Best way to polish GT frame? and NEED A RTS REAR TRIANGLE *

[ozone1]

I'm just starting my 94 team RTS project, I have a very neglected bike sitting on my bench, doesnt lok like its ever seen polish - or a wash for that matter,

So Ive stripped all the naf random stickers off it and given it a good clean with wd40, and even a wee polish in a couple of please, looks to be coming up nice,

BUT there are alot of marks on the frame, nothing serious but they will need sorting, so whats the best way? this is what i'm thinking

- Full polish with Autosol (to see what I have and where it needs extra attention)
- go over with steel wool or 600 grit wet and dry paper
- full final polish

I've read a couple of posts saying you shouldnt wet and dry ball burnished frames ---- but isnt ball burnishing simply polishing with the use of small balls? and if thats the case there really isnt a finish to damage?

and thoughs? --some photos up tomorrow

 

[cce]

you need to go finer than 600 for a really good finish.

 

[legrandefromage]

Too much polishing over the years strips the original ball barneshed finish leaving a frame that needs buffing every ride.


Try a dry cotton cloth wrapped around the tubes - pull on the cloth as you would dry yourself after bath. Pull the cloth bacwards forwards very quickly. It soon gives a nice shine without the messy polish.

 

[clockd]

Gidday, get the autosol out.
Polished my zasker with it, you keep the battle scars and stickers but give it a freshen up.
Guess its a choice between maintaining it and restoring it.

 

[ozone1]

dont"t panic! - found a hairline crack in the rear seat stays - where the brake rocker sits on the bar between the seat stays - crack isnt very big - goes around about a quarter of the edge of the weld where the brake rocker bar is welded to the seat stay - should be no drama to repair????

or does someone have an alloy rear seat stay section for a 16" rts ???

 

[cce]

if it's just the brake rocker that's compromised, run a v brake?

 

[ozone1]

no its where the bar the brake rocker bolts to meets the seat stay :cry:

 

[nutcase-retro]

Too much polishing over the years strips the original ball barneshed finish leaving a frame that needs buffing every ride.


Try a dry cotton cloth wrapped around the tubes - pull on the cloth as you would dry yourself after bath. Pull the cloth bacwards forwards very quickly. It soon gives a nice shine without the messy polish.

Correct, my RTS-1 is ball barneshed and is quick to clean. My Zaskar and 2 of my San Andreas are polished, look fantastic but have to be cleaned and the re-polished after every ride. The wife’s pedge won’t cut it with the polished finish, I have to use a non cut alloy bright polish to get the water marks out.

 

[13]

Anyone know what the factory finish on the ball barnished Zaskars, RTS's and LTS's was? Did they anodise them aswell?
I know to prep a frame for anodising the frame has to be polished, so I was thinking...... could you get the frame polished and then anodised in clear?

 

[nutcase-retro]

Frame

I think the frames were put In a tank full of ball bearings, the tank was then vibrated for certain length of time. IM Shaw someone on retro will know the correct process and time period.