Mongoose Californian Restoration

[Spen69]

ProClass wheels look awesome when done but you wouldn't want to ride them off a quarterpipe so it depends what you want to use the bike for at the end of the day. I raced on my original wheels at MK a few years ago no problem as I'd re-built them myself beforehand and had my lbs do a final tension.

You need to find someone loal to polish them as if you have to send them in the post twice to the polisher's that's going to cost you £20, new spokes another tenner, polishing probably £30? Starts looking costly unless you want to have a go yourself - Screwfix sell a bench polisher you can g-clamp to your workmate for £30 including a couple of mops, soap and a grinding wheel so you can have a go yourself and then you've got the polisher FOC. Just read Sid1972's post on wheel polishing in the tech&resto section. Re-lacing a wheel is easy if you have the correct sized spokes (again a post in the tech&resto section) and my lbs only charges a fiver a wheel for final trueing / tensioning if they're built correctly.

You then have a set of wheels you've restored yourself which is a great sense of achievment and cheap!

If you want to go the lazy route, leave them built, post them to me and I'll post you my Tuffs so I can do the work to restore them ;-)

[fmx]

Paddy
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Here it is then Paddy - it's in the for sale section now

How's your Cali doing btw?


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I sold the Cali that you saw Spen and also did another one. It was in the resto thread last year, it started off as a green m1 and ended up a white version of my chrome one. I sold that too and whilst I would love to do another one this year, lack of time and money is probably going to prevent it. I still enjoy seeing how it should be done on here and do get very tempted. See you still can't shake the old mongoose bug off hey? It's looking good

[frostey]

Thanks for the offer of the swap Spen,  the wheels are now in my car ready for a visit to my lbs tomorrow lunch time, new spokes and freewheel takin off is the plan.  I will then have a go at lacing them up myself.....what  can go wrong, as long as I don't  overtighten anything I should be ok, and it will be good to learn and say "I done that!".

Also got a padset on the way so all taking shape already!

[Spen69]

Good on you bud - I've already got one set of ProClass needing a bit more than tlc in bits anyway, so I was just being greedy!

I've just literally finished lacing up a set of NOS 31yr old very special rims indeed...... wait till they get back from my lbs at the weekend, they are just fookin' lush

Read the thread about lacing, and just build it loose to start with. best thing to do is strip one wheel down so you can copy the other with the new spokes, then strip the second and copy the one you've just built. Simples...... Also, give them a good scrub and polish them lightly if you can as they're a nightmare to clean when built

I'll post the pics of mine when they get back from the lbs for final tensioning as I still haven't mastered that black art yet

[frostey]

Well...3 bike shops tried so far, no luck with the spokes!!

have I just been unlucky or do i need to go to more of a specialist?  One did suggest they could custom cut/make them for me..is this what you guys have to do?  What sort of price should I be paying for all the spokes and nipples (just so I dont get ripped off)?

Cheers

[Spen69]

£10 to £15 per 100 spokes with nipples, more if they're a bit special.

Try Dave Stodgy at the Radshop or JTsmooth - he runs "different path" from memory, but spokes are not difficult to come by - I bought an opened packet of about 90 from my lbs a few weeks ago for change out of a tenner as I only needed 72 to lace these bad-boys up, and he charges me a fiver a wheel to do a final tension if they're built correctly




You need a better lbs bud

[frostey]

Yes they do look pretty special!