[hallin222]

Just like the title says, I scored a free early 1990-something Trek 800 (lucky it was my size) and spent the past hour stripping it down to just frame, fork, cranks, stem and bars. Although it looks VERY rough, as though someone left it out in the Texas sun and rain for the last decade, I'm thinking that this might be my first simglespeed project, and I could use a little guidance. I've read the FAQ's, but several of the links on 'how-to' don't seem to be working.

Will I need a gear puller of some kind to remove the old square taper cranks? I'd like to see if I can remove the big and little chainrings and use the existing middle one. I figure that I'm going to need a cheap tensioner (stock derailuer is half rusted solid, like the chain and cassette were), a new chain, and new cables all around. This could be pretty cheap.

I've got a handful of the simple stuff like new rubber, grips, and seat, but would appreciate any advise you veterans would like to share during my first build.

Thanks, folks.

Ian

*EDIT* From my research, my best guess is that this is a 1990 model in Black w/ Bright Blue lettering & numbering. I'll try to get some pics of the progress up soon.

http://www.vintage-trek.com/images/trek/90Trek/90Trek.pdf

 

[TroutBum]

That's funny, I'm doing the same.

By fluke luck, I am once again the owner of my first psuedo mtb... a Trek Antelope 800. By psuedo, I mean that the original bike was tagged as a hybrid and not necessarily intended for much abuse. Mine will be soley a townie/bar bike SS on the cheap via a tensioner & upgrade used bits since original stock was toast. 32:18 looks to work well sans tensioner but will be small for around town.

You will need a crank puller if you plan to do it yourself. The stock crankset on mine did not have removeable rings and will be updated with a better bb & stiffer cranks.

Have fun & post some pics!

 

[hallin222]

Will do. You be sure to do the same. I may need a few images to get ideas from. I've already bookmarked the "Old Treks Don't Die" thread seen here:

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=1616019#poststop

Cool stuff.

 

[XC Dawg]

Old Treks really never die, I've got a few in my garage to prove this:thumbsup:

 

[hallin222]

Old Treks really never die, I've got a few in my garage to prove this:thumbsup:

Prove it! Lets see some pics of the old girls.

I think I'm gonna try out one of those cheap Nashbar Single Speed Kits. They're on sale for like $20 right now and come with tensioner, lots of cog spacers and three different gears. You can't beat that. I'm also going to pick up a old school blue anodized bash ring to replace the big ring. That will go nicely on a 1990 bike with matching blue lettering over black paint. Mabye a few other anodized bits will find their way onto it later too.:thumbsup:

 

[hallin222]

Well, my first build attempt started to resemble a bike again last night as I got he Nashbar SS kit installed along with a a new SRAM PC-1 chain. I'm still using the full riveted front chainrings until I can find some cheap 3-piece units that I can tear apart. Hopefully some with 180 crank arms.

No brakes yet, but I still rode it around the yard a little bit with its (for now) 38x16 gears. I'll want to drop it down for the trails, for sure. The TT of this bike feels shorter than that on my 930, so I'm thinking about some moustache bars to give me the lower and longer reach that I'm looking for.

This this was ROUGH when it came home (crumbling dry-rotted tires, seatposted rusted in frame, wheels well out of true, etc) so it feels good to have it rolling again and not looking too bad doing it. My wife was amazed by the transformation.

My self-imposed budget of $50 is all but spent, so from here on out I'll really have to dig to find deals or trades for the stuff I need/want.

Pics to come soon. This stuff is just too fun.

 

[alexb618]

got to love the mega budget builds

i am in the midst of a sub $50 SS (roadie) build so i understand your excitement

post pics

 

[hallin222]

Testing photo attachments.

Note that I know that funny upright stem has got to go, and I'd like to swap out the crappy cranks. I just wanted to get it rolling. Anyone got some parts they're willing to part with cheap? I'd like to go with some V-brakes too instead of re-installing the stock cantis. That front wheel and tire is borrowed from another bike, but I have one for this too, just need a tube and tire without a split in the sidewall like my second IRC Mythos XC 2.10 had it in. Bummer, the ghetto bike alomst had a matching set of rubber.

 

[Imagemaker]

Hey they make great SS.

Converted a 820 a couple of months ago and just love it.

I did it in stages like you are doing, up grading this part then that part till I am where I am now. Only thing original left at this time is the frame, fork and skewers.

No real bling just good parts.

The Surly singlator has worked very well.... but I have come in possion of a ENO hub that is just begging to get in on the deal.... Will this ever end? Not

Rick

 

[SanAnMan]

File the dropouts

Mine was free too. I rescued it from a dorm demolition project back in 2003 as the excavators were in route to destroy it. Since it was free, I had no problem filing the dropouts. I took my time with the file; it turned out I only had to file 1/8" in the direction of the BB to get 32x16 to fit perfect with no tensioner. It was a great bike. I bought a custom SS frame in 2005 so I sold it; I regret that day.

 

[hallin222]

Nice work, SanAnMan. I love that color. It looks a lot like my 1993 930 (that I've owned since new!) that has become my neighborhood bike. You guys are keeping me motivated, even if my budget is slowly slipping away. But, I'm not doing this to make money, just to (hopefully) gain the satisfaction of a job well done.

This is my first attempt at any kind of build and I'm still lacking many tools, but I acquired a crank puller this weekend along with some other bits like thin metric wrenches, etc. Upon my attempts to clean and re-grease the existing bottom bracket, I found that it was completely shot. Luckily, one of the guys at my super cool LBS is going to hook me up with one of his own personal ones. See thread in the 'Vintage, Retro, Classic' forum here:

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=207746

Hopefully I can score some new-ish 3-piece cranks while I'm there tomorrow.

 

[hallin222]

****magic Trick****

I made those shifter pods DISAPPEAR! I don't think they look too bad for some donated parts (thanks, bikerboy) that I made work with just a few minutes on a band saw and a flat file. I'm sure it's been done many times before, but I thought I'd share some pics. Should I bother to paint them or anything? Form the top, you'd never know.