Restoring 7Xs the difficult way

[Clean]

So, guys,

I am (semi) restoring a pair of Black 7xs (with High Flange Sunshines). 

I am not breaking down to component parts and relacing beacause I don't know how, and want this work to be all my own. 

I have done the following:

1. Stripped the axles, cones, bearings etc. and soaked everything in White Spirit, cleaned off to a sparkle and stashed for re-assembly 

2. Removed the Freewheel for a good cleanup (anyway to open these fookers up to get at the bearings and regrease, reassemble?) 

3. Cleaned the rims, spokes and hubs with Star Drops and dried 

4. Recleaned with Fairy and dried 

5. Wire wooled the spokes 

6. Wet and dry-ed the Spokes 

7. Wet and dry-ed the Rims 

8. Peek-ed the whole lot to a nice shine (takes fooking ages as complete wheels for obvious and painful reasons) 

They actually look pretty good compared to the not-cleaned-in-25-years state they arrived in   

So, what have I missed, what else could / should I do? 

Any insider tips? 

And any tips on how to shiny side the buggers without a polishing wheel? 

I am really happy with what I have achieved on my first wheel-job, but I am relishing the experience and do not wish to short cut more than I already have! 

HELP! 

All input gratefully received. 

Thanks,

Clean.

[Jaymz]

sounds like we be needing some pics

I polished the sides of my rims without a polishing wheel

1. turn bike up side down without wheels on

2. Put an old tyre on the rim

3. put rim in front forks and tighten up

4. get battery drill [pref with a plastic coated chuck]

5. put chuck against old tyre and spin the wheel

5. hold 1200 wet and dry to sides and begin to get the bad marks out

6. change to a cloth with peek or auto sol on to finish off

7. repeat with second wheel

It takes a bit of wrangling to work out how to hold the drill against the tyre and get the right angle on the rimm, but you'll work it out im sure, it works a treat as all you are doing is holding a drill and some wet and dry, the wheels doing all the work

[1mancity2]

As J says bud   btw Paul tells me parts ready FRIDAY!!!!!

[Clean]

Jaymz,

Genius!  

They say the laziest people find the smartest ways of doing things........  

Does it not work by using the rear assembly and driving the pedals? Or do you achieve a much higher RPM your way?

Good work fella; you may have found the missing link for me!  

[Clean]

As J says bud   btw Paul tells me parts ready FRIDAY!!!!!

Please ask Paul to mail me the damage along with his PayPal addy and I will pay my dues!

Thanks! 

[Jaymz]

way too much effort to turn the pedals fella, use the drill!!!

[1mancity2]

I'll sort it bud then u pay me 

[Glynnyboy]

Sounds like you need autosol rather than peek.
Peek has no abrasive and is great to use on already half decent  or good chrome but that's about it.
Nearly every other job requires the mildly abrasive properties of autosol.
I find on jobs like this peek leaves you feeling as though your peeing in the wind a bit.

[Spen69]

Or just bring them to mine next time and you can use Hootski's polishing wheel that still sat in my garage

Next set you do, go buy the right amount of correct length spokes and strip one down completely and clean it. Then re-lace it copying the other one until you get it right. Repeat the process so they're both done then take them to your lbs and he can final tension them for you. I'll show you how easy it is when you're next in my garage as I've got a set of 7X's that need lacing up. Final tensioning on the other hand is a different story and I haven't managed to learn that little trick yet, but a fiver a wheel at my lbs, why would I need to worry about it

Spen

[john4130]

you can unscrew the back of a freewheel and dismantle it but be careful. make sure you hold it flat as you take the back off as bearings will fall out all over the place. i use a magnet to lift the bearings out and place them in a photo cannister tub. if the freewheel has a bit of side to side play in it before you strip it you can probably remove a couple of the large thin washers in there to help stop it when you rebuild it. don't use too much grease when rebuilding, just a small amount round the edge where the bearings sit, just enough to stick the bearings to so they dont fall out. count the bearings before you rebuild it and put an equal amount in each side. dont blame me when you lose half the bearings opening it up tho. 

[Spen69]

Or buy a Suntour and a freewheel remover tool for it once you've hammered the old one off!

Bearings everywhere dot com!

;-)

[bobafett]