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- - Sharing Covid time: Part 1 Finishing a Panasonic Team America (https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=1212169)

Sharing Covid time: Part 1 Finishing a Panasonic Team America

Prior Posts in Classic & Vintage Forum on this bicycle:

The Second Unicorn-Panasonic Team America Custom

Back from the Painter-busy February/March

Please do look at the prior posts for the Panasonic Custom Team America. As found and purchased it was intact with decals in good condition, but paint was another issue. Somehow small pits has been struck through the head tube paint, but missed the decal, and many small marks on the top tube and then of course on the chain stay.

While I was able to obtain a very good match from my local auto paint store, used on previous bikes, it could never match because of the original pearlescenct paint which on sunny days the sunlight will cause the paint to glow. And yes, it’s beautiful.

The stem was not what came per catalog spec’s for this bike but I had kept a NOS SR Sakae New Royal Super Light for a long time and this would both give the reach I needed and just be perfect on this bike, especially after the machined lightening grooves where painted the frame color.

But then came Covid and things didn’t get busy in February/March, it took until a birthday in May that I was gifted by a wife and so we are done and finally in this new normal can post, enjoy, and here we are September.

But one plea, the Dura Ace brake hoods are on their last use journey and while I have a set of Ultegra hoods close in time it’s all about the shape of the brake nubbin and the internal pads of the brake hood whether they fit, plus even if found a NOS is decades old rubber. So work around?

Here are the pictures, enjoy.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...47f40ffea8.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...83e06383d1.jpg

This is there last hurrah. When the handlebar tape wears out these original Dura Ace brake hoods will surely crack and split, it was touch and go just to complete this handlebar wrap. I have a pair of Ultegra hoods but know there will be a forced fit with gaps as the nubbing on the brake lever assembly is different.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c804cee556.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f3dc924228.jpg

This is where the touch up paint did wonders. The head tube looked like it had been shot with #8 bird shot, many many little strikes through the paint, primer to the frame, all gone now. The top tube looked like someone scraped over every dismount, worst is gone.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9ea043a9af.jpg

And only the best fork and frame, and all Dura Ace.

A keeper until some grandchildren grow up and want their first FAST bike.

Take Care.

That stem is delicious!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Londonsworld (Post 21881973)

That stem is delicious!

willyou be enjoying that with a side of steamed asparagus and some drawn butter?

since6 rando bars on a racer? which ones?

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dacf7f4e90.jpg
Fluted SR seatpost to match that stem

Very nice!!!

Re-think the bartape choice/wrapping....

Those are real nice frames! Thanks for posting!

Tape over hoods was due to condition of the brake hoods. As mentioned this was likely their last rodeo and even after applying product to restore their surface the edges were cracked and rolling them up to tape under would have resulted in a tear or worse. So wrap over protects the frayed ends of the hood and avoided their destruction. These are likely the original hoods and that they are not turned to goo and can still provide a firm grip to your hand is wonder enough.

I wonder if someone would consider reproducing these. I've seen demand for these hoods since 2010.

-Kurt

Dura Ace 7401 hoods are the same as Shimano 6209 hoods, only difference is they say Shimano on the side instead of Dura Ace. Also very rare as standalone hoods, but nice complete examples show up fairly regularly on eBay for $35 or so, not a bad price for a set of good replacement hoods.

To avoid folding over older non-aero hoods, after setting up the cable and housing length, unbolt the cable from the caliper, secure the lever clamp with tape and unbolt the lever from the base. Pull the lever base out just enough to wrap the bars. After wrapping, re-bolt the lever base to the clamp and reattach the cable to the caliper. A little fiddly, especially around getting the housing back into the lever body, but does save older brake hoods.