Padgett

Just saved this Fat Chance from an unknowing and unloving home. I plan to restore/restomod it as I go to fit my needs. The rough plan is to just get it "running" for now. Eventually, I would like to have all period correct/stock components.

Let me know of any suggestions y'all have! If you like/don't like it, components I should use, etc. I am fairly new to bikes, especially the mountain bikes of this era. However, I am not new to restorations and am capable of working on the bike myself.

Couple notes: it still has its original Maguara brake levers, and it has been converted to a 1x, with the smallest cog missing and the largest ground down as a bash guard.

These pics were taken as soon as I got the bike, with the only cleaning being the wind it got while in the bed of my truck. Check the spark plug in the pedal threads, haha.

2cam16

Subbed.

clubman 

Yowsa, you picked a fine bike to restore.

merziac

You ain't kidding.

Pic from Chris's Bio page.

And was discussed on the last pages of below.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...bikes-264.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-dump-541.html

TenGrainBread 

That's a nice one. The paint is actually in good shape for clearly being used for its intended purpose.

Love those bullet stay caps.

Padgett

Background- I am at college right now, meaning I only have an apartment, and I did not have an option to store a smelly bike. I cant convey the smell through pictures, but it was BAD. This was my best option.

2cam16

Gotta do what you gotta do. Did it get rid of the funk?

Padgett

@2cam16 Absolutely! Its always better when you're wrenching on a clean project too.

wesmamyke

First thing, pull the seat post and bottom bracket. Check the bottom of the seat tube for rust, they like to rust through right at the bottom.

bikemig 

That is an awesome bike. Old MTBs make fine gravel grinders and all around bikes. I use mine (an '87 stumpjumper sport) as a commuter as well. So welcome to the u brake club. They are not very good for offroad riding but they are otherwise fine brakes for most any other use.

If you are looking for a tough, reasonably lightweight 26 inch puffy tire, Schwalbe marathon supreme touring tires are excellent.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...waAl5vEALw_wcB

ryansu

You're gonna rebuild all those bearings right? then the power wash isn't as big of a deal. Have fun with the build FWIW I just used some Schwalbe City Jet 26 x 1.95 tan sidewalls from Chain Reaction cycles in the UK for about $40 shipped for a pair. I liked their look and feel.

Padgett

@bikemig @ryansu Thanks for the tire rec's! However, I already own a road bike as a commuter, so I was thinking of something a little more aggressive.

And yes I am rebuilding the bearings, and everything else for that matter so I knew the pressure washer would be fine.

Sir_Name 

I passed on one each Fat & Chris Chance MTB & road bike over the past few years. It was the right choice, but sometimes I wish I’d been more foolish... Looking forward to seeing this one come together. Enjoy!

Bianchigirll 

I've done the car wash thing a few times.

Murray Missile 

I got tired of going to the car wash and bought a small electric power washer for.... uh........ washing the siding. Yeah, that's it, washing the siding on the house.

Padgett

Alright, so I broke the bike down nut and bolt here in my apartment, used evaporust where I needed to, cleaned and repacked all bearings, and cleaned up the frame/fork/rims as best I could. I was so excited to go ride this thing and take pictures but it is not even close to done.


Even though all bearings were cleaned and repacked, I have learned they were not salvageable. I need a new headset, bottom bracket, and wheel bearings before I ride this thing. Also I would hook up the rear brake (which just has some placeholder pads in right now. Ideally I would've replaced these first thing, but im trying to stay low buck for now, and in my apt. I do not have the resources to do everything I would like to, and i would rather do it when I go home to my parents for the holidays in my dads shop. So it will most likely be until then before this thing sees some real ride time.


I am on the lookout for a Deore XT rear derailleur and shift lever at a good price.

Padgett

Took these pics in a rush, if you think i should take a picture of something specific let me know. The seat post is stuck enough to where I cant get it out at my apartment and the LBS tried and could not get it. It is way too low for me as it sits.

Wish list/coming soon: All bearings, seat, thumb shifter/rear derailleur, seat post, tires/tubes/rim strips, and probably a few other things I cant think of right now.

AngryFrankie

Man, what a fun vintage find. Is this one of the pressed in bottom bracket bikes, or threaded?

Padgett

@AngryFrankie Pressed. Thanks man! Its gonna be a fun bike.

merziac

Well needless to say, you have your work cut out for you but it will be worth it if you take it slow and be patient which it seems like you are.

Get some PB Blaster on/in the SP, preferably from the bottom too, tiny squirts at the top and try to keep it off the paint, it can work miracles.

Hang in there, the Dad's shop plan is a good one, you can't have too much help, tools, resources when dealing with challenges if you want the right outcome, again patience is key.

2cam16

I'd work on that seatpost before anything else because if you say it's too low for you, then it also sounds like the bike is too small for you.

Padgett

I have been wondering about the bike size, as I'm not sure how to judge the frame size for my body on these old MTBs. I'm 6'2" and the frame is 20" from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the top tube, along the seat post. I honestly have not looked that far ahead yet but the frame does not look too too small. Any thoughts?

Padgett

Right! I do not want to rush it. But with time I can stockpile all the parts ill need and then knock it all out at once when I go home. In the mean time, it'll be an apartment decoration and ill mess around with the ole Schwinn.

2cam16

Yeah that sounds small. I'm 5'5 and my max size is a 54cm/21in, minimum around a 51 or 52cm which equates to around 20in. If you're able to unstick that seatpost, make sure there's enough left inside the seat tube after adjusting it for your height. Maybe you can ride it temporarily until you find a bike your size.

merziac

With the post where it is,

I'm going to say it is probably well on the low end of big enough for you depending on how long your bike fit inseam really is, go to Rivendells website to figure it if you don't know or not sure. It will not tell you MTB size but we can figure it much better if we know your correct road bike size by the numbers, if it's way too small you won't may not want to do much hard off road with it but maybe putt around on it anyway.

The Merz I got is waaay to small for me and I'm not an MTB rider anyway and it doesn't matter, I can ride it around ok if I want but it's not going anywhere.

Again, and like @2cam16 said, get some PB Blaster in it and work on the SP, best would really be to fill it up upside down from the bottom for several days, hope some comes leaking through and then dribble it around/in the top for awhile too. After a long soak find a vise, strip down the seatpost and I would make some wood blocks with holes drilled to hold it solid in the vise and VERY carefully use the frame to see if it will come loose, if not stop, soak for several more days and repeat.

If you the remove the SP clamp, you may be able spread the top of the tube a bit to get more Blaster in there which can be key.

If we assume the SP is original, I would try to salvage it until there is no choice.

I realize you don't have a vise so maybe back to the shop for help if they will let you wait/watch or find a bike co-op, shared open workspace/art/project shop that you could use