Rehabbing an old or discarded bike is a doable project that can change an old rusted bike into a beautiful antique. To save money, try to refurbish the stock bike components as opposed to replacing them entirely. You can remove rust from the chrome and steel components using a piece of steel wool. Make sure the old frame can support your body weight before beginning with the rehab.
Step 1
Align the seat post of the old bike into the clamp of a repair stand. Lower the handle of the clamp to fasten the bike in place. Loosen the wheel's axle bolts using a socket wrench.
Step 2
Remove the wheels from the front and rear dropouts. Untwist the caps from the tire valves. Depress the air valve stem with your thumb to deflate the tires.
Step 3
Insert the flat edge of a tire lever under the bead of the tire. Push the lever around the circumference of the tire to loosen the bead. Pull the old tires away from the rims.
Step 4
Apply the oil onto the rusted areas of the rim. Rub the chunk of steel wool over the oil to scrape away the rust. Remove any extra oil and debris using a clean cloth.
Step 5
Repeat the rust-removal and cleaning process on the bike frame. Remove the tubes from the hollow body of the tires. Inflate the tubes with a bike pump to ensure they don't have holes or lacerations.
Step 6
Replace the old tubes if the rubber has turned brittle. Replace the tires if the tread has worn down or features flat spots. Loosen the seat post clamp using an Allen wrench.
Step 7
Pull the seat post out of the bike frame. Remove any rust from the seat post using the steel wool. Wrap a new leather seat cover over the old saddle.
Step 8
Squeeze bike grease onto the newly cleaned seat post. Insert the seat post back into the frame. Tighten the seat post clamp using the Allen wrench.
Step 9
Remove the old handlebar grips using a utility knife. Clean rust from the handlebars using the steel wool. Insert the new grips onto the opposing sides of the handlebars.
Step 10
Remove dirt or debris from the old chain using the cotton cloth. Rotate the pedals to clean around the chain's circumference. Lubricate the chain using the chain oil.
Things You'll Need
- Bike repair stand
- Socket wrench
- Tire lever
- Light bike oil
- Steel wool
- Cotton cloth
- Tubes
- Tires
- Allen wrench
- Bike grease
- Utility knife
- Handlebar grips
- Chain oil
Member Comments