Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle After

This week I am also working on Brad's 1982 Trek restoration.  Brad is the original owner of the Trek and has taken care of the Trek over the years.  Brad's brother is the owner of the Trek 700 Multitack restoration that can be seen by clicking here.  I really like the Trek road bikes of the early 1980's, they are very underrated bicycles from when Trek was a small company that focused on only what they did well, this 1982 Trek is no exception.  I am still working on what model the Trek is but it does ave the Ishawata steal.  I like the Trek bicycles from this era so much that I recently built up a 1980 Trek 412 with a modern 9 speed group.

Brad has taken care of the Trek over the ears, the paint is in great shape on the dirt and dullness with only one scuff and chip I can find.  The alloy is in good starting shape and the chrome is pretty nice as well.  The Rigida rimmed wheels are a little rough but should restore pretty nice.

The Trek will receive a total restoration with new cables, cable housings, bearings, brake pads, new saddle, new tires, new tire tubes, new handlebar grips and new handlebars that match the original but in chrome.  I am very excited to see the results and to ride the Trek, I am excited to see how it rides with the riser handlebars, which I think will be very nice, I have always liked the idea of turning a drop bar race bike into a comfortable rider.

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Handlebars

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Brake Lever

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Brake Lever

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Stem

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Front Brake

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Fork Crown

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Front Wheel hub

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Rigida rim

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Shift Levers

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Saddle

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Seat Lug

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before
Trek Decal

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before
Crank

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Front Derailleur

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Rear Brake

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Derailleur

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Rear Wheel

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Before - Rear Rigida Rim

With the Trek broken down to the frame I see under the dirt, grease and dullness there is a fantastic frame under there.  The frame is also a lot lighter then I was expecting which is a very nice surprise.  I cleaned the frame and then worked through some grits of polish and a few coats of wax.

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Before

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Before
head Tube

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Before - Top Tube

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Before - Down Tube

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Before - Seat Lug

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Before
Ishiwata Decal

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Before - Bottom Bracket

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Before - Bottom Bracket

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Before
Rear Brake Bridge

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Before
Drop Outs

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Before
Fork

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Before - Fork Crown

The frame turned out fantastic!!  The paint finish is probably better then the day it came out of the factory as I don't think they would have polished it to this high of a polish.  I could not be happier with the results the blue has a high shine and a deep look, it is awesome!!  The photo below of the frame top tube really shows the paint finish well!

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Polished

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Polished
Head Tube

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Polished - Top Tube

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Polished
Seat Lug

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Polished
Brake Bridge

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Polished
Drop Outs

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Frame Polished - Fork Crown
The headset is in descent shape, there is some slight rusting and pitting but will be hardly noticeable when polished.  The bottom bracket is in good shape and will look great polished against the blue paint.  I put the headset and bottom bracket into the crock pot for cleaning.


Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bottom Bracket - Before

   
Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Stem - Before

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Stem Before

The headset cleaned and polished very nice and with new bearings function very smooth.  I am very happy with the results.  The bottom bracket also cleaned and polished very nice and with new bearings function very smooth, I am also very happy with the bottom bracket.

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Polished

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Pressing Headset
Cups

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Headset Bearings - Packed

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Headset Complete

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Headset Complete

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bottom Bracket - Bearings Packed

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bottom Bracket
Complete
 The stem polished very nice, I really like the SR stems, they polish very nice and have a nice refined shape to them.  The new handlebars are also very nice, he chrome finish fits so much better with the stem and look of the Trek.  A nice surprise is that the new handlebars weigh a lot less then the old black handlebars.

I installed the stem and handlebars and the look is fantastic.  I really like the combination of the riser handlebars and the classic road bike stem and headset, I am thinking I might have to try this set up.


Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Stem - Polished

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - New Handlebars Against
Old Handlebars

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Complete

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Complete

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Complete

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Complete

I forgot to take a photo of the brake elvers before I cleaned and polished them.  The brake levers turned out beautiful, I am very happy with them, the also look fantastic installed.  The Trek is really coming along.


Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Brake Levers - Polished

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Brake Levers - Installed

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Brake Levers - Installed
The crank is a very nice Custom crank.  The cranks from this era are m favorite, they are beautiful cranks.  I disassembled the crank and cleaned the pieces.  Polishing went very well and after assembly the crank looks fantastic!  I love the crank installed against the blue paint.

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Crank Before

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Crank Exploded
Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Crank - Polished

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Crank - Complete

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Crank - Installed
The Trek has Die-Comp brake calipers, they are a little rough but should turn out nice.  I exploded the brake levers and did the cleaning and polishing.  The brake calipers turned out very nice and will work great with new brake pads.

