Levo Gen 3 Stripping the Alloy Frame to Raw.

[Alexbn921]

Starting to look amazing. A buddy stripped his and had it anadized blue. You can still see the surface and it really pops

 

[Dave_B]

Some outside shots.

 

[Dave_B]

Awesome job so far!
Can you tell me if the hole for the screw that holds the TCU in the top tube is a threaded insert/river or the actual frame is threaded? I have a mate who has a new levo and the screw is spinning, can’t tighten or loosen it

Threaded frame.

 

[Doomanic]

That's a nut-sert.

 

[Dave_B]

As good as I can get it.

 

[Planemo]

Yeah some alloys just don't come up mirror finish no matter how much time you spend on them. I had a nitrous bottle once which wouldn't get past the level you have despite hours of trying.

 

[vman]

Guys these things look great. Has anyone checked with the manufacturers to see if stripping voids the frame warranty. Back In the states Cannondale would generally not honor a warranty on a stripped frame and decades ago Klein stopped making raw frames because they claimed the raw frame alloy metal was leading to more frames breaking and also would not warranty a frame an owner stripped. I have taken two bikes to raw and they look great - nothing better than to be able to sand and then use mothers polish to bring a frame back to perfect, but would like to know about how the process affects a frame warranty before taking a bike to raw.

V

 

[Dave_B]

I know of a guy in Cornwall that strips and paints Spesh frames and retains the warranty. But I suspect my frame will no liner be covered, but hopefully I’ll never have to find out.

 

[Lee c]

Looking forward to seeing it all built up looks great so far

 

[Dave_B]

Looking forward to seeing it all built up looks great so far

Building it back up tomorrow.

 

[Sophie777]

Guys these things look great. Has anyone checked with the manufacturers to see if stripping voids the frame warranty. Back In the states Cannondale would generally not honor a warranty on a stripped frame and decades ago Klein stopped making raw frames because they claimed the raw frame alloy metal was leading to more frames breaking and also would not warranty a frame an owner stripped. I have taken two bikes to raw and they look great - nothing better than to be able to sand and then use mothers polish to bring a frame back to perfect, but would like to know about how the process affects a frame warranty before taking a bike to raw.

V

Does stripping the frame of paint increase the risk for corrosion?

 

[Dave_B]

Not really. Alloy doesn’t really corrode like steel. It will oxidise on the surface but it’s not a destructive form of corrosion.

 

[Dave_B]

Do Aluminum Bikes Corrode? | Bicycle Universe

So, do aluminum bikes corrode? Aluminum bikes do corrode; but unlike other metals, they do not get adversely affected by the corrosion. Exposure to air leads

bicycleuniverse.com

 

[Dave_B]

Decals

 

[Piflipvtt]

Pas vraiment. L'alliage ne se corrode pas vraiment comme l'acier. Il s'oxydera en surface mais ce n'est pas une forme de corrosion destructrice.

tu n'as pas mis de couche de vernis transparent ?

 

[Dave_B]

No, there is no point. One of the benefits of Raw alloy is that you don’t really need to worry about paint chips or anything.

If you do add a hard clear coat, it will chip and look ugly quite quickly.

 

[Dave_B]

Finished.
Held my breath, pressed the power button…………..and it worked!!!!

I didn’t even have an odd screws or washers left over

 

[beanzz]

It looks fantastic

 

[Zimmerframe]

Nice job @Dave_B !! looks the danglies !

Though, it's going to look stunning once you've painted it ...

 

[Planemo]

Looks really nice mate, only thing my OCD would change is fitting silver inserts for the calipers

 

[Dave_B]

Looks really nice mate, only thing my OCD would change is fitting silver inserts for the calipers

I do have some.

 

[Cb750stu]

"Proper job" as they say down your way

 

[beanzz]

I think red calipers might look really nice and go with the o rings on the fork

 

[Zimmerframe]

Isn't there a grommet something to stop the cables rubbing where they exit the underside of the top tube ? (Especially as you're a man who doesn't like noises ...)

It does look bloody good ! The welds don't stand out as they did before you polished.

 

[Dave_B]

There is no gromet. But the internal
Plastic tubes are pretty solid and held in place by a bracket on the side bar.

I then stuff bubble wrap around the TCU where I also have a Levociraptor, I can also stuff bubble wrap up towards the TCU from under the Down tube.

The bike was silent around Cwmcarn on its first ride.

So nice to hear the tyres on the trail and no other rattles or clatter.

Astonishing really, still can’t get my head around how riders put up with the noise from the Bosch.

 

[Dave_B]

I think red calipers might look really nice and go with the o rings on the fork

I’ll be fitting the yellow calipera if I can find any. Not sure they are available new any more?

 

[Zimmerframe]

Astonishing really, still can’t get my head around how riders put up with the noise from the Bosch.

If you can still hear anything over the sounds of your own screams, you're simply not pushing yourself sufficiently outside of your comfort zone.

 

[Zimmerframe]

I’ll be fitting the yellow calipera if I can find any

Is that the Italian designed version ?

 

[Zimmerframe]

Astonishing really, still can’t get my head around how riders put up with the noise from the Bosch.

It does seem to vary a lot from bike to bike. I find the one on my Focus to be far quieter than the Rail.

Just swapped out my finned XT pads and they make more noise than the Bosch on the Focus.

Did we mention that your bike looks freekin hot ! @BAMBAMODA's seen it now and he has absolutely no control over his sexual urges, I would STRONGLY advise spraying the whole bike with some form of temporary protective film.

 

[Dave_B]

Is that the Italian designed version ?

No, they are the Danny Mac or the Danny Hart version.