Bender3000

Hey guys,

I made this account to ask what can I do with my 1986 trek 1500. After a long winter outside my 1986 trek is looking a bit rusted. The frame is completely okay but the components definetly arent. With this bike what options can I take to upgrade the drive train? is it better to just get a new bike or should I invest the money to restore it. It currently has a shimano sis 600 groupset.


Thank you

bikemig 

bikes die if you leave them outdoors.

SkyDog75

I hate to give you a vague answer, but it depends on what's rusted, how badly, and how proficient you are at takings things apart and putting them back together.

if you could post pictures, it would be helpful in giving you more detailed advice.

3speedslow

Condition pics would help this discussion.

put it another way " this thread is useless without pictures ".

Bender3000

Thanks guys. To give more information whats rusted on the bike are the chain mostly, a little on the deraileur, and some of the screws on the brakes. The frame is completely unrusted. And im willing to completely re build the bike. Now I can get a pro deal on a new cannondale or novara bike but that would run about 700-800. What to do

Bender3000

Ill try to get some pictures

Spaghetti Legs 

Shimano 600 is solid. If you're handy with bike wrenching, take all the parts off and individually clean and lube each one. You may find the rusted bits will clean up nicely with a little fine steel wool buffing. If they're worse off than that, you should be able to replace the small bits like mounting bolts, etc. Simple answer for the chain is replace it, especially if it has more than say, 10000 miles on it. You can also google how to measure chain wear. If you want to try to keep it, soak ii in some WD 40 (spray it down, spray some on a rag, wrap it and let it sit a day or so. Then lube it once or twice with some heavier duty oil.

New bikes and new parts are fun but so is bringing an old, tired bike back to life!

Amesja

I'm not totally familiar off-hand without any more info exactly what came on the 1986 Trek 1500. More info would certainly help. "Shimano 600" covers a whole lot of ground.

Upgrade options are entirely limited by what rear hub you have. If you have a 130mm hub with 7-speed cassette then really the sky is the limit. You could put DuraAce 11-speed Di2 on it if that fancies you. You could replace everything but the frame and go for broke, or anything in between.

If your hub is 126mm 6-speed then you are much more limited. I'm pretty sure you have an aluminum frame here so you can't spread it to 130mm if it is 126. You are limited to a 126mm hub and whatever you can shoehorn onto a 126mm hub. There are a ton of options, but sometimes they get a little more complicated and there are limits, unlike a 130mm frame.

dedhed

What Amesja said. 1986 is iffy on rear spacing. Mid to late 80's could be 126, 128 or 130mm. You often find 128's around then so they could do 126 and 130 groups in the same frame depending on the price point. If it's 128 try borrowing a 130 wheel and see how hard it is to get in. 126 and Aluminum is probably a no go.

SkyDog75

That doesn't sound too bad. Replace the chain. They're cheap enough that they're not worth the effort to de-rust and re-lube. Treat surface rust using your treatment of choice*, removing components to clean and de-rust as necessary. Inspect and possibly replace brake/shifter cables and housings. And make sure you're caught up on proper lubrication, like repacking all the serviceable bearings with grease.

* Evapo-Rust is pretty impressive stuff. Dunk parts overnight and the rust is simply gone. Or to treat items in situ, some people have reported success that soaking a paper towel in Evapo-Rust and covering the rust to be treated works.

JohnDThompson 

There's not much to rust on a 1986 Trek 1500 -- the frame is aluminum, and most of the components are as well, with the exception of the chain, cluster, and some of the fasteners. Buy a new chain and cluster, use a brass brush or some aluminum foil to knock the rust off any rusty bolts, etc., then soak them in white vinegar or oxalic acid to get the rest. Clean and wax the frame, repack the bearings, replace handlebar tape if needed, and it ought to look pretty good.

Amesja

I agree.

Simply soaking parts in mineral spirits and scrubbing with a good stiff nylon brush works wonders too. Replace any rusted fasteners if necessary, cables, chain, and it should be good to go if a refresh is all that is wanted. New brake pads - KoolStops, perhaps Dura holder kit. It sounded to me like he really wants to "upgrade" though, and likes the excuse of the stuff being rusty/cosmetically ugly to go for it.

600 is good stuff though, even the 6-speed SIS is pretty decent IMHO. If it is salvageable the cheapest option would be to just knock the rust off, clean, polish, oil and go after replacing consumables. Like John said, there isn't much to rust. It might look a little yucky cosmetically but its hard to kill that stuff.

crank_addict

What's your time worth? Do you have other hobbies or interest vs. time spent on a bike rebuild?

Easy way out is to sell it for nominal amount and put the sum towards whatever ride you have an eye for.

Other considerations- How much money are you willing to spend for just consumables - tires, brakes, maybe cables? Upgrade only if you love the frame and willing to trade or acquire parts cheaply (mostly used). Buying new upgrade parts adds up really fast. Unless you can find deals on the used parts, I wouldn't upgrade anything.

~~~~ BUT if mine, would salvage the bike with patience. If anything, you'll appreciate the quality in the Shimano 600 stuff. Already mentioned are solutions of how to remove rust, etc. Even all the tiny screws can be brought back to presentable condition. Scraped up, gouged, oxidized ally cranks, levers, brakes too can come back to near new. You don't need a fancy buffer and above all, PLEASE stay away from machine wire wheels and sanders.

Take your time with all the bits and pieces. Start with a caliper only. Study it and if need to take pics. Completely dismantle just that assembly, clean it and polish all, lube required areas. Re-assemble and then go onto the next component. Eventually you'll have a box full of like new again parts.

When you get to the bottom bracket and headset, doubtful you have the proper fitting tools but you could slip a $5 to a LBS and have them remove those items. Take it all home, clean and re-lube.

Also, should consider taking your wheels there and have them remove the FW or cassette. Unless you want to do it all yourself, invest in some tools, instead could just have them clean and re-pack the hubs (if not cartridge) and maybe have them true-up.

Prep the frame, touch-up, polish whatever. Set the bottom bracket and headset. Return to the bike shop and let them do a final adjustment and tighten to spec.

Make a list of consumables, acquire and prepare for the total assembly.

Good luck!

thenomad

and then never leave it outside through the winter again...

SJX426 

Dip the whole bike, unassembled, in OA for 24 hours!