gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Owner Gallery » 1960's Gitane - New Project Goto page Previous  1, 2    View previous topic :: View next topic    Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:27 am Gtane Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 681 Location: UK PBR Streetgang wrote: Gtane wrote: *** Wire wool here and there then an oily rag wipe *** My two cents. Be careful with steel or other wool on chrome, as the chrome layer is very thin. Often, people think they have polished the chrome with steel wool, but have instead worn through to the nickel layer and lost the benefits of chrome. Best to avoid abrasives on chrome. I agree on the chrome, one does need to be careful. I was really meaning the paintwork. Thanks for raising the point. Tim _________________ Everything has a cycle   Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:31 am PBR Streetgang Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 39 Location: SF Gtane wrote: PBR Streetgang wrote: Gtane wrote: *** Wire wool here and there then an oily rag wipe *** My two cents. Be careful with steel or other wool on chrome, as the chrome layer is very thin. Often, people think they have polished the chrome with steel wool, but have instead worn through to the nickel layer and lost the benefits of chrome. Best to avoid abrasives on chrome. I agree on the chrome, one does need to be careful. I was really meaning the paintwork. Thanks for raising the point. Tim Tim: I only brought it up because many people recommend steel wool on chrome and I wanted to make sure a distinction was made. #0000 steel wool is great on a lot of other metals. Thanks -- Eric   Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:59 am greyhundguy Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 678 Location: South-Central VIRGINIA I've had excellent results on chrome with "Bronze Wool". It's not nearly as abrasive as Steel Wool. Jay _________________ Dance like nobody is watching.   Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:01 am sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California Anyone know a trick for removing old grips without damaging them? Probably too stiff for compressed air. _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:09 am PBR Streetgang Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 39 Location: SF Could you shoot a little WD-40 underneath with the little red tube?   Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:18 am greyhundguy Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 678 Location: South-Central VIRGINIA Stephan wrote: ["Anyone know a trick for removing old grips without damaging them? Probably too stiff for compressed air."] Ummm, errr, I use K-Y Ultra Gel. Seriously. I take a very thin, flat, stiff piece of metal to lift the edges and add some drops of the K-Y. Then I gently twist. You may have to do it several times. I have used this successfully to remove rubber shifter covers on Barcons and the full hoods on brake levers. It's water soluable and does not leave an oily residue. It also makes installing a breeze. Jay _________________ Dance like nobody is watching.   Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:31 am Gtane Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 681 Location: UK sandranian wrote: Anyone know a trick for removing old grips without damaging them? Probably too stiff for compressed air. Another tip - I let each grip sit in warm water for a while (resting the bike on the ground on its side, one side at a time), not hot mind! It works a treat for me. However, sometimes old grips have disintegrated on me due to their age and probable sunlight damage. Careful if the material looks to be perishing - if this is the case, I'd probably leave the grips be. Tim _________________ Everything has a cycle   Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:39 am sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California Alas, the tires have to be replaced. I ordered a set, but they aren't nearly as cool as the white ones which came with the bike. Oh well. Small price to pay. I think I figured out the date, using the decals and other stuff, but will have a full report when all is confirmed. _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:04 am Gtane Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 681 Location: UK Stephan, White tyres are available. These may well fit; Schwalbe http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/c2-1078-schwalbe-tires-fat-frank.html These are 28" and unlikely to fit but just in case and for future reference; Vredestein http://tinyurl.com/cw422f Tim _________________ Everything has a cycle   Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:29 am sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California 650b, from what I understand, is a pretty specific and difficult size tire to get a hold of. 26" won't work on them. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find them in white.... _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:37 am Gtane Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 681 Location: UK Stephan, You could try these; http://tinyurl.com/crp98z The exact ETRTO (ISO) for the tyre size 650b is 44-584 so that may rule the Schwalbes out. Tim _________________ Everything has a cycle   Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:35 am scozim Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 629 Location: Ellensburg, WA Stephan, Many of the guys in the classic and vintage section at Bike Forums use oxalic acid (wood bleach) on the rusted steel and chrome parts. I think I still have an email from a guy in Florida with before and after photos from a different brand of French bike that had some amazing results. PM me if you want me to forward the email to you. Scott _________________ 1984 Gitane Sprint 1984 Gitane Tour de France mid-1970's Gitane Olympic Plus many more http://eburgcycling.blogspot.com Evapo-Rust   Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:50 am greyhundguy Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 678 Location: South-Central VIRGINIA I finally found the Evapo-Rust that Chas. reccomended at my local Auto Zone. I had resisted mail order because of shipping. Some of the places that I thought would surely have it locally had never heard of it. It worked GREAT on rusted Chrome. Jay _________________ Dance like nobody is watching. tires   Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:25 pm Holger Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 62 Location: Germany/Stuttgart Hi, Stephan congratulations for the bike, found this tires at ebay france maybe they will fit, perhaps 600 and half means 650? Anyway, wish you all the best, Holger http://cgi.ebay.de/2-NOS-VINTAGE-WOLBER-600-A-1-2-BALLON-TIRE_W0QQitemZ150271532848QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item150271532848&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262   Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:06 pm sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California Regarding the date of the bike, here is a postcard with Elsy Jacobs, touting the fact that she held the woman's hour record, as is listed on the decal on the seat tube of my Gitane. The jersey is from the 1960 Rapha-Gitane team. _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com 1960's Gitane - New Project     gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Owner Gallery You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours   Page 2 of 2   Goto page Previous  1, 2 All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First  Select a forum Gitane USA----------------Vintage GitaneGitane RacingModern GitanePro Racing - Classics/Giro/Tour....Owner Gallery   Powered by phpBB © 2001-2004 phpBB Group Designed for Trushkin.net | Themes Database.