New Project. Raleigh Scorpio.

[EltonFrog]

I had spare twenty minutes just now so I went out to the garage for a fettle. I cleaned up the rusty thread on the awkward chain ring bolt and cleaned up the rest of them with some GT 85 , wire wool and baking foil.

Hopefully I’ll salvage the battered nut, so I don’t have to buy any.

 

[EltonFrog]

I've been out in the cold garage again today, cleaned up the chain rings and crank arms, and reassembled, cleaned up and polished the fork, took the reflector tape off and the ugly SIS stickers using The Fragrant MrsP's hair dryer, (don't tell) .

I then popped into town for some wire wool and white spirit, when I got back I removed the crown race and cleaned that up and the brake caliper bolts, all these items were in a right state, they ain't perfect now but they are clean, free of rust and functional.

The race probably needs replacing, but I'm going to try and make do.

 

[Paulus]

I've been out in the cold garage again today, cleaned up the chain rings and crank arms, and reassembled, cleaned up and polished the fork, took the reflector tape off and the ugly SIS stickers using The Fragrant MrsP's hair dryer, (don't tell) .

I then popped into town for some wire wool and white spirit, when I got back I removed the crown race and cleaned that up and the brake caliper bolts, all these items were in a right state, they ain't perfect now but they are clean, free of rust and functional.












View attachment 495174


The race probably needs replacing, but I'm going to try and make do.

Is it just the angle of the photograph, or is that right hand fork bent outwards?

 

[EltonFrog]

Is it just the angle of the photograph, or is that right hand fork bent outwards?

I'm pretty sure its the poor quality photo, I've checked as far as I am able and I can't see any obvious flaw in it, I will check again tomorrow in the day light.

 

[biggs682]

@CarlP i wish i had your patience in re preparing bikes i prefer just to get them up and running and worry about the cleaning and other details later

 

[EltonFrog]

@CarlP i wish i had your patience in re preparing bikes i prefer just to get them up and running and worry about the cleaning and other details later

The main reason I’m doing it is to learn about the bikes and what does what, I find it fascinating that the sum of the parts reduce down into a little box apart from the frame. If this was a more expensive bike ( it was free) I probably wouldn’t do it, but I’ve got nothing to lose. I really enjoy it, it’s satisfying get bike that doesn’t work working, I’m learning things about myself too, two years ago I wouldn’t have had the nerve to it.

This evening I’ve been re-reading @JhnBssll Ian May thread, I’m considering a re-spray just to see if I can.

 

[EltonFrog]

More work outside this morning, cleaning years of grime off the frame, removed the headset cups by knocking them out, and even managed to remove the BB fixed cup!

There are some ugly rust spots only the frame that are somewhat irking me, I really can’t make up my mind if I should paint this frame or not.

I also managed to find the frame number under all the crap. 3157762 which seems like an odd format to me.

I need to remove these reflective tapes, but if I'm going to paint the frame I'll leave for now instead of pussy footing around with them .

Fixed cup removed, never done that before.

I hate these Shimano / Sakae stickers

 

[EltonFrog]

I’ve had a quote of £36 for shot blasting and powder coating the frame and fork. I think I might go for it.

So much for the tight budget.

 

[biggs682]

I’ve had a quote of £36 for shot blast in and powder coating the frame and fork. I think I might go for it.

So much for the tight budget.

That's a very good price

 

[EltonFrog]

That's a very good price

Just taken it down there, we'll see what the craic is.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

I also managed to find the frame number under all the crap. 3157762 which seems like an order format to me.

View attachment 495370

The first digit under Raleigh's numbering system indicates the year in this case, so 1983 or 1993. Since Shimano SIS stuff wasn't around in '83, and you have hubs with '92 codes, the frame must be a 1993 model.

 

[EltonFrog]

The first digit under Raleigh's numbering system indicates the year in this case, so 1983 or 1993. Since Shimano SIS stuff wasn't around in '83, and you have hubs with '92 codes, the frame must be a 1993 model.

Thanks for that, I was going to look it up tomorrow but you have saved me the bother. Ta.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

I was going to look it up tomorrow but you have saved me the bother. Ta.

The first digit year identifier only applies to all-figure serial numbers used on the 18-23 and 500/501 frames though. If you want to date a 531 build from Worksop or Nottingham you need to decode the two letters and first digit.

 

[Gunk]

Nice project, right up my street. If you’re repainting it why not consider refinishing it in the classic red Ti team colours.

 

[FrankCrank]

Is it just the angle of the photograph, or is that the grungiest workmate on the planet?.............