had found some matching brake levers but in the silver color but the reason is to take the brake lever hoods that are in really good condition and install them on the gold brake levers. It took about three days to work the brake lever hoods of the silver levers, A lot of soapy water and a little heat and very cautious testing how much force I could use.

Amazingly I got the hoods of and they easily slid on the gold brake levers, the gold brake levers look amazing and polished very nice inside and out by hand. With the brake levers installed I installed new brake cable and brake cable housings,

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Brake Lever Hoods
Removed

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Brake Lever Hoods
Installed

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Brake Levers Installed
Cables Installed

All the gold is amazing!!

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation
Cables Installed

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation
Brake Cables - Installed

With the brake levers installed I decided to install the handlebar tape, Ray also had NOS handlebar tape which is just amazing to have. The right side went on pretty easy, the left side the adhesive is a little gooey but went on easy, I did not realize that some of the adhesive stayed on the outside of the tape from being rolled, this cause some dirt to stick to it so I will have to clean it when the bike is complete.

I decided to pick a blueish silver twine to complete the handlebar tape, I think the color accents the color of the frame very well. I noticed in the photos the twine is not as tight as I like so I will redo the twine. Sometimes the photos are nice for me to catch some things.

I also cleaned the original handlebar tape plugs and installed them, I think they really complete the original look.

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - NOS
Tressostar Handlebar Tape

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Handlebar Tape &
Twine - Installed

There was a few delays but today I installed the new Continental tires with no glue since the Peugeot will not be rode and then there is no problems in the future with old glue. HTe tires really bring the bike together.

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - New Continental
Tires

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - New Tires
Installed

The pedals are last, they already spin very nice so I cleaned and polished the pedals and added new lubrication. The pedals look fantastic.

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Pedals Before

Ray's 1976 Peugeot PY-10 Preservation - Pedals - Polished

The Peugeot is complete except for final photos, its been raining, snowing, sleeting here all day so hoping tomorrow morning.

I found my self thinking a alot during the work on the Peugeot PY-10. It must have been amazing and so much fun to own and race this bike in the mid 1970's, it must have been a dream.