Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update



This morning I started work on Ruben's 1980 Trek 412.  The Trek 412 had an interesting trip in getting here.  Ruben is in California and found the bike in Boston on a forum.  The Trek 412 eventually got shipped out between snow storms in Boston to make its way here to the deep freeze north of Chicago.  When completed the Trek 412 will continue its journey to Ruben in California.

I like the 412 a lot.  I have one for myself that I put a Tiagra 9 speed group on and wide tires.  I was planing on brazing cantilever brake studs, cable brackets, water bottle and rack eyelets and a few other things to it this winter but have not gotten to it yet.  My 412 can be seen by clicking here.

Whats nice about the 412 is the large clearances to put wide tires on and to make other modifications.  The Ishiwata steel is always surprising light too, or at least it is to me and the steel rides very nice also.

As of now we are not exactly sure what way the Trek 412 is going to go so for now I will be polishing the paint and components and then we will makes changes as we figure them out.  The Trek 412 is a mixture of rough areas and surprisingly nice areas so over all I would say the Trek 412 is tired.  The paint is in good shape I think under the dirt and dullness, the chrome and alloy should polish out very nicely.  

I really like Trek's from the 1970's & early 1980's, they where doing a lot of things right.  One thing I have heard and have seen is that Trek charged for there frames by the number of brazings they had to do so a lot of the frames have no cable brackets water bottle cage eyelets or rack eyelets.  I wish they would have at least brazed on cable brackets, those seem pretty necessary to me.

I can't wait to see where the Trek 412 goes and the results!

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Handlebars

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Stem

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Head Tube

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Front Brake

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Hub

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Rim

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Stem

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Shift 

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Seat

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Seat Tube

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Bottom Bracket

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Crank

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Front Derailleur

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Chain Stay

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Rear Brake

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Rear Derailleur

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel Hub

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel Rim

I stripped the frame of the components,  the paint is in a little better shape then I thought with the components out of the way.  It should polish very nicely.

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Head Tube

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Head Tube

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Down Tube

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Seat Lug

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Seat Tube

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Top Tube

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Seat Lug

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Rear Brake Bridge

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Drop Outs

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Chain Stay

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Fork

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Fork Crown

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Fork Crown

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Drop Outs

I gave the Trek 412 a good cleaning and then worked through a few grits of polish to remove some scuff marks and stains.  The blue paint turned out beautiful, simply beautiful, the paint has a deep finish with very nice metal flake.

There are a few chips that will need to be filled.  I will have to pick up a darker blue then what I have on hand to start with in mixing a match.  Overall I couldn't be happier with the paint on the Trek 412, I love that blue!

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished
Head Tube

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished
Head Tube

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished
Head Tube Lug

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished
Down Tube

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished
Seat Lug

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished
Down Tube

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished
Bottom Bracket

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished
Bottom Bracket

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished
Bottom Bracket

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished
Seat Lug

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished
Chain Stay

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished
Drop Outs
From here I do not know which way the Trek is going to go yet.  I was polishing components for a few other bikes so I polished all the components for the Trek 412.  One big polishing batch, I like to polish as much as I can at one time as polishing is very messy work,

I do not think a lot of the components for the Trek 412 will be used in the final version but these components did restore beautifully!


The headset & bottom bracket went into the crock pot for cleaning and then polishing.  The bottom bracket and headset polished beautifully.  I really like the looks of the headset, it polished very nice, I like the classic look it has and installed against the blue paint is amazing.

The bottom bracket also polished beautifully and looks great installed against the blue paint.  There is nothing like polished chrome and alloy against a dark paint color!

Both the headset & bottom bracket spin great and look great.

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Before
Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update 
Headset & Bottom Bracket - Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update
Headset Cups - Pressed

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bearings - Packed

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update
Headset - Complete

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update
Headset Complete - I love It!

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bottom Bracket
Bearings - Packed

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bottom Bracket
Complete

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bottom Bracket
Compelte

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Complete

The handlebars and brake levers will probably not be used, they will probably be replaced with riser handlebars.  The stem will probably be used.

The stem polished beautifully and looks great installed  The handlebars also polished beautiful along with the brake levers.  If they are not used on the Trek 412 they would make great components for another build.

