Restoring an old Murray

[W.I.P.]

I finally convinced my mother to let me take my Grandpa's old bike. I am going to fix it up and get it ridable for Kinsey (my wife). As of now, it would only need tires and tubes. HOWEVER, I want it to look good as well, so I am going to spend some time scrubbing the surface rust off of the chrome, cleaning up the paint, replacing old parts (wheels, chain, etc.), fixing the old lights, etc.

Here is a similar bike, there are only slight differences from this one. Of course mine isn't in this condition.

 

[jeepmauler]

I would recomend taking the tires with you to the bike shop........there is a good chance that those tires are type "S" ie. OLD SCHOOL with a funky bead size. It may say 26 x 1 3/4 on the sidewall...that is a fractional tire not a decimal tire as in 26 X 1.75 two TOTALLY different things....one will not work on the other no matter what the flat biller kid in the bike shop saysI would recomend Redmond Cycle...talk to Ernie or Linda(owners) they are old school and will make sure you get the right stuff.

 

[W.I.P.]

Thanks for the tip, I may end up getting a new wheel set anyway. These are repairable, but rough.

 

[jeepmauler]

If youre going to replace the wheels.....they make contemporary wheels with the retro look but in modern sizing/bead diameters.

IF it is going to be used by your wife I would recomend puting a larger size cog on the back to make it easier for her pedal that heavy thing around without killing her kness or getting frustrated.You'll get more gain by dropping teeth in the front but then you'll loose some of the "look" of the original style (with a smaller chain ring in the front).If it has a 20 tooth cog in the rear then I would at least go up to a 26......30 if it'll fit without the chain hitting inside of the chain guard.It'll require a new chain but single speed chains are cheap.

 

[W.I.P.]

Thanks man, I appriciate your help. I am just getting into this, so I have open ears.

 

[TooRisky]

Strip it and get a really nice powdercoat, easy to have the parts rechromed.

 

[W.I.P.]

The paint isn't bad, just dirty. I am going to leave it, maybe do touch ups. I will remove the light and rebuild it, get rid of the rust on the light, fenders, etc. But thats about it besides replacing things like handlebars and other components.

 

[W.I.P.]

Here it is.

 

[zuk_off]

vinegar!

soak the bars and crank and fenders and any other chrome part in a big tub of vinegar for 24 or so hours!
I did this on my brothers 81 mongoose that had been sitting outside for the last 20 years or so and the rust pretty much wiped off, it took 6 gallons of vintager but it was way easer then tiring to polish all the rust off

 

[W.I.P.]

Hmm, sounds good. I will try it and see how it goes.

 

[zuk_off]

the rust will pretty much wipe off, then light polish and you are golden

 

[W.I.P.]

I picked up 6 gallons for $16 at Cash n' carry. I am soaking the handlebars now. Good news, I put air in the tubes and they are holding. I had the wife ride it around a bit, she thinks the brakes are bad. It was awesome to get on this bike after it sat for over 20 years. I went through all the memories of riding down my grandpas alley on it.

 

[zuk_off]

I am right with yea, I am rebuilding my 83 gt bmx and my brother is doing his 81 mongoose. both our wifes think we are nuts.
I have bought many cars over the years but none have made me as excited as Christmas morning when I saw that bmx bike under the tree, it really was my first taste of freedom...I can't wait to get it back together, the first thing I am going to do is take it to my mom's and ride it around the block!