Rust Failure Risks??

[Ti_on_Steel]

I recently found this MTB in a family garage. It lived near the sea, and has a fair amount of rust. That being said, its a sorta cool, True Temper, lugged bike. Seat post is fully fused, but fits me. Chain needs to be replaced. Most metal parts have some surface rust.

Is there anything you would worry about failing in riding this bike with rust like this? Chain will be replaced before riding, and hubs will get repacked eventually, but I want to avoid dropping hundreds of dollars into a project.

[Hellgate]

No, ride it.

[JAGI410]

Service what you can and ride that thing until it dies...which will be many years from now. Looks like a great rig, perfect for a front rack/basket commuter build.

[GregL]

Looks like a classic 1991 Trek MTB. That was one of the last years for lugged MTB frames from Trek. I believe they went to TIG'd frames by ~1994. I'd look for signs of corrosion that has eaten through the tubes or at tube junctions. Typical trouble spots are around the bottom bracket shell and the bottoms of the chainstays. If those spots look good and the frame makes no ominous sounds when riding, enjoy the bike until you have time for major maintenance. It would make a nice winter project to strip the bike to a bare frame, remove the stuck seatpost, and clean/rustproof the interior of the frame tubes.

Greg

[Ken Robb]

I think the 950 was the top of the line too. The wheels don't show corrosion that I can see. I'll bet you can loosen the seat post and that would be the first thing I would do before spending any time/money on the bike because you really should be able to dial in your position to enjoy riding it and you will probably want to replace the saddle as well.

[Hobine]

They’re pretty rugged frames and worth saving. Easily fit 650b wheels and make great gravel machines.

Here’s the rust situation on mine when I got it.


And as mentioned above, was a winter project.

[fijichf]

Check the hub flanges if it was near salt water...I got screwed on a bike deal once where the seller lived near Malibu. The frame was fine, but the hub flanges, spoke nipples and rim condition were crap.

[jtakeda]

Ride it.

You will get so much warning in the form of noises for months before the tube even thinks about breaking.

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by Ti_on_Steel

I recently found this MTB in a family garage. It lived near the sea, and has a fair amount of rust. That being said, its a sorta cool, True Temper, lugged bike. Seat post is fully fused, but fits me. Chain needs to be replaced. Most metal parts have some surface rust.

Is there anything you would worry about failing in riding this bike with rust like this? Chain will be replaced before riding, and hubs will get repacked eventually, but I want to avoid dropping hundreds of dollars into a project.

Looks like a million bikes in a hundred ski towns that get tooled around on all the time. I wouldn't go huck the thing off the side of a mountain but I'd ride it around.

[peanutgallery]

Ride it like you stole it...on the the rail trail, commuting etc. Don't trail ride it

Buddy of mine broke something similar in half recently on an actual trail, lucky to get away with some lost skin

[smead]

Before riding it too much, repack both hubs, the BB, and HS. With that and a new chain, it'll roll like new.

[rustychisel]

Originally Posted by smead

Before riding it too much, repack both hubs, the BB, and HS. With that and a new chain, it'll roll like new.

Yeah. Hit it with a lot of WD40 and clean it up. You could probably get the chain back in operating condition easily too... WD40 to loosen links etc, clean off with an old t-shirt then oil.

[Ti_on_Steel]

Originally Posted by Hobine

They’re pretty rugged frames and worth saving. Easily fit 650b wheels and make great gravel machines.

Here’s the rust situation on mine when I got it.


And as mentioned above, was a winter project.

That thing has me pumped about this!!

Thanks for all the feedback. Will get it cleaned up ASAP