Comments on: Bianchi Teardown: Phase 1

By: jim mccoin

jim mccoin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:06:55 +0000

Oh yeah, VAR also makes a tool that will work and probably easier to find.

Jim

By: Bret

Bret — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:23:42 +0000

Jim, thanks for the followup information about the headset. I’ll hunt down the tool for the headset before I even delve into that portion of the bike.

By: Bret

Bret — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:19:34 +0000

Mark, wow, those are some truly beautiful bikes you have there and seeing how you’ve treated areas where the paint is stripped or chrome is pitted is inspiring. I plan on doing the same if I can. Thanks for the link and the information!

By: Mark Stevens

Mark Stevens — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:33:59 +0000

Good luck with this one Bret. Do bear in mind it is only original once and that a lot of people, me included, love to see these old bikes looking just that. Old. See mine here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/makfreak/collections/72157621655471703/
It doesnt look too bad to me. Clean it up and ride it with its old suite of bits, not polished just cleaned and functional. The rust under the b/b shell is superficial. Live with it. just oily rag the bike now and then after protecting the decals with lacquer. it is often more interesting to guess at a decal from its remains than a have a repro.
If I have the attention of other Bianchi-istas I have 2 Paris roubaix frames from c 1951-2 but neither have forks! I NEED forks! Any suggestions?

By: jim mccoin

jim mccoin — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:48:16 +0000

Do not use vise grip pliars to remove the head set, there is a very rare campl wrench for that job, the BB is standard campy and not an issue.

Once you get the hrad set off you can have the bearing races re-finished and re chromed. If you do find a new head set there are several stack heights and inside diameters. The sterer tubes have been known to crack so that is sometjing to check. The sterer tubes normaly had a wooden dowl inserted to give you a slight bit of security when the tube broke

The head sets come in a couple different qualitys, some for cheap street bikes to the Specialissima and Team Bike quality, something else to be aware of

Jim

By: Bret

Bret — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:13:14 +0000

Jim, thanks for the info and advice — I’m going to wait until I get the BB off to make any major decisions, regarding having it repainted. Also thanks for the tips on the parts.

Greg, yeah, the consensus from the CR list seems to be that the three decals in question were from the originating bike shop. The lore of this bike is that the original owner was working in a bike shop and a sales rep came in and asked if they were interested in buying this bike. The owner bought it for himself and made a few changes to it (one being the pump peg that is very rusted now). I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the info about the tools… sadly, I would have probably attempted to remove both parts with standard tools. Now I will seek out the proper tools before even trying. Hoping the BB and headset are salvageable and that they just need new bearings and lubrication. It’s been stored in my dad’s garage for years, so it’s not necessarily been out in open weather. Anyhow, thank you very much for the advice!

By: Greg Lone

Greg Lone — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:35:24 +0000

Hi Bret, looks like a great project. I have a 1961 Competezione, and a bent 1964 specializima.
{in very good original condition ;other than a nasty wack to the head tube, for paint and decal reference} Unfortunately neither have your three mystery decals. Might be due to yours being slightly newer , or the fact yours is a “team” bike rather than a standard Specializima. Your bike appears to have chrome only on the head lugs rather than a completely chrome frame and fork of the standard top of the line bikes. once again suggesting a team bike. As far as tools goes, there are a few specific tools recommended for Campy equipment. These would be the correct Campy bottom bracket cup wrenches {expensive but essential if damage is to be avoided], and the correct Campy pedal dust cap wrench {cheap}. The normally required Campy head set wrench is not necessary as these bikes use Bianchi’s proprietary headset. You will require the correct pin plier tool for this specific headset. It’s a odd ball but very necessary tool more or less unique to this headset. Var used to make it, you will probably be able to come up with one with patience. Parts for this headset are quite rare so I hope yours are still usable. The C.R. archives are full of valuable information on a project like this. Best of luck, you are a lucky man indeed to have come across such a desirable bike. Greg

By: jim mccoin

jim mccoin — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:32:23 +0000

I don’t think the mystery decals are original, I’v never seen them on new bikes. I started riding and racing on Bianchi Team issue bikes in ‘65.

To Find out what you have I would have the frame stripped with chemicals and possibly restore it. I guess you know that the Bianchi head sets are almost impossible to find, the bottom brackets and 151 cranks can still be found. Universal brake hoods are also difficult to find