Raleigh Grifter Metallic Red Mk1

[trotskiboy]

Well my intention was to get me hands in a Silver Mk2 Grifter but since I've been on here I've been bitten by the Grifter bug and decided to just get my hands on the first one I could afford
This came straight from my car and into my cellar. I believe it's s 78 but I'll know more when I get chance to go over it
Not the cleanest example by a country mile but straight enough. Foam all good, chain guard intact, spoke cover not bent and rides like a dream. But it's going to need a spit and polish similar to Stokesy's effort (I really must ask him how he got his wheels so shiny)
My wheels have a frosted rust look about them, not sure if they'll clean or if they're pitted. I'll do my best on a clean up as there's no way I've got the coin to do a proper resto. Thanks to nudge for some sound cleaning advice too!!
I'll try to upload more pix once I've got round to cleaning it

[trotskiboy]

Apologies all
Me and technology are not best friends!!!
Ive tried to upload a photo from iPhone but it keeps yelling me the file is too big
Am I doing summation wrong!!!
Once I crack it I'll put some pix on
Any advice anyone???

[gingerrich76]

Sounds gd. Pic's. Spit n polish is sometimes is alls it needs. .. sometimes a restoration is better too :-)

[gingerrich76]

Rusturation. Sorry

[nudge]

dave goin of the pic you sent me looks a nice bike that will clean up mate, just take your time and owt you want to know or need help with just ask. Great bunch of guys on here who will help you owt ;D

[trotskiboy]

How do I upload pix nudge?
I attached one pic and it clearly showed it ready to publish but then said the file was too big? It's only a pic from iPhone

[trotskiboy]

Here's that picture of my red Mk 1 I promised, bloody well hope it works this time grrrr

All in good complete working order, bit of the Raleigh spit and polish when I get chance and hopefully it should come up a treat.
NN841... 78/9

[hazchoppers]

Lovely!

[gingerrich76]

Yes a spit n polish. Oh and an original rear tyre. Great looking bike

[Supergrip]

Looks great Bud, It will come up well with a bit of work

[nudge]

looks like it will clean up nice mate ;D

[4737carling]

Stripdown, clean, polish, rebuild and fresh set of original supergrips and you have yourself a cracking Mk1. That will give you something to do over Christmas!

[trotskiboy]

Chaps..
Would it be daft to try to clean it up and re decal where the stickers have faded or scratched or should I just leave it as is??
Also, there's some obscure sticker with an American flag that some kid must have stuck on it years ago, is there anything on the market, other than peeling, (which will take me years to peel off)??
It's a stubborn sticker and there's also glue remnants from previous other peeled off stickers still left on the frame

[mike]

as discussed I would take it but would want it original
ie original decals

let me know what you want to do mate

[4737carling]

My advice (if your keeping it original) would be strip it down completely and t-cut/polish it up. Autoglym road traffic film remover will help with the stubborn sticker marks and residue but under that there's probably going to be a different shade due to sun fading on the rest of the frame. New decals on original paint wouldn't look right! Only my opinion as I'm a newbee! what do you guys think.