1986 Trek 770 restoration or run?
01-13-20, 03:03 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 655
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 189 Post(s)
Liked 473 Times
in
200 Posts
1986 Trek 770 restoration or run?
I picked up this 1986 Trek 770 recently and later discovered that the seat lug is cracked. It appears that a previous owner jammed in a too-large seat post. The paint is roughed up about everywhere and the components are an incredible mish-mash.
So...is it restoration worthy, or do I run away?
Actually, the options are 1) attempt a restore myself or 2) send to someone else to restore.
So...is it restoration worthy, or do I run away?
Actually, the options are 1) attempt a restore myself or 2) send to someone else to restore.
01-13-20, 03:08 PM
#2
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,491
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2738 Post(s)
Liked 3,379 Times
in
2,044 Posts
I might have a seat lug for it.
From a 1987 400 531 frame, 21"? frame
You can look in the Trek Brochures and see if the frame angles are the same or close.
https://www.vintage-trek.com/TrekBrochures.htm
From a 1987 400 531 frame, 21"? frame
You can look in the Trek Brochures and see if the frame angles are the same or close.
https://www.vintage-trek.com/TrekBrochures.htm
Last edited by dedhed; 01-13-20 at 03:11 PM.
01-13-20, 03:32 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Central Io-way
Posts: 2,671
Bikes: LeMond Zurich, Giant Talon 29er
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1221 Post(s)
Liked 626 Times
in
470 Posts
I remember seeing a forum member treat an identical crack by simply drilling a small hole at the end of the crack to stop it.
Likes For GrainBrain:
01-13-20, 09:36 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Baton Rouge La
Posts: 1,212
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 394 Post(s)
Liked 346 Times
in
230 Posts
My guess would be to drill a hole at the end of the crack like others have said. It seems like as long as the seatpost was the correct size, the seatpost clamp bolt would prevent it from getting any worse.
01-13-20, 11:12 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,827
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1872 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
There's no harm in drilling it and riding it till either it cracks worse, or nothing happens at all. Easy decision.
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
Likes For shoota:
01-14-20, 04:53 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Eastern Shore, MD
Posts: 2,104
Bikes: Road ready: 1993 Koga Miyata City Liner Touring Hybrid, 1989 Centurion Sport DLX, "I Blame GP" Bridgestone CB-1. Projects: Yea, I got a problem....
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 753 Post(s)
Liked 735 Times
in
421 Posts
If you drill the hole a little lower and carefully file down to it, no one will ever know...
01-14-20, 05:36 AM
#8
Senior Member
If the object were to keep a beater operational a short time, then drilling a hole would be fine.
Assume the @#$%^ idiot who rammed in the oversize post has abused the bike beyond your imagination. Ramming in an oversize post is really hard to do. You are going to find one problem after another. There is no cure for idiocy.
Assume the @#$%^ idiot who rammed in the oversize post has abused the bike beyond your imagination. Ramming in an oversize post is really hard to do. You are going to find one problem after another. There is no cure for idiocy.
01-14-20, 07:55 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: City of Angels
Posts: 4,867
Bikes: A few too many
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1360 Post(s)
Liked 2,175 Times
in
1,180 Posts
I would go with the vast majority of opinions voiced here...Drill&Ride..I'll add enjoy, very unlikely it will have a catastrophic failure.
Ben
Ben
01-14-20, 08:29 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,578
Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1606 Post(s)
Liked 2,210 Times
in
1,102 Posts
Oh BTW, Nice find!
__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
01-14-20, 10:14 AM
#12
Seńor Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hardy, VA
Posts: 17,921
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1491 Post(s)
Liked 1,087 Times
in
637 Posts
If the object were to keep a beater operational a short time, then drilling a hole would be fine.
Assume the @#$%^ idiot who rammed in the oversize post has abused the bike beyond your imagination. Ramming in an oversize post is really hard to do. You are going to find one problem after another. There is no cure for idiocy.
Assume the @#$%^ idiot who rammed in the oversize post has abused the bike beyond your imagination. Ramming in an oversize post is really hard to do. You are going to find one problem after another. There is no cure for idiocy.
__________________
In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
01-14-20, 02:03 PM
#13
Full Member
+1 on drill, restore and ride. Enjoy the bike, it's meant to be ridden!!
aceves
aceves
01-14-20, 03:40 PM
#14
Senior Member
It might be from a proper-sized post that was not inserted far enough and then ridden. Also note that these could have been ordered as frames and then equipped as the buyer wished. It's the same materials and dimensions as a 760 frame, but with different paint and decals.
