The Mortal remains of a Raleigh Grifter Mk2 in Blue

[cavboy80]

Yay, handlebars were removed complete and with little effort. Copious soaking with WD40 over the last few days worked and once in a mates vice and gentle taps with a rubber mallet it moved.
We also removed the stand, a flat headed screwdriver 'bit' was used along with the usual G clamp.
Now fully stripped the next stage is a visit to the blasters.

[4737carling]

Did you cut the foam off the bars to glue on late? is it going back to standard or custom?

[cavboy80]

Foam pad was missing when i bought the bike. The plan WAS to customise it but i'm looking at going standard.....ish. I'm putting a Mk1 set of guards on as i prefer these, and the seat will be a genuine Raleigh one but not a Grifter one.
Nice and clean is the plan.

[4737carling]

Sounds like a plan

[gingerrich76]

Looking forward to seeing it finished. When's the dead line?
Wicksteed is in early August. .. wkend of the 9th :-D

[cavboy80]

I've no deadline really, i just enjoy getting it done and working on it. Next week the frame, forks and bars are going away for blasting and the wheels and other small items are off for chroming.

[cavboy80]

Wheels have been stripped down, a Dremil and mini cutting disc was used to remove the spokes.
These have been sent off for re-chroming.



3 speed hub will be stripped out, cleaned and regreased.




Front axle stripped, this is full of solid old grease and rust




As was the bottom crank.

BEFORE.




AFTER

[4737carling]

Very nice work, its amazing how these old parts clean up.

[cavboy80]

Another package arrived today, this came from Carling and contained
brand new Grips and used but mint thimbles. Thanks mate




So back into the garage tonight for more work on cleaning and refurbing.

Front axle was cleaned, painted black and reassembled.

Before




After




New bearing were used as the originals looked some what knackered.

Old on the left, new ones on the right




I then set to with the mudguards, even though they had been blasted and painted they still had slight dings on them so out with the filler to cure that.







Then the Sturmey Archer 3 speed had some much deserved cleaning

Before




After

[Stokesy]

I love watching these transformations take shape, awesome work. Surely though, if you're going to this much effort (and wanted to keep it original) it would be worth getting a proper seat and bars with foam? Would look so much better once it's finished.

[cavboy80]

This will be improved over time, parts being added as and when they come up. I don't mind the seat it has and the same for the bars. I'm not getting overly OCD with it...........oh, perhaps i am !!

[Stokesy]

Jun 25, 2014 21:36:38 GMT cavboy80 said:

This will be improved over time, parts being added as and when they come up. I don't mind the seat it has and the same for the bars. I'm not getting overly OCD with it...........oh, perhaps i am !!

You will!!!

[4737carling]

Great work, this bikes is gona be wicked. I agree with stokesy, your be happy with it for a while but not until you get all the correct parts. The good thing is those parts are easy to fit.

[cavboy80]

Frame was collected from the blasters today







The items are ok, but had little rust pits and marks so these were filled.




Once done the items were hanged from the garage roof and primed




Next stop is the sprayers for its blue paintwork.

[4737carling]

Did you etch prime the parts before the grey primer?