[footfootfoot]

Case,
Here's the deal. I deduced from the title of your jpeg that this is a Hiawatha, I couldn't read the chain guard. A quick search told me that this is probably a 60's vintage bike and really sharp. I will assume that you intend to repair as much of this as possible your own self.

If you want to do a "museum restoration" That entails cleaning up everything as much as possible w/o getting into repainting or rechroming and keeping parts as close to "stock" as possible. IMO, this is the way to go, don't rice up a great bike like this.

Your tool kit:
Rags, lots and lots, and then some more. The best ones are the kind that the gas station guys have. Find out when the UFirst guy makes his delivery and be waiting with a big "help me" smile. Tell him you are restoring a vintage bike and need several dozen rags and ask him to sell you a pile of rejects for one time use. He will probably hook you up the following week. I used to buy used bar mops they called "virgin one wipes". Ask him what he can do, you'll use a ton of rags and they are really cheap in the long run.

Don't bother with paper towels. They'll cost you ten times what a pile of rags will.

Formula 409 or simple green.
CitraSolv or similar concentrated orange degreaser. Citrasolv is the best degreaser you can get is is relatively green. Get a quart or it, your life will never be the same afterwards. Healthfood stores and coops carry it and some more enlightened hardware stores do too. Do not buy any of this shit at a bike shop unless you really want to "spread the wealth"

Neverdull
0000 steel wool (hardware store)
Happich Simichrome (online, hardware, or auto store)
Maroon scotchbrite pad (auto store)
WD-40 at least a 12 oz can (anywhere)
SuperLube (good hardware store, auto?)
Nitrile gloves lots of pairs and/or
Lemon GoJo hand cleaner (this is the best hand cleaner ever)
Rubbing compound (auto)
Polishing compound (auto)
Car wax (auto)
PhilWood grease or similar (bike shop)
"Anybody's Bike Book" by Tom Cuthbertson. Try to find an old copy because I doubt the new one has any info about a bike like yours. Make friends with hippies at your local coop and invite yourself over to dinner, then ask to use the bathroom and while you are ostensibly peeing, search their bookshelves and borrow it.

You will also need some tools. Thses are outlinde in detail in the book but let's see what I remember.


First, you want to clean any dirt off. Dirt as in mud, clay, earth. Not old grease and grime. Use a scrub brush, 409, and water. A garden hose on full blast is great.

If you plan on keeping that Messinger Saddle you might want to hit it with softsrcub to bleach out the mildew stains, otherwise you'll chuck it and shop for a vintage looking or modern, hinder friendly gel type saddle. Mileage will dictate your needs.

Now that it is all clean, grab your WD-40 and start hosing everything down that isn't rubber. Don't worry too much abou the rubber, you'll prolly want to replace the tires...

Spoke nipples, any nuts and bolts, the stem, the seatpost. EVerything gets a good dousing with WD-40.

With your oooo steel wool, give any rusted chrome a good scrub. If you have stuff that won't come off easily with the steel wool, use the scotchbrite pad, add WD as needed. Keep wiping with rags to see your progess. Do Not do this on painted areas unless you plan on repainting.

If you are not going to rebuild the wheels clean every spoke and every nipple with steel wool, the rims as well.

If you have a bike stand this is a lot easier. Get all the rusted chrome first, before you start taking the bike apart.

Rust through paint requires a very light touch or you will remove paint. Use the steel wool gently, or try the simichrome on a rag first.
Start taking the bike apart and take pictures as you do so. Take them against a plain backdrop like a clean drop cloth so you can see. Take close ups too.


More later