Paint Question Trek 520
11-04-21, 07:41 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 47
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
Paint Question Trek 520
I'm in the process of refurbishing my 1st vintage (?) bike, a 1995 Trek 520. The bike was hardly ridden by the original owner but spent the last year being carted around the country in the back of a Kia Soul. Everything indicates hardly any use except the frame has a half dozen significant 'scuff' marks, on the order of 1" x 1". I believe that Imron was used for the frame in '95. Does anyone happen to know the paint code or if Trek Tech Support might help. Vintage Trek website talks about using Testor's paint and mixing to color match and that may be the best way to goI suppose that I could have the frame stripped and re-painted but I think the cost may be prohibitive. Being a 'non-lugged' frame, the value of the bike is probably not worth sinking too much money into it. The more I learn about restore/restoration the more questions I have.Thanks in advance for any info/guidance on this.
11-04-21, 08:30 PM
#2
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
I'm in the process of refurbishing my 1st vintage (?) bike, a 1995 Trek 520. The bike was hardly ridden by the original owner but spent the last year being carted around the country in the back of a Kia Soul. Everything indicates hardly any use except the frame has a half dozen significant 'scuff' marks, on the order of 1" x 1". I believe that Imron was used for the frame in '95. Does anyone happen to know the paint code or if Trek Tech Support might help. Vintage Trek website talks about using Testor's paint and mixing to color match and that may be the best way to goI suppose that I could have the frame stripped and re-painted but I think the cost may be prohibitive. Being a 'non-lugged' frame, the value of the bike is probably not worth sinking too much money into it. The more I learn about restore/restoration the more questions I have.Thanks in advance for any info/guidance on this.
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
11-04-21, 09:10 PM
#3
ambulatory senior
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Peoria Il
Posts: 5,998
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
Mentioned: 76 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1955 Post(s)
Liked 3,661 Times
in
1,679 Posts
Btw, welded or not that's a pretty nice frameset.
11-04-21, 09:25 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Menomonee Falls, WI
Posts: 1,833
Bikes: 1984 Schwinn Supersport, 1988 Trek 400T, 1977 Trek TX900, 1982 Bianchi Champione del Mondo, 1978 Raleigh Supercourse, 1986 Trek 400 Elance, 1991 Waterford PDG OS Paramount, 1971 Schwinn Sports Tourer, 1985 Trek 670
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 604 Post(s)
Liked 1,063 Times
in
535 Posts
Green nail polish, good luck. Better off with Testors or auto touch up paint. Trek 520 is a beautiful bike, love the green with gold decals.
Tim
Tim
Likes For tkamd73:
11-04-21, 11:42 PM
#5
Hoards Thumbshifters
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Signal Mountain, TN
Posts: 1,156
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: 246 Post(s)
Liked 334 Times
in
192 Posts
Yup follow everyone's advice. Nail polish or testors. Trek around that time had like 5 layers of Imron with I think zinc base coat. Do what you can and just enjoy the bike.
Likes For mechanicmatt:
11-05-21, 12:53 AM
#6
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,619
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3883 Post(s)
Liked 6,476 Times
in
3,205 Posts
Compound wax and/or scratch remover can also work wonders.
11-05-21, 12:54 AM
#7
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,695
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,528 Times
in
916 Posts
The Trek 520 is a classic touring bike and well worth refurbishing. Unless you're looking to sell it, I wouldn't worry too much about how much money you put into it; they always end up costing more than you can sell them for, but you'll have a better bike than you could get new for the price. Ride it and enjoy.
11-05-21, 01:03 AM
#8
Full Member
In UK, any car alloy wheel powder coating place will strip and powder coat a frame and fork for roughly £50 in a standard colour, a bit more if you are the flamboyant type who wants his bike to look fabulous.
Cost may vary depending on where you live.
Ask around and do the math, what will you get in return from getting paint correction supplies and the effort you put in doing it yourself, as I assume this is not the one for you on which to hone your bike restoration skills.
Besides, you may ride the bike more if it looks nice.
The 520 is a solid base, a timeless frame, and people on this forum have put more money into worse bikes, so take the advice with a pinch of salt.
Cost may vary depending on where you live.
Ask around and do the math, what will you get in return from getting paint correction supplies and the effort you put in doing it yourself, as I assume this is not the one for you on which to hone your bike restoration skills.
Besides, you may ride the bike more if it looks nice.
The 520 is a solid base, a timeless frame, and people on this forum have put more money into worse bikes, so take the advice with a pinch of salt.
