I picked this up as a commuter, stripped it of all the parts I want to certainly get rid of and gave it a rather rough clean.
My Question for you is: Do you have any ideas what to do with it? Should I make it single speed since the drive train is really dirty and doesn’t move properly. I’m not sure if it will after cleaning.
I’m a complete beginner so I’m thankful for every idea/tip!
by Skillipp
4 Comments
Given its age, it might be a good idea to just replace the chain as a start. (Although the sensible thing would be to remove it, soak it in cleaner for 24 hours, clear out the cogs on the back, and reinstall.) That’ll give you a sense of how it shifts; if there are still issues, I’d hunt up a used Shimano 6-speed deraillleur rather than converting to single-speed. Also, replace your tires, tubes, and brake pads. Although some of this will be challenging for a brand-new mechanic, it’s also a (wonderful, pleasurable) learning experience! Learning this stuff is so much easier in the age of YouTube, btw.
Gears look fine, don’t rip them off just because they’re a little dirty. Scrub the drivetrain down and then lightly lube the chain.
https://youtu.be/UkZxPIZ1ngY?si=WdpSa1MP20_jp-pB
Then watch this to get it shifting properly and you’ll be all set
This bike is super cool
In case you were not familiar, the shifter uses a wire, not a cable. This system was called Positron, it was an early attempt at indexing. If you ever meed to replace the shifter, wire, or derailleur, you will be better off replacing all the parts with newer 6/7 speed components, the PPS equipment is hard to source today
https://www.shimano.com/en/100th/history/products/16.php