1995 GT Fueler

[Hellchops]

Hey guys

New to the forum, looking forward to getting involved! Here's my latest project, a '95 GT Fueler that I picked up in London on Saturday morning.




Dropouts are tidy!




USA made  



That's how it was when I picked it up. Plans are fairly simple: strip, clean and rebuild with some upgraded and standard spec parts:
Replace brakes with Dia Compe cantis.
Have extensions welded to the bars (they've been trimmed +- 1/2" each side
New (used) GT grips
GT 3pc USA (Profile) made 3pc cranks
GT 43 tooth CNC chain ring
GT Drop nose saddle
GT AA Pro tyres
GT Mohawk hubs - Ordered 2 April '13
GT DX style platform pedals
Fueler pad set (if I can find a pair, not hell bent on finding them though... would just be a nice optional add on)
New KMC chain

I'm in no rush, the plan is to have it done for MK13, but I'm fairly impatient... so it will more than likely be done sooner, provided I can source the right bits. I remember when I just started out racing, one of the local elite racers had one of these. He was the last one of two elite racing on flats, he also raced in jeans and out jumped all the other kooks! He also shredded his Fueler at the trails and skatepark. He is the inspiration behind this build, he kicked ass!



Here we go....

[GavinDavis]

Lovely looking bike mate 

[thecaptain]

looking awesome, even have the pretty rare 4 slot primo tenderizer pedals 

[Hellchops]

looking awesome, even have the pretty rare 4 slot primo tenderizer pedals 

Cheers! Yeah, the pedals are pretty cool. But sadly they're not 9/16", so they'll have to go.

[kev-s]

cool, i do love a fueler

you dont see many usa made ones and yours looks clean

good luck with the padset, ive been keeping a eye out for 3 years with no luck

here's mine

[GavinDavis]

Thats a beauty Kev! 

[pkripster]

I sold my one to some scots lad on here

[midschooljon]

Looking forward to seeing this come together. 

[Hellchops]

@ Kev - That looks great mate!

Right, I've ordered some of those 48h Super 7Xs from CRC, should arrive tomorrow or Thursday.
I also just ordered some 36h 10mm high flange Mohawk hubs off BMX Museum. I was originally after just the 48h hubs to rebuild the stock Rigida rims. But I'm a sucker for chrome, and when I saw the link to the CRC page, I jumped on a set. But 48h Mohawks are proving a little scarce in the sealed/high flange/10mm option. So I've ordered the 36s for now. I'll probably source 36h rims and shift the 48h 7Xs on. I actually would have built them as 36s myself in the 90s.

Oxalic acid crystals are also en route... bath time soon for the frame, forks and bars!

I'm also busy with arranging delivery on a Drop Nose Padded seat!

[CD17]

There was one of these on ebay last week, I was very tempted as I had one in the 90s 

Your's Looks good, these are nice bikes, the one on ebay didn't sell I might contact the seller 

[midschooljon]

There was one of these on ebay last week, I was very tempted as I had one in the 90s 

Your's Looks good, these are nice bikes, the one on ebay didn't sell I might contact the seller 

I think you would find that the seller no longer has the bike. 

[neil]

There was one of these on ebay last week, I was very tempted as I had one in the 90s 

Your's Looks good, these are nice bikes, the one on ebay didn't sell I might contact the seller 

I think you would find that the seller no longer has the bike. 

Jesus you've gotta be quick now!

Nice looking bikes these 

[Hellchops]

There was one of these on ebay last week, I was very tempted as I had one in the 90s 

Your's Looks good, these are nice bikes, the one on ebay didn't sell I might contact the seller 

I think you would find that the seller no longer has the bike. 

 

[kev-s]

@ Kev - That looks great mate!

cheers its a replica of the one i had back in 94

There was one of these on ebay last week, I was very tempted as I had one in the 90s 

Your's Looks good, these are nice bikes, the one on ebay didn't sell I might contact the seller 

the one that was on ebay is the one hellchops collected on saturday

[fischflo]

yup!

..Oxalic acid crystals are also en route... bath time soon for the frame, forks and bars! ..

.... got the decals sorted  ..?

[CD17]

@ Kev - That looks great mate!

cheers its a replica of the one i had back in 94

There was one of these on ebay last week, I was very tempted as I had one in the 90s 

Your's Looks good, these are nice bikes, the one on ebay didn't sell I might contact the seller 

the one that was on ebay is the one hellchops collected on saturday

Yeah thanks I worked that out 

Was a good price too 

[Hellchops]

yup!

..Oxalic acid crystals are also en route... bath time soon for the frame, forks and bars! ..

.... got the decals sorted  ..?

I chatted to midschooljon and he says the oxalic acid bath doesn't ruin the decals. My decals are not mint, but they're tidy enough to keep.

[fischflo]

  If anything else goes wrong, Jaymz might still be able to reconstruct them, I think.  So keep the charred decals   

[midschooljon]

If anything else goes wrong, Jaymz might still be able to reconstruct them, I think.  So keep the charred decals   

OA will not eat decals. Ive done loads of frames and never had any issues. Its a chemical reaction with the oxidised metal that causes the "acid" to break down the rust. It does not react with plastic or ink and as such has no effect on them. 

[fischflo]

Cool .

Hellchops, it's safe, you can carry on now 

[Hellchops]

Some progress today...

Stripped her down for a clean and oxalic acid bath.






The bars probably have the worst of the rust, looking forward to seeing the outcome.


Forks aren't too bad.

I have also ordered a drop nose padded seat and a 43t polished GT Overdrive chain ring. Both from BMX Museum.

[midschooljon]

Looking forward to see how it turns out. Frame and forks should come out like new.

[GavinDavis]

Yeah that should turn out pretty mint judging by the existing rust 

[Hellchops]

Bath time is over! Most of the rust is off, but there's still some where it was thick. Also, there is pitting left in certain areas. I expected this so I'm not disappointed. For a survivor build, I am quite pleased with today's result. I'm starting to get a feel for the cleaned up finish 

[midschooljon]

Get some polish on it and it will take out most of that left over stuff. Most guys on here use Peek polish but any metal polish will do. I just use the Auto Glym metal polish you get at Halfords.