Either way the bike has been abused. Abuse is seldom isolated. To easy to see a project that snowballs. A full and correct repair with new lug, new seat tube, new paint, easily exceeds imaginable value of bike. Who would want to take on that frame repair? Start over with a more promising frame.
If the only object is to cruise the neighborhood have at it.
01-14-20, 04:01 PM
#15
Seńor Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hardy, VA
Posts: 17,921
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1491 Post(s)
Liked 1,087 Times
in
637 Posts
Sure, that sounds plausible. Correct post would be 27.2 and 27.4 is not common.
Either way the bike has been abused. Abuse is seldom isolated. To easy to see a project that snowballs. A full and correct repair with new lug, new seat tube, new paint, easily exceeds imaginable value of bike. Who would want to take on that frame repair? Start over with a more promising frame.
If the only object is to cruise the neighborhood have at it.
Either way the bike has been abused. Abuse is seldom isolated. To easy to see a project that snowballs. A full and correct repair with new lug, new seat tube, new paint, easily exceeds imaginable value of bike. Who would want to take on that frame repair? Start over with a more promising frame.
If the only object is to cruise the neighborhood have at it.
__________________
In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
01-14-20, 05:03 PM
#16
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,491
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2738 Post(s)
Liked 3,379 Times
in
2,044 Posts
Looked around. Have the BB shell, brake bridge, DT mounts, headtube & lugs.
Didn't find the seat cluster lug. I must have turned that into a keychain and gave it to someone.
Didn't find the seat cluster lug. I must have turned that into a keychain and gave it to someone.
Likes For crank_addict:
01-14-20, 05:12 PM
#18
Senior Member
Drill and ride. That was one of the best non italian racebikes back in the day. Concor saddle?
__________________
Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
01-14-20, 05:17 PM
#19
Edumacator
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Goose Creek, SC
Posts: 6,748
Bikes: '87 Crestdale, '87 Basso Gap, '92 Rossin Performance EL-OS, 1990 VanTuyl, 1980s Losa, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 1987 PX10, etc...
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2427 Post(s)
Liked 3,084 Times
in
1,944 Posts
Weld of glue the post in and enjoy...no need to ever take it out again...
01-14-20, 07:09 PM
#20
Junior Member
Unfortunately it's not worth a ton of money. Fortunately, you own one of the best riding bikes ive ever swung a leg over. Just ride the heck out of it.
01-14-20, 08:11 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Madison, WI USA
Posts: 6,143
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2356 Post(s)
Liked 1,743 Times
in
1,187 Posts
01-14-20, 08:33 PM
#23
Hoards Thumbshifters
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Signal Mountain, TN
Posts: 1,155
Bikes: '23 Black Mtn MC, '87 Bruce Gordon Chinook, '08 Jamis Aurora, '86 Trek 560, '97 Mongoose Rockadile, & '91 Trek 750
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 245 Post(s)
Liked 327 Times
in
191 Posts
Likes For mechanicmatt:
01-14-20, 09:41 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Baton Rouge La
Posts: 1,212
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 394 Post(s)
Liked 346 Times
in
230 Posts
In previous years the 760 & 770 were the same frame, while the 560 had a longer wheelbase, slacker angles, and used Reynolds 501 for the main tubes.
I have an '85 560 and an '84 760. Totally different riding frames. The 760 is much more lively, imo. I haven't ridden one of the later 560's built with Reynolds 531.
Last edited by Hobbiano; 01-14-20 at 09:46 PM.
Likes For Hobbiano:
01-15-20, 10:02 AM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 13,317
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times
in
313 Posts
The 760 & 770 had a different frame then the 560. In '86 the 560 had a main triangle of Reynolds 531 and forks and stays of chrome moly. The 760 and 770 had 531 main tubes, fork, and stays. In '86 the 560 & 760 shared geometry and the 770 had shorter wheelbase and slightly steeper angles.
In previous years the 760 & 770 were the same frame, while the 560 had a longer wheelbase, slacker angles, and used Reynolds 501 for the main tubes.
I have an '85 560 and an '84 760. Totally different riding frames. The 760 is much more lively, imo. I haven't ridden one of the later 560's built with Reynolds 531.
In previous years the 760 & 770 were the same frame, while the 560 had a longer wheelbase, slacker angles, and used Reynolds 501 for the main tubes.
I have an '85 560 and an '84 760. Totally different riding frames. The 760 is much more lively, imo. I haven't ridden one of the later 560's built with Reynolds 531.
