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!
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Handlebars |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Stem |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Head Tube |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Front Brake |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Front Wheel Hub |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Front Wheel Rim |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Stem |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Shift |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Seat |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Seat Tube |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Bottom Bracket |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Crank |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Front Derailleur |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Chain Stay |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Rear Brake |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Rear Derailleur |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before Rear Wheel Hub |
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| 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.
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Head Tube |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Head Tube |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Down Tube |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Seat Lug |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Seat Tube |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Bottom Bracket |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Bottom Bracket |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Bottom Bracket |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Top Tube |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Seat Lug |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Rear Brake Bridge |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Drop Outs |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Chain Stay |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Fork |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Fork Crown |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Before Fork Crown |
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| 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!
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished Head Tube |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished Head Tube |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished Head Tube Lug |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished Down Tube |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished Seat Lug |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished Down Tube |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished Bottom Bracket |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished Bottom Bracket |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished Bottom Bracket |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished Seat Lug |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished Chain Stay |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Frame Polished Drop Outs |
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.
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Headset & Bottom Bracket Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update Headset & Bottom Bracket - Polished |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update Headset Cups - Pressed |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bearings - Packed |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update Headset - Complete |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update Headset Complete - I love It! |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bottom Bracket Bearings - Packed |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bottom Bracket Complete |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Bottom Bracket Compelte |
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| 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.
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Handlebars - Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem Handlebars - Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Handlebars Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem - Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem - Exploded |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem & Handlebars Polished |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem Polished |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem Polished |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Handlebars Polished |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem & Handlebars Installed |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem & Handlebars Installed |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Stem & Handlebars Installed |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Brake Levers Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Brake Levers Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Brake Levers Polished |
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| 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!
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Crank - Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Crank - Exploded |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Crank Polished |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Crank Complete |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Crank Installed |
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!
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Derailleurs Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Sun Tour Derailleur |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Sun Tour Derailleur Polished |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Derailleur Installed |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Sun Tour Derailleur |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Derailleur Exploded |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Derailleur Polished |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Derailleur Complete |
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| 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.
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Die-Comp Brakes - Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Brakes Exploded |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Brake Calieprs Polished |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Brake Calipers Complete |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Brake Installed |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update Rear Brake - Installed |
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| 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.
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Seat Post - Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Seat Post - Exploded |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Seat Post Polished |
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| 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.
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Shift Levers & Cable Stop |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Shift Levers Exploded |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Shift Levers Cable Bracket - Polished |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Shift Levers Installed |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Cable Bracket Installed |
That completes the main body components, we will see what makes the final build.
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| 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.
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update Rear Wheel - Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Hub Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Hub Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Rim Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Hub Old Grease |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Hub Polished |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Rim Polished - I Love It! |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Axle Components Complete |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Hub New Grease |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update Rear Wheel - Complete |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update Front Wheel - Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Hub Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Rim Before |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Hub Old Grease |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Hub Polished |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Rim Polished - I love this on too! |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Hub New Grease |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update Front Wheel - Complete |
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| Ruben's 1980 Trek 412 Restoration & Update - Wheels Complete |
I will let everyone know of updates as they happen.
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.
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