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Handlebars - Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem
Handlebars - Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Handlebars
Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem - Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem - Exploded

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem & Handlebars
Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem
Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem
Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Handlebars
Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem & Handlebars
Installed

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem & Handlebars
Installed

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem & Handlebars
Installed

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Brake Levers
Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Brake Levers
Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Brake Levers
Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Brake Levers
Installed

The crank is a nice Sugino, I like cranks from this era, I like how they have been refined by this point.  The crank might be used in the final build but I don't know yet.  The crank cleaned and polished very nice.  The crank has a textured finish so polishing was not easy but in the end looks good, I am happy with the results of the crank.  Look at it against that blue polished frame!

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Crank - Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Crank - Exploded

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Crank
Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Crank
Complete

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Crank
Installed
I don't know if the derailleurs are going to be used in the final version but I love these Sun Tour derailleurs, they restore beautifully, they work great and are pretty much bullet proof.

I cleaned the derailleurs and got on to polishing. Both derailleurs polished beautifully but I really really like the rear derailleur, it polished amazing and looks better then new, like a functional piece of art, I love it!

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Derailleurs
Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Sun Tour
Derailleur

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Sun Tour Derailleur
Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Derailleur
Installed

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Sun Tour
Derailleur

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Derailleur
Exploded

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Derailleur
Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Derailleur
Complete

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update
Rear Derailleur - Installed

I am pretty sure the brake calipers will not be used, they are Die-Comp 500's and descent brake calipers in themselves but probably won't have the needed stopping power for the intended use of the Trek 412.


I cleaned the brake calipers and polished all of the pieces.  I greased all the pivot points and installed new brake pads.  The brake calipers restored amazingly and look great on the blue paint.  The will be great calipers for a different build but for now they are installed.

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Die-Comp
Brakes - Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Brakes
Exploded

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Brake Calieprs
Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Brake Calipers
Complete

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Brake
Installed

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update
Rear Brake - Installed

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update
Rear Brake - Installed

The saddle is shot and I am not completely sure on the seat post, it has a lot of corrosion and pitting but for now I am going to clean and polish the seat post.  I am guessing at one point the seat post was frozen in place.

The seat post polished pretty good and looks descent installed, we will decide on the seat post later.

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Seat Post - Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Seat Post - Exploded


Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Seat Post
Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update
Seat Post - Installed

I am a fan of these Sun Tour shift levers.  They are friction but they have great lines, work great and restore beautifully.  I also like bikes that use cable stops and guides like this that bolt on, they polish very well and I like the look of the polished pieces against polished paint.  I really like the after photos of the levers and bracket installed.

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Shift Levers &
Cable Stop

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Shift Levers
Exploded
Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Shift Levers
Cable Bracket - Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Shift Levers
Installed

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Cable Bracket
Installed

That completes the main body components, we will see what makes the final build.

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Trek So Far

The wheels are rough and will 99% sure will be replaced with 700c wheels but I restored them with 6 other wheels I was restoring at the same time.  These wheels are not original to the Trek 412 as the wheel hubs say Schwinn Approved Normandy Hubs.

The hubs polished well, the axle components came back nicely and the rims polished amazingly, the wheels really look good complete.  I can't get over how nice the rims came back, they would make great wheels on a Le Tour to replace the Le Tour steel rims or even great looking rims to replace alloy rims on a Super Le Tour or Le Tour 11.2.

Just a side note, the old tubes on these wheels are the heaviest tubes I have ever come across, they must have added 3 pounds to the Trek and felt like cement.  The tires are not exactly light either.

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update
Rear Wheel - Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Hub
Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Hub
Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Rim
Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Hub
Old Grease

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Hub
Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Rim
Polished - I Love It!

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Axle Components
Complete

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Hub
New Grease

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update
Rear Wheel - Complete


Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update
Front Wheel - Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Hub
Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Rim
Before

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Hub
Old Grease

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Hub
Polished

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Rim
Polished - I love this on too!

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Hub
New Grease

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update
Front Wheel - Complete

Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Wheels Complete

That is where the Trek 412 is going to be left off for a little bit, it will be put in a plastic cover and hung up in the finished room while the final build is thought through and pondered.  Ruben is going to try out some Nitto Albatross handlebars and a few other things and we will see where the Trek goes from there.

I will let everyone know of updates as they happen.

2 comments:

  1. It looks like, except for the saddle, everything is there for you to work your magic on and bring this Trek back to cool early 1980's road worthiness, look forward to the finished product.

    ReplyDelete
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