Restoring a classic Dura-Ace crankset

This video will take you through the process use to restore a classic Dura-Ace 7402 crankset.
Check out smoovelube.com to see the amazing chain lube I use on the my restoration bikes.

[@larsfrandsen2501]

Absolutely invaluable advice for those of us who want to learn restoration of cycling gear and other related skills. Thank you very much. Great channel!

[@Dreamweaver94]

This is awesome, super helpful and informative. I am planning on building a bike with a new 9 speed Shimano Sora, but I realized I could buy an older 9 speed Dura Ace crank for the same price or less as a new Sora crank. I'd gladly showw an old Dura Ace crank some love like this and save a few hundred grams.

[@BuffsVintageBikes]

And it looks a whole lot better than Sora as well 😁👍🏼

[@Yonok2009]

I like the way you have applied the paint and removed the excess with a plastic card I have been battling with this now I will try your method Thanks for sharing always nice to learn something new

[@BuffsVintageBikes]

Pleasure Mike 👍🏼 I always find that when you try remove the excess with a rag you inevitably take some of the paint out of the grooves and make a mess in the process.

[@ashokcaptain4088]

Greetings from India. Thank you for posting such a thorough, step-by-step video. Cheers.

[@BuffsVintageBikes]

It’s a pleasure, thanks for the support 👍🏼

[@alanhaze3192]

Found a bit of a bran find...a Terry Dolan race bike with all aluminum parts, wheels hubs, spokes, frame, calipers, cranks, pedals, 52T chainring and aluminum derailleur...was thinking of stripping the frame and anodizing...might accent some of the accessories too.... your vid was great

[@BuffsVintageBikes]

Sounds like a great find, enjoy the restoration process 👍🏼

[@al-du6lb]

looks gorgeous

[@lindajesse8250]

Satisfying indeed Mr Buff. Seasons greetings from Gary in Ontario, Canada.

[@BuffsVintageBikes]

Thank you Gary, Season greetings to you and your family as well 🙏🏼👍🏼

[@duiliopaterno3780]

Magnificent Work ! 👌🏻

[@jedimasterviviani2860]

Amazing!!!!! Wonderful result!!! COngratulations!!

[@WorldwideBeagle]

Great video but NOW you have made me think of another project. Cleaning out my basement, I found a 1997 custom TI bike a local bikesmith made with Dura-ace 7700. I assumed the scratches were there for good.

[@BuffsVintageBikes]

Best you get polishing, you have no excuses now 😉😁

[@ulrichr.487]

Very nice, great work! I like these cranks, such a classy look.

[@caracolrojo]

0:48 that's not from dropped chain, that crank has been rubbing against the frontderailleur's cage; most likely due to poor alignment/clearance.

[@BuffsVintageBikes]

I guess that’s also a possibility 👍🏼

[@zen37585]

Great video. At the start you mentioned that the cranks had some anodized coating to protect the aluminium, which you removed during the process. Would these cranks now corrode if they were to be used?

[@BuffsVintageBikes]

If you rode in the wet constantly and neglected them then yes, they’ll eventually corrode but then so will anodized cranks. If you keep an eye on them and clean your bike regularly then no, you won’t have a problem at all. I hand polish mine every 6 months or so. I’ve got some sets that are over 4 years old and still look beautiful and shiny ✨

[@marcusathome]

Beautiful work! I should do this to my classic bikes, too ... but then, when I ride them it won't take long until all the shiny metal is dull and scratched again.

[@BuffsVintageBikes]

For a bike used daily I would not recommend this but on a collectible that goes on Sunday rides, this polishing lasts a long time and is very easy to polish up by hand if it dulls. My Peugeot that I use for Eroica has a polished crank that I did 3 years ago and it still looks perfect 👍🏼

[@bunnitz]

do you apply a wax to protect the finish after the buffing?

[@BuffsVintageBikes]

No, just hand polish with chrome polish if it starts fading at all.

[@edstv7739]

Great work bro

[@bunnitz]

thank you! just what i needed

[@earlybird3668]

gorgeous

[@billkallas1762]

Don't you have to clear coat the bare aluminum? Won't the bare aluminum oxidize and turn dark?

[@BuffsVintageBikes]

No, I’ve restored cranks that are 3 years old and still look as good as the day I polished them. But it is a good idea to keep them clean and polish them again every once in a while if you’re using the bike often (you can do that by hand). Remember this is not pure aluminum, it’s an alloy of which one of the primary elements is aluminum.

[@WorldwideBeagle]

@@BuffsVintageBikes This was the first question I had. I assumed pure alu. I suppose a little hard wax would not hurt.

[@duringthemeanwhilst]

excellent stuff 🙂 I've got a set of Shimano 600 cranks I need to restore so this was invaluable. just one question - what are you using as a buffing wheel on your bench grinder, and what compound? (OK 2 questions!)

[@BuffsVintageBikes]

I’m using a cloth buffing wheel, available at most good hardware stores and aluminum specific compound. Just ask your hardware store as you get different compounds for different metals so some are more abrasive than others 👍🏼

[@duringthemeanwhilst]

@@BuffsVintageBikes thanks :-)

[@myvicariouslife4012]

Very nice and shiny! That being said how do I achieve similar results without a machine? I am up to 2000 grit yet still very fine scratches upon close examination. 2500 then 3000 grit then aluminum polish? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated thank u.

[@BuffsVintageBikes]

You will struggle without a buffing wheel of some sorts. Before I had my polishing wheel I would use a small buffing pad on my drilling machine and aluminum polish. I was able to achieve great results with that as well if I went down to 2000 grit.

[@ricric9521]

Easier and faster to use a small brush, fill letters without care to stay clean because you will wipe them. I wait until dry, hour or so, then acetone or paint thinner on a cotton fabric, wrapped tight around your finger and wipe lightly over the letters. Cleans fast. Also, you can sand with progressively finer grind wheel-sandpaper to 2000 then 2k clear coat the cranks. Polishing will only tarnish over time.

[@BuffsVintageBikes]

Thanks for the tips 👍🏼 I’ve tried various methods of cleaning up the lines afterwards and find this way works best for my needs. Regarding the 2K over a polished surface; that might look fine for a while but without a roughened binding surface that 2K will eventually flake and peal, leaving you with more work. This is also why you always flat down a surface with fine sandpaper before spraying it.

[@stephenscholes4758]

looks good - but "restored" in the very loosest use of the term.