1981 Raleigh SBDU 4545

[JimP]

Okay, so following a couple of posts in another thread about SBDU 58, I've decided to post some pictures and details here to hopefully get feedback and advice on restoration or preservation of my Raleigh frame. As you can see it has some rust.... but I think is otherwise all original. One problem is that the stem is seized in the steerer tube - though that might not be a problem if I decide not to go down the re-painting route. I'm quite happy with the current stem and I think I could service the bearings without needing to remove the stem.

I'm assuming 1981 is the frames year from reading other posts and references.

Jim

 

[JimP]

Right - I have now earned the right to post some pictures of my Raleigh frame

 

[Midlife]

Good to see another going back on the road . Looks like 81 to me too, still has sloping 753 decals but Cinelli CC fork crown.interesting it has over BB guides and under BB grooves plus a braze on front mech... I would have expected the BB to have two slots and under bb guides and a stop under the chainstay..

From memory mine is SB4315... Nope just checked and its SB3612 lol

 

[JimP]

Here are a few more pictures - I do feel quite sad about it's state - it spent too long in a flat near the beach.....

 

[Midlife]

Does look a bit tired, I wonder if it's been refinished once before as the decals don't look right?

 

[Holiocornolio]

nice looking bike. as long as it's structurally sound and rideable, the tiredness is fixable right? There's not much a lick of fresh paint can't put right ;-)

 

[JimP]

Does look a bit tired, I wonder if it's been refinished once before as the decals don't look right?

Interesting - in what way not right? I had a long look at Neil McGowran's site which seems very comprehensive - and he also seems fairly obsessive about detail. It all seemed to match exactly with his experience. One reason I think it's not been renovated before is that I've owned it since around 1992, and it was not immaculate then.

 

[JimP]

nice looking bike. as long as it's structurally sound and rideable, the tiredness is fixable right? There's not much a lick of fresh paint can't put right ;-)

This is part of my conundrum - do I preserve it as it is - or strip and re-paint? If I preserve it - it will need sealing to prevent rust spreading - though I could of course touch up (quite a lot) the bare metal and head tube. It would be lovely re-finished, but not then original....
Plus if I re-paint, I definitely need to get the stem out of the steerer.

 

[Midlife]

Yep, you are right about it being original , I was getting confused as usual, sorry. I used to have a memory. Not sure I'd like to leave that corrosion on a753 untreated if I was going to use it. 753 was quite thin! Might have to accept having it refinished

 

[JimP]

Yep, you are right about it being original , I was getting confused as usual, sorry. I used to have a memory. Not sure I'd like to leave that corrosion on a753 untreated if I was going to use it. 753 was quite thin! Might have to accept having it refinished

Quite - my worry too. The only place I think it's potentially an issue is the top of the top tube near the TEAM decal. There is some pitting there, and I do believe some of the 753 frames were drawn to only 0.3mm at that location. Luckily I'm a very smooth rider and lack the power I used to possess! (well it's all relative).