[Tom Ward]

I am currently cleaning up my father-in-law’s Series 1 F Frame, which is in very good condition considering it has sat unused for 49 years. The chrome has come up nicely apart from a few pitted areas especially around the front wheel rim and brakes. My real conundrum is regarding the frame. The paint has rusted through in a few areas, especially around the tops of the front forks. However, it is not terrible and definitely only cosmetic at the moment. The paint and transfers are all original (kingfisher blue), and I’m reluctant to powdercoat it unless I have to, partly as it’s all original and partly because I’m not desperate to drill out the rear suspension. Would it be a mistake to leave the rust? I do want to use the bike and don’t want to leave the rust if it’s going to worsen fast!

Any thoughts would be much appreciated, thanks!

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[Pandora]

It may be possible to have the colour of the frame scanned at a automotive paint supplier, a matching bottle of touch up paint could be mixed.

Alternatively just paint the fork crown black to match the rubber bellows, but leave the main fork legs untouched.

Those early type rear forks may need inspection for cracking, in which case they wil have to brazed and strengthened, a repaint will then be required

[Tom Ward]

Cool, thanks for your quick reply – a bit of touch up paint would be a good idea. Would you just rub the rust away before painting? Where would you expect the cracks to form? The bike is very little used (my Father in law reckons it’s probably done less than 30 miles in its time) – are they something I could look for with my inexperienced eye?

[Ian]

It can never be original again, so I’d leave the paint (un-touched up) unless the rust is really bad. You can always paint it in the future if it gets worse. Use fine wire wool, something like WD-40 and just go over the rust, it will take off the loose paint at the same time. Polish the frame with Turtle Wax (or similar) and it will make the rest of the paint look good and keep the rust at bay.

But you should check the rear pivot bolt is free – there are instructions at the top of this page, under ‘Resources, Technical Topics’ and, since the bike is apart you might as well grease the front suspension too.

[Tom Ward]

Rear pivot bolt was beautifully free, came out fine and went back in ok (with a bit of wrestling!). I tried rubbing with some wire wool, but it seems to lift off quite a bit of paint too.

[Ian]

Fine wire wool with WD40 – not some course DIY stuff used dry I hope or you will take all the paint off!

Glad the rear spindle is free. Did you grease it all up before putting it back in?

[Tom Ward]

I’ve got some fine wool, but may have been a bit stingy with the wd40… Yeah, greased it well. I was surprised it came out so easily actually, especially with it being a Kirkby frame! Thanks for all your help Ian!

[Alexander Johnston]

Came out easily and it’s a Kirkby frame!
You’ll have to tell Michael Woolf!
Probably one made at BoA and then Kirkby stamped. (Joke).
Alex

[Ian]

Were not most of the ‘production’ Moultons made at Kirkby? Given that most F-frames came from there and that Michel gets to see the worst examples of the genre, it is not overly surprising that he thinks they can be bad.

We are at the end of 30-40-45 years sitting at the back of a dank garage or damp shed now and the problems are going to be mostly from the way the bikes have been stored as much as what happened to them at birth. Also (I would guess) a lot of old bikes were abandoned when something went wrong with them. Left to be fixed later.

So old bikes (especially some of the grim tat on ebay) needs to be considered in those terms, not as near perfect examples of the genre just waiting to be unearthed! (Although some will be!)

[Alexander Johnston]

Yes, Ian, a lot will depend on how much use/misuse the bike has had and whether or not it has been looked after and regularly cleaned and serviced, rather than where it was made.
Those which have had reasonably continuous light use and regularly cleaned and serviced are likely to be in better condition than those which have long been abandoned to the garage or barn when things went wrong.

[Jack Finucan]

Odd this showed up this week. I took my AM18 to the auto parts store to match the Ferrari Red paint; Dupli-Color matched perfectly with ACC 0419 – Chrysler PR4 Poppy Red/Flame Red; barcode 02691603689. Cost $10 USD. Dupli-Color works great too.

[Author]

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