1990 Kona Titanium - FINISHED PAGE 13

[sinnerman]

Re: 1990 Kona Titanium - Merlin Mountain content

I haven't seen it, but im guessing my first thought, swop out the steerer, or dependant on stem cut and shorten the quill, or machine the internal tube of the steerer... :|

I don't think machining out the steerer is an option I'd like to consider but Bren has checked the insertion on the quill and thinks it should be fine to shorten it a little. I know the Track 2's had problems with the legs holding in the crown and these forks certainly look like originals, which haven't slipped, so I don't want to tempt fate and mess with the bolts in the crown right now

Shortening the stem it is then. Good point about the forks too.. Don't stress mate, it will be worth the wait.

 

[raidan73]

Re: 1990 Kona Titanium - Merlin Mountain content

Even when I took them for powdercoating I left them fully assembled with just the steerer protected. I don't know what percentage of the forks failed but I'm guessing it didn't need to be a huge amount to warrant a recall. Erring on the side of caution anyway and itching to make some progress....

 

[sinnerman]

Re: 1990 Kona Titanium - Merlin Mountain content

Even when I took them for powdercoating I left them fully assembled with just the steerer protected. I don't know what percentage of the forks failed but I'm guessing it didn't need to be a huge amount to warrant a recall. Erring on the side of caution anyway and itching to make some progress....

I had three set go. always the left leg...

 

[raidan73]

Re: 1990 Kona Titanium - Merlin Mountain content

Maybe quite a high percentage of failures then :shock:

 

[shutter]

Re: 1990 Kona Titanium - Merlin Mountain content

Lookin good! I'm just getting my 89' Merlin on the go... does yours take rear U-Brakes as well?

What are you going to do about the Press Bit BB?... Mine has some play and spindle is too short... ?? ideas??


thx!

 

[raidan73]

Re: 1990 Kona Titanium - Merlin Mountain content

Lookin good! I'm just getting my 89' Merlin on the go... does yours take rear U-Brakes as well?

What are you going to do about the Press Bit BB?... Mine has some play and spindle is too short... ?? ideas??


thx!

Yep mine has a u-brake, I think the 1991 model changed to canti's on the rear.

I'm lucky in that that my press fit BB is still nice and smooth and has the correct axle length for my chainset. I'm sure I've seen info on here somewhere but a quick search didn't bring it up.

I have now sorted out, thanks to Bren, the fork/stem issue so should be able to make some progress soon

 

[shutter]

Re: 1990 Kona Titanium - Merlin Mountain content

Lookin good! I'm just getting my 89' Merlin on the go... does yours take rear U-Brakes as well?

What are you going to do about the Press Bit BB?... Mine has some play and spindle is too short... ?? ideas??


thx!

Yep mine has a u-brake, I think the 1991 model changed to canti's on the rear.

I'm lucky in that that my press fit BB is still nice and smooth and has the correct axle length for my chainset. I'm sure I've seen info on here somewhere but a quick search didn't bring it up.

I have now sorted out, thanks to Bren, the fork/stem issue so should be able to make some progress soon

Sounds good! I was actually able to find a front tange fork with a SUPER long 1" steer tube... this fork must have came off of a 24" frame... so long that on the 19" frame I can choose to go threadless or threaded with no issues... AND best part is that the fork is for a front U-Brake!... I think it's off of an old Blizzard... Now that I have front and rear U-Brake mounts I can go full Roller Cam brakes... I have to updated my build thread but nice to see someone else doing a simmilar build =)

 

[raidan73]

Re: 1990 Kona Titanium - Merlin Mountain content

That will look great with double rollercams. I'd like something with double u-brakes or rollercams some day.

 

[Retro_Roy]

Re: 1990 Kona Titanium - Merlin Mountain content

That will look great with double rollercams. I'd like something with double u-brakes or rollercams some day.

lookin' good so far Adrian.
I've a soft spot for dual rollers and u-brakes too.
roy

 

[raidan73]

Re: 1990 Kona Titanium - Merlin Mountain content

Thanks Roy

So with the kids in bed and wife on a night shift I was able to make some progress in the comfort of the kitchen tonight. The frame was in pretty good shape when I bought it so it only needed a light going over with a fine scotchbrite pad before cleaning and applying the decals.
I decided a long time ago that despite being a bit scuffed, the original Merlin decals wouldn't be replaced, although I have touched in some of the worst bits. I've attached Track 2 decals to the forks and Kona decals to the top tube, both in colours I've tried to get matched to the blurry image from the 1990 catalogue. After a lot of discussions it was thought that the TBG decal might have been on the head tube as with other Kona's of the year but having seen pictures of 1990 Brodies with the TBG decal on the seat tube, I decided to leave the original Merlin head tube decal in place and attach the TBG decal to the seat tube.

As usual, apologies for the photo quality......