Rusty old Muddy Fox

[Tsundere]

Picked it up today, it actually looks worse than the original photos suggested, however there are many positives, not least its having one careful lady owner from new, so although it's been 'neglected' during the past couple of decades it has never been abused nor ridden hard, accordingly there is no sign of any kind of damage other than that inflicted upon it by the elements..

Another positive is that it is completely original including tyres and tubes, nothing at all has been added or taken away, even the mudguards were on the bike when she bought it. Another reassuring sign came when all the QR bolts loosened at the first attempt, and perhaps most pleasing of all the seat post slid straight out without offering any kind of resistance. The saddle itself is in terrific shape, no tears or serious scuffs and the Muddy Fox decals are still very present, the bar grips too are in good shape and should come off fairly easily.

And so as expected this restoration is going to be all about the rust!

 

[MainlyMF]

Picked it up today, it actually looks worse than the original photos suggested, however there are many positives, not least its having one careful lady owner from new, so although it's been 'neglected' during the past couple of decades it has never been abused nor ridden hard, accordingly there is no sign of any kind of damage other than that inflicted upon it by the elements..

Another positive is that it is completely original including tyres and tubes, nothing at all has been added or taken away, even the mudguards were on the bike when she bought it. Another reassuring sign came when all the QR bolts loosened at the first attempt, and perhaps most pleasing of all the seat post slid straight out without offering any kind of resistance. The saddle itself is in terrific shape, no tears or serious scuffs and the Muddy Fox decals are still very present, the bar grips too are in good shape and should come off fairly easily.

And so as expected this restoration is going to be all about the rust!

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Lucky about the seat post! What about the stem/ headset? Are you restoring it or breaking for parts?

 

[Tsundere]

Lucky about the seat post! What about the stem/ headset? Are you restoring it or breaking for parts?

Going to try to restore it. I suspect that under the rust it's going to be pretty good, especially the bearings and cups, going by the way she described the bikes life so far it really wasn't ridden that much.

 

[MainlyMF]

Going to try to restore it. I suspect that under the rust it's going to be pretty good, especially the bearings and cups, going by the way she described the bikes life so far it really wasn't ridden that much.

Got any recommendations on what to use for seized stems and seat posts?

 

[RetroDavy]

For stuck seat posts, I've used lots of penetrating fluid inside the tube and clamped the post in a bench vice and then turned the frame to break the corrosion. That was successful. There's a post on here somewhere showing a slide hammer arrangement which looks very good.

I've had less success with a stuck stem. Tried similar approach with vice and length of wood through the top of the forks as a lever, after taking stem bolt out. But it didn't work. I had to cut the top of the stem off to remove the forks from the bike and then painstakingly cut a channel down the length of the stem, inside the fork tube. Used a bare hacksaw blade for this. It took ages. Then I crushed the stem in a vice and used a hammer and big, roundish chisel to bash it out.

 

[Tsundere]

Got any recommendations on what to use for seized stems and seat posts?

A good answer above this post, I've also seen people using various acids in extreme cases. Stuck seat post is pretty much every restorers nightmare, of course a cracked frame would be worse but at least you know that's that, frame is dead, a stuck seat post on an otherwise great frame must be so frustrating and the more extreme methods you need to resort to in order to get it out the more likely actual damage to the seat tube, and therefore the frame, will result.

If you have one I suggest you take some pics and post them on here, it might be that someone has been through the same thing with the actual frame and post you have and be able to provide a more helpful solution.

 

[Tsundere]

Looks like a 92'.

Can anyone confirm the year?
I can't seem to find a 1992 catalogue anywhere or a reliable spec list, every other flouro yellow Courier Mega that's been posted on here and elsewhere that I found are listed as 1990, the bike in the 90 catalogue however has a slightly different spec to mine.



Spec matches others that I've seen in other threads here - Exage 500LX front and rear mechs, 400LX chainset, STI lever/shifters etc but the 500LX mechs differ from the 90 catalogue which lists 400LX across the board, any help positively identifying the year would be much appreciated. Frame number is H9N19613.

 

[DrGooGoo]

Yes, you are correct, it must be 90!
I thought it was a 92 because I have a 91 MF along with the 91 catalog and it's not in there.

 

[Tsundere]

Yes, you are correct, it must be 90!
I thought it was a 92 because I have a 91 MF along with the 91 catalog and it's not in there.

It could be a 92 although I can find zero information about them, it seems odd that the examples I found posted on here and elsewhere that listed specs had the same 500LX/400LX blend that mine has, but the 90 catalogue shows only 400LX.

I'll assume 90 until I learn more : )

 

[MainlyMF]

A good answer above this post, I've also seen people using various acids in extreme cases. Stuck seat post is pretty much every restorers nightmare, of course a cracked frame would be worse but at least you know that's that, frame is dead, a stuck seat post on an otherwise great frame must be so frustrating and the more extreme methods you need to resort to in order to get it out the more likely actual damage to the seat tube, and therefore the frame, will result.

If you have one I suggest you take some pics and post them on here, it might be that someone has been through the same thing with the actual frame and post you have and be able to provide a more helpful solution.

Cheers! Don't want to crash your thread.. Was thinking of trying to plug up the frame and leave the stem & seat post to soak in something for a week or 2? Anyone had any experience with Evaporust Evapo-Rust remover? The frame is pretty rough but I don't want to damage the paint any more as I'm planning on leaving it original. The stem bolt is out and the quill has dropped down but no movement at all!?