Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
I won this bike on a well known site. I thought that I would collect it as it would save quite a bit on postage and it would be a nice trip out.
I contacted the seller and arranged a time for me to collect it, it was only 18 miles and it was a nice sunny day. The owner was a nice chap who helped me remove the wheels and load it into my car.
This is how it looked when it arrived . I was particularly taken by the red spotted bar tape, that would definitely have to go! I ordered some red plastic bar tape which has now arrived.
The bike was complete but needed cleaning and servicing, the seat post was seized in, I thought that it wouldn't be too difficult to free off but I was wrong!
First of all I set about stripping the bike down for cleaning. The bottom bracket cups and axle were covered in a lovely reddish brown gunge, there was what I think is a cardboard tube which went over the BB axle. It would seem that water had got in and caused some rusting.
With the frame stripped down I could tackle the seat post. I mounted it in my bike stand, sealed the top of the frame with Plumbers Mate, inverted the frame and poured in a solution of caustic soda down inside the seat tube. Ooh! That bubbled up nicely! I left it bubbling away for several hours before removing the frame and emptying the contents out and flushing it out with water.
I tried moving the post but it was still seized solid. I went on to try vinegar, rust removing solution and electrolysis, pouring an electrolyte and connecting it up to a battery. I got all sorts of coloured gunge coming out but still no movement.
All of this effort into trying to save a SR Laprade aluminium seat post. My intention was to try to keep it original as possible. I didn't know at the time that the seat post is really short and I doubt it would have been sufficient for me.
I eventually came to the conclusion that I would have to cut it out. That was fun! I cut the post near to the frame but left some protruding for gripping. The top was solid. Next came the drilling. The largest drill that I have is about 12mm, with a bit of waggling I could open it out to fit a hacksaw blade. The walls of the post were about 5/16 thick, I was in for a bit of sawing . My intention was to make 2 long cuts so that I could remove a segment and so free the post. I spent most of yesterday sawing slots. I didn't want to damage the frame and it was difficult reaching the bottom of the post with the hacksaw blade. Using small flat screwdrivers, small wood chisel I managed to move the segment a bit but it must have still been attached somewhere. still no movement of the post despite the hammering. I made another cut hoping that that would finally release things. It might have helped as the next blow with the chisel the post dropped down a bit. I was at the point of making things worse by a post disappearing down inside the tube. I managed to drill some small holes and fitted self tapping screws, gripping these with a pair of vice grips I was able to tap the post upwards out of the frame . Relief at last!
Today I cleaned out the frame and rebuilt it, I borrowed a seat and post off another bike, the length of which was several times the length of the one I removed. I was determined to take the bike out for a test ride despite the drizzle. My short ride turned into a 12 mile ride. First impressions are that it rides well, not sure if the tyres are causing some roughness, they are treaded and I usually run smooth tyres, the original ones are perished anyway. The brakes need adjusting but everything else is working fine. Oh the rear wheel needs servicing.
I contacted the seller and arranged a time for me to collect it, it was only 18 miles and it was a nice sunny day. The owner was a nice chap who helped me remove the wheels and load it into my car.
This is how it looked when it arrived . I was particularly taken by the red spotted bar tape, that would definitely have to go! I ordered some red plastic bar tape which has now arrived.
The bike was complete but needed cleaning and servicing, the seat post was seized in, I thought that it wouldn't be too difficult to free off but I was wrong!
First of all I set about stripping the bike down for cleaning. The bottom bracket cups and axle were covered in a lovely reddish brown gunge, there was what I think is a cardboard tube which went over the BB axle. It would seem that water had got in and caused some rusting.
With the frame stripped down I could tackle the seat post. I mounted it in my bike stand, sealed the top of the frame with Plumbers Mate, inverted the frame and poured in a solution of caustic soda down inside the seat tube. Ooh! That bubbled up nicely! I left it bubbling away for several hours before removing the frame and emptying the contents out and flushing it out with water.
I tried moving the post but it was still seized solid. I went on to try vinegar, rust removing solution and electrolysis, pouring an electrolyte and connecting it up to a battery. I got all sorts of coloured gunge coming out but still no movement.
All of this effort into trying to save a SR Laprade aluminium seat post. My intention was to try to keep it original as possible. I didn't know at the time that the seat post is really short and I doubt it would have been sufficient for me.
I eventually came to the conclusion that I would have to cut it out. That was fun! I cut the post near to the frame but left some protruding for gripping. The top was solid. Next came the drilling. The largest drill that I have is about 12mm, with a bit of waggling I could open it out to fit a hacksaw blade. The walls of the post were about 5/16 thick, I was in for a bit of sawing . My intention was to make 2 long cuts so that I could remove a segment and so free the post. I spent most of yesterday sawing slots. I didn't want to damage the frame and it was difficult reaching the bottom of the post with the hacksaw blade. Using small flat screwdrivers, small wood chisel I managed to move the segment a bit but it must have still been attached somewhere. still no movement of the post despite the hammering. I made another cut hoping that that would finally release things. It might have helped as the next blow with the chisel the post dropped down a bit. I was at the point of making things worse by a post disappearing down inside the tube. I managed to drill some small holes and fitted self tapping screws, gripping these with a pair of vice grips I was able to tap the post upwards out of the frame . Relief at last!
Today I cleaned out the frame and rebuilt it, I borrowed a seat and post off another bike, the length of which was several times the length of the one I removed. I was determined to take the bike out for a test ride despite the drizzle. My short ride turned into a 12 mile ride. First impressions are that it rides well, not sure if the tyres are causing some roughness, they are treaded and I usually run smooth tyres, the original ones are perished anyway. The brakes need adjusting but everything else is working fine. Oh the rear wheel needs servicing.
