Japanese randonneur - refreshed!

[ghettro]

Hey guys, after seeing all the great vintage projects from this forum I decided to do my own, I picked up a beat up old roadie - what attracted me to it initially was the nice lugwork, Shimano 600 and the cool Weinmann levers. The serial number indicates it's a '78, it came with 27" rims on big flange shimano hubs, centerpulls and no top tube cable stops or bottle cage braze ons. Plans are to strip and powdercoat the frame in gloss black, convert to 700c, polish it all up, add fenders & racks for a retro commuting/cruising bike.

Here's what it looked like when I got it.

[ghettro]

After many nights cleaning and polishing bits, I took some pics:
The hubs date to 77/78 according to their date codes

[pvb123]

Ghettro.... Those parts look awesome! How did you clean them up?

[Lark2004]

HAPPY NOW?

[ghettro]

Thanks pvb123. Steel wool, 400 grit, 800 grit, 1200 grit then polish.
My right hand cramped up after a few hours

Lark, I've been looking at yours for a little while for inspiration. I actually have two whole wheelsets, with three Ukai 27" rims and an odd Araya. I'll probably get a replacement for the Sugino Maxys as the inner ring is slipping. Also I just bought a 7 speed freewheel today, appears to fit with some minor rear axle spacing adjustment. it almost looks like our bikes were split at birth, the colour looks almost identical? I actually thought the Shimano 600 was original when I got it, having not known anything about Apollos prior to that - I guess I just got lucky

[ValleyForge]

Can we have progress shots with the retro kitchen still in the background!

You must have a great domestic relationship to have your workbench in the kitchen!

[MountGower]

I'm sorry to interupt, but I keep seeing pics of Andrew's Apollo III everywhere and I just can't take it any more. Dude, please even up the gaps between those top tube cable clamps. I haven't slept properly for weeks.

Please continue.

[bowie]

Well Done on the polish work. The Hubs look beautiful!

[rustychisel]

I'm sorry to interupt, but I keep seeing pics of Andrew's Apollo III everywhere and I just can't take it any more. Dude, please even up the gaps between those top tube cable clamps. I haven't slept properly for weeks.

Please continue.

seconded, and move them toward the ends a bit.

[MountGower]

HAPPY NOW?

Jokes man. Everything's cooool.

[munga]

c'mere, you need a hug mate.

ghettro, nice work. which camera are you using?

[drubie]

Can we have progress shots with the retro kitchen still in the background!

You must have a great domestic relationship to have your workbench in the kitchen!

Meh. Take out the garbage and sweep the floor first - you don't want crumbs and flour all over your polished up bike

[ghettro]

Heh, it's actually the old kitchen which is now our laundry, so the flatmates don't mind too much Just need to build the wheels and coat the frame then it's almost done

[ghettro]

Update:
Checked out the realignment of the rear dropouts and the spacing, using the sheldon brown technique I nudged it a smidge back into alignment. The fork appeared to be fine. I managed to find a 7 speed 13-24 freewheel, shifted the rear axle spacing and it fits sweet Now I just have to strip the frame back, and build some wheels

[kukamunga]

Had an identical red Apollo III SS conversion come into the shop today

Must've been a few of these around, as I had one of these frames (unfortunately cracked).....

[ghettro]

that looks ouch!

munga: I am using a Nikon D80 with SB-600 flash in wireless mode bouncing off the ceiling for all these pics. The shots of the parts was done underneath my white coloured desk, with the flash bouncing off it.

[ghettro]

ok, back from the powdercoaters. Gloss black, quite happy with the results, it isn't as smooth a finish as if I had used filler and 2pac'd it but for $66 who can complain? I was hoping to have it ready for a test run this weekend, but the BB threads are mucked up, I suspect they sandblasted a tiny bit of the area and also there was a bit of paint going in there - I tried to install the BB but the cups kept on going in crooked and the threads were really tight. Was perfectly fine before paint. It'll probably need to be tapped and refaced

[ValleyForge]

Looks far too good for cruising. Well pimp'd out for 1978!

All that you need now is some rubber & and some really retro Addidas trainers.

[hartleymartin]

Gotta love the lining around the lugs.

[mattybarb]

Nice work!

you gotta put up the final completed pics tho!


mattyb

[bowie]

Yes Lovely looking bike

[ghettro]

thanks! Yep I did the striping around the lugs myself, paint brush and some model paint. Just got the BB refaced and chased, stupid me I threaded the BB cups the wrong way round and managed to cross thread it. Thanks to the guys at Clarence st it hopefully should be up and running very shortly!

I was really worried I had completely farked the BB and would miss being able to ride it in the tweed run. However things are looking good for sunday

[specallez]

Looks good. I'm in the middle of a rebuild myself and just cannot get a decent paint job out of rattle cans that I'd be happy with. I'm in Newtown myself, whereabouts did you get the Powdercoating done?

[jonbays]

Looks great i love the black and gold lug lining too which is a nice combination.