Top tips for a trouble free build!

[ED209]

I'm looking for your tips and tricks for a trouble free 'build' 

Not built a bike from scratch since the early 90's so any advice on the joys and frustrations of a build will be much appreciated.

( one of my questions would be 'whats the best grease to use these days' )

Cheers then

[meticulous]

most new school stuff is sealed so you needent worry about grease, but if you do need to grease your bearings then any multi-purpose grease from you local car shop, no grease in the world is going to make you pedal faster...   

[brummie]

most new school stuff is sealed so you needent worry about grease, but if you do need to grease your bearings then any multi-purpose grease from you local car shop, no grease in the world is going to make you pedal faster...   

aint you heard of grease lightnin dude

[bobafett]

Tools, tools, tools.........

without the right tools you'll struggle like fook 

[sweetbeats]

I don't think any build will be completely trouble free Ed...s'pose that's part of the fun...best of luck with it  

[telelogic]

Copper slip & tri-flow

[meticulous]

vaseline...  and if you have any left over theres a few on here that will have other uses for it...

[sweetbeats]

I'm a Lard Man Me 

[bmxbob]

Elbow 

[brummie]

Tools, tools, tools.........

without the right tools you'll struggle like fook 

what tools do you suggest dude.

[sid1972]

if you don't swear, it your thumb and draw blood several times - it's got to be a shxt build! The more rust and stuck seat posts the better I say! Attempt everything yourselve at least twice, and try and save as much as possible.

some people like clean, clinical, NOS builds, I pefer as much survivor as possible because it adds character in my opinion.

You also get more of a buzz seeing the finished product in the end.

[bmxbob]

Tools, tools, tools.........

without the right tools you'll struggle like fook 

what tools do you suggest dude.

My toolbox consists of a hammer, a large adjustable spanner and a bigger hammer 

[bmxbob]

Survivor all the way dude 

[dannywhiteley]

Built an Aero Reflex from scratch with my brother at the weekend in approx 2 hours.

Everything laid out nice and clean, frame, forks, headset, bars, brakeset, grips, stem, wheels, tyres, BB, crank, chainring. pedals, chain, seat clamp, seap post and seat (forgot anything?)...

Only tools were one adjustable spanner, philips screwdriver, pair of mole grips, hammer, couple of allen bolts and hex screwdriver.  Tube of grease, can of WD, four hands, 2 heads, jobs a good un.

p.s. a chain link removal tool is a god send.  The hours and fingers I wasted as a kid trying to knock the chain pins out with a hammer and nail...lol

[ED209]

yo - thanks everyone already for the replys - tools are slowly being collected - need a bb spanner to get the chainwheel side of the bb tightened up as  got this semi sealed Tange bb and the spanner needs to be crazily slim. My dad NEVER had any decent tools, especially for cutting brake cables - jamming frayed cable wire down your nails is no fun.

The pure 'survivor' option had to be skipped at the f&f were too rustyl and the Ni-bronze finish was just gone.



I'm trying to keep it to the original parts were possible ( if its not bent or broken ), get NOS stuff to match the original and restore it to its 80s splendor ( see picture - thats my brother-in-law with the backs bar press steez )



Looking to get it done for my birthday at the start of November so I can go and hit some park as I hit 38!

[Peter J]

Speak to Steve (Firebird) he'll be a good point of contact for your Firebird resto 

And he's a fantastic chap as well

[sid1972]

well smart, nice bike  

what you done about the frame then keep us posted with pics please mate (its like porn on here -   ).

[bobafett]

Tools, tools, tools.........
without the right tools you'll struggle like fook 

what tools do you suggest dude.

Decent set of alan keys
Decent set of spanners
Decent adjustable spanner
Chain link removal tool
Screwdrivers (philips head & flat head)
Tyre levers
Mole-grips can come in handy sometimes
Cable ties + washing up liquid for removing grips
Homemade bearing cup press (10mm threaded bar, plates, washers, nuts)
Hammer n block of timber (sometimes ! )

Think that about does it 

As for grease I use "Finish Line" teflon grease available from Halfords 

[ED209]

Oh yes - Firebird Steve and Steve Costa were contacted very early on - Firebird Steve is trying to get a restraining order on me now as I keep buggin him for help... I so nearly nearly NEARLY brought his DP Ladder bars ... but it could have been a divorce job  so had to let them pass... then predictably today the f*kin dishwasher has died. 

Theres a thread from a month back that shows the picts and the story behind the bike 'DP Ltd. Ed. GL Plus Firebird ...25 years in the basement...' on page 7 - trying to get a finish like the original but on a budget. Not sure what to do yet if I cant get it bronzy - needs to be special somehow - can't just go white or another trad. DP colour - thats like painting a Zebra brown 

Just trying to polish the frame up right now - time and rust have taken their toll.

[brummie]

Tools, tools, tools.........
without the right tools you'll struggle like fook 

what tools do you suggest dude.

Decent set of alan keys
Decent set of spanners
Decent adjustable spanner
Chain link removal tool
Screwdrivers (philips head & flat head)
Tyre levers
Mole-grips can come in handy sometimes
Cable ties + washing up liquid for removing grips
Homemade bearing cup press (10mm threaded bar, plates, washers, nuts)
Hammer n block of timber (sometimes ! )

Think that about does it 

As for grease I use "Finish Line" teflon grease available from Halfords 

cheers 

[spesh]

some nice sharp cable cutters are a must and secondly a decent chain splitter tool and some cone spanners
as well as the usual tools