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Brakes - Before

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Reflector Brackets - Before

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Brakes - Exploded
Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Brakes - Polished

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Brakes - Complete

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Front Brake
Installed

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Rear Brake
Installed
I like the derailleurs, they are very nice Sun Tour derailleurs.  I am not a big fan of single sided cage rear derailleurs as they bend easy but this one is perfectly straight.  Both derailleurs cleaned well but took a lot of flushing to get them to work smooth.  After polishing the derailleurs look better then new in some ways and function great.  The front derailleurs looks fantastic installed next to the crank.

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Derailleurs - Before

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Derailleurs - Exploded
Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Derailleurs - Polished

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Derailleurs - Complete

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Front Derailleur
Installed

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Rear Derailleur - Installed
The shift levers where a little gritty but after a good cleaning, flushing and lubricating they function very nice.  Polishing also went well, the shift levers installed look great against the blue paint as does the cable stop at the bottom bracket.  I could not be happier.


Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Shift Levers & Cable Stops
Before
Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Shift Levers - Polished

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Shift Levers - Installed

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Cable Stop - Installed
 Below is a photo of the Trek so far, it is really coming along nice, it looks better then new in some ways, I can't wait to see the Trek finished.

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Main Components - Complete
The wheels look a little rough at first glance but after a closer look there is now gouging or major scratches, there are some very nice wheels in there somewhere!  I disassembled the wheel hubs, the grease is pretty dark and dirty but not dried out, that is a very good thing.

I have cleaned the wheels and have started polishing the wheel hubs and rims.  I will update the post tomorrow with the completed results but for now I put in a before and after comparison photo of the rear rim polished and the front rim unpolished, these are some beautiful wheels.  The wheel rims are very nice Rigida rims.

The wheels finished very nice, I am very happy with the polishing, there is very little wear in the wheel components and they spin forever.

The new Panasonic Panaracer Pasela tires are the perfect tires for the Trek, very nice quality riding tires with the classic gum wall, perfect.


Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Rear Wheel
Before

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub - Before

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub - Before

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim - Before
Rigida Logo

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Rear Wheel - Old Grease

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Wheel Rims Before & After
Polished Rim in Front
Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub - Polished

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - New Panaracer
Tires

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Rear Wheel - Complete

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Front Wheels
Before

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Front Wheel Hub - Before

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Front Wheel Rim - Before
Rigida

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Front Wheel - Old Grease
Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Front Wheel Bearings
Packed

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Front Wheel - Complete

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Wheels - Complete

I ordered the saddle a week or two ago and when i took it out of the box it had a tear in it.  They sent me a new one and I installed it today.  I find these Avinier saddles to be a good value and good comfort for most and look pretty descent.  It sure looks good on the Trek.

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - New Saddle

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - New Saddle - Installed
 With the saddle installed it was time to run the cables and cable housings.  I choice the charcoal silver metallic color housings thinking they would look good with the blue paint.  I think the color was perfect, the housings really complement the blue.

I also installed the new handlebar grips, these are a darker gray to go with the cable housings and blue paint, I like these grips they feel good while riding.

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - New Bits & Pieces

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Cables Complete & Handlebar Grips
Installed

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Trek
Cable Installed

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Cables - Installed

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - The Trek to this Point
I am so happy with the Trek so far!! Tomorrow the pedals, try to match touch up paint for one spot and the test ride.  I can't wait to ride it because it feels so light when I move it around and just looks nimble.


I restored the pedals, they turned out pretty good.  Pedals are hard to restore to perfect because they take such a beating but the half clips turned out like new and the rest polished okay.  I forgot again to take an after photo of the pedals.

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Pedals - Before
This morning I took the Trek for a good test ride.  It just took a little tweaking to get functioning flawlessly.  The ride is very smooth and nimble and fast.  I really like the handlebar set up, he riding position is very nice and comfortable, I was not sold on he handlebars at first, I thought they looked great but was not sure how they would ride and now I am sold, sold enough I will try it on a fixed gear, I like being up and seeing more.

I really like the look of the handlebars and brake levers, it is a very clean and simple look and I like clean and simple a lot.  There is very little cabling loops like there would be on drop bars which really looks good this way.

 I am shocked at how light the Trek is from carrying it around.  It responds like it is light and still has a very nice steel ride.

I am very happy with the Trek, in fact I couldn't be happier!!  There was a beautiful bike under the dullness and dirt and the condition is almost flawless.


Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Handlebars

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Brake

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Fork Crown Detail

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Wheel

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Stem

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Half

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Saddle

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Drive Train

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Front Derailleur

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Crank

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Rear

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Rear Brake

Brad's 1982 Trek Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Rear Wheel
Thanks for the interest,
John Z.

1 comment:

  1. Beautiful job! This is a Trek 311, offered in 1982 only, that came built on a butted Ishawata Magny-X frame - similar in ride and weight to 531. I bought one in 1982 and heavily modified it over the years. You can check it out on the vintage-trek website.

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