Fondriest Columbus EL

[MartinB123]

Got this yesterday - plan is to strip down and clean up and pop on new chain/cables/pads and ride it!

 

[kermisking]

Lovely bike, looks fast stood still !.

 

[MartinB123]

Thanks! Just stripped it down and soaking the stem in some WD40 as it isn't budging at the moment.

 

[kermisking]

Best advice for removing the stem "patience ". If its really bad a two week soak in Ammonia works for me but it is nasty stuff .

 

[MartinB123]

Well the forks are off but at the expense of the stem. Its definitely seized and I can get the remnants out with caustic soda and some patience!

Hopefully have a more tangible update later in the week when I can start cleaning parts up and refitting!

 

[Mike-p]

Snazzy.

 

[MartinB123]

Managed to get cracking in my lunch hour and get the steerer end of the forks soaking in caustic soda and water, and after a few refills of solution the stuck stem came out.


I then gave the forks a quick polish, once I'd removed the specks of surface rust on them...



And gave gave the frame a similar clean and polish, and popped the forks and headset back on -



Final thing to do before re-fitting the components is to take the rear wheel to my LBS and get the lock ring removed as its fairly tight!

 

[Nob]

Looking nice

 

[MartinB123]

Started putting it back together yesterday... Popped on some 28s but not enough clearance so 25s on order.

Components bolted back on now and need to sort a stem, fit chain, cables etc.

 

[jordic1968]

Very nice. Good thing about the 8 speed and shimano is that you can easily get bigger cogs and a rear mech hanger extender to go uphills.