How to Rebuild a Bicycle for Boys

Rebuilding a bike for boys can be rewarding. Boys bikes are easy to find and easy to work on. The best and most inexpensive way to rebuild a boys bike is to swap out worn or broken parts with parts removed from other bikes. Pick up two or three of them from a yard sale and take off the good parts using a few tools from your garage.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 boys bikes of the same size
  • WD-40
  • Wrench, 1/2 inch
  • Wrench, 5/8
  • Armor All
  • Soft cloth
  • Wire brush
  • Bronze wool
  • Air compressor with air nozzle
  • Adjustable wrench
  • Grease
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Instructions

    • 1

      Turn both bikes upside down and balance them on the handlebars and seat. Turn the pedals with your hand to evaluate the wheels, chain and bottom bracket where the pedal axle goes through the frame. The bike frame with the smoothest chain travel will be used for your rebuild.

    • 2

      Spray the chain liberally with WD-40. Hold the chain with a soft cloth as you turn the pedals, letting the chain slide between your fingers, cleaning it as it passes through the cloth.

    • 3

      Spin the wheels of both bikes with your hands. Lean down to eye level with the wheels as they spin. Look for any rubbing or wobbling. Place a 1/2 inch wrench on both sides of the axle on the axle nut. Turn them both counterclockwise to loosen the wheel. Remove the front wheel and rear wheel that spin the smoothest.

    • 4

      Turn the pedals with your fingers. Take off the pedals that spin the smoothest by placing a 5/8 inch wrench between the pedal and the crank arm. On the right side of the bike (think of yourself sitting on the bike), turn the wrench counterclockwise to remove the pedal. On the left side, turn the wrench clockwise to remove the pedal. Set the pedals with the wheels. Take off the seat that is in the best condition by using the 1/2 inch wrench to loosen the nut just underneath the seat. Pull the seat straight up to remove it and set it with the wheels. Rub the seat down with Armor All.

    • 5

      Spray the wheel axles and pedals liberally with WD-40. Remove any hardened grit from the gear on the back wheel and the pedals with a wire brush. Remove tarnish from the bike wheel rims with bronze wool.

    • 6

      Spray off any excess WD-40 using the air compressor. Apply a small amount of grease to the pedal and wheel axle threads.

    • 7

      Turn the bike frame over. Loosen a 1/2-inch bolt and a 1 1/8-inch retaining nut on the bike's top tube with the adjustable wrench where the handlebars and fork enter the bike frame. Holding the bike frame up, let the fork drop out of the tube. Lay the frame down. Remove one bearing from the top, and one bearing from the bottom of the tube where the fork came out.

    • 8

      Spray inside the tube and both bearings with WD-40. Clean inside the tube and wipe off the bearings with a soft cloth. Apply grease to the inside of the tube, insert the bearings, apply more grease to the bearings, and slip the fork back into the tube. Tighten the bolt and retaining nut to secure the handlebars and stem to the bike.

    • 9

      Spray the bike frame, crank and gear with WD-40. Wipe everything down with bronze wool. Spray everything with the air compressor. Drop the front wheel axles into the fork receiving dropouts and tighten the 1/2-inch nuts, turning them clockwise using the 1/2-inch wrench on both sides of the axle at the same time. Put the pedals and the seat back on.