Hey master mechanics,
My dad has an M700 that has been sitting for about 20 years. We want to get it shiny and feeling like brand new as a fun project.
It is still in very good condition. Shifting works well. Brakes work well.
No obvious rusting or nasty bearings besides the headset. It is a little bit grindy when turning it and feels like there could be a bit of rust inside of it. Is it possible to remove the rust from parts like this?
There are quite a few chips in the paint (formula red) which I thought some sandpaper and nail polish could take care of but other suggestions would be great.
It is missing the top cap for the headset. Is it possible to get a part to replace it?
Last question is how to find a replacement chain. The 1992 catalogue says the stock one is a Shimano hyperglide. It has a 7 speed freewheel and 3 gears in the front.
Any help to get this beauty back to her former glory would be greatly appreciated.
by Psychological-Two896
3 Comments
Any 7/8 speed SRAM/Shimano/KMC chain will work fine.
Pretty sure that model/year didn’t have a traditional top cap (which would work with a starnut) but just like rubber plug. Idk. Ebay?
Headset is probably a cup and cone bearing. You could service it easily enough as long as your careful and diligent watching a relevant youtube video.
That’s a quill style stem and headset. You can loosen the stem bolt (after it is loose it might require a tap on the top with a hammer to free it from the fork tube) and then undo the headset locknut and unscrew the top bearing cup to separate the fork from the bike. Inspect the bearings. They will be loose bearings held in a metal cage. Make sure you note what direction the cage sits on the races because there is only one right way to install the bearing/bearing cage assembly. There will probably be dents on the fork crown race. That’s par for the course. It doesn’t mean the headset is unusable. You can buy replacement ball bearings in lots of places but they probably just need cleaning and new grease. During reassembly you’ll need a big wrench to hold in place the top bearing cup while you tighten the locknut against it. It can be tricky to get the right amount of compression on the bearings without binding them. I’d advise tightening the top bearing cup as tight as you can by hand then holding it in place with a wrench while you use another wrench to turn the locknut. Test and adjust until it rotates freely with no play or binding.
That’s a beautiful bike. Looks like it doesn’t need much work except for some elbow grease. A good clean of the parts, new cables, chain, brake pads, and grease the bearings, and everything should work okay.
Any shimano 7 speed chain will work. Heck, you can even run an 8 or 9 speed chain if options are limited.