New to me 856

[fishguy]

Hey, 1st post, just to intro, I just took over a Proflex 856 from a friend.  It had been in his garage and also outside unused for several years.  Our Summer temps can and do reach the 120 F marks regularly.  It has been unused because the ecu's melted . After I took it, I found Colin's site on the web and just recieved my new COR front and rear spring kits.  Thank You Colin.  I will use the bike mostly for XC, this is my 2nd MTB, first is a hard tail Nishiki(which I still have) from the same era as the 856.  Although I took some time off of riding due to kids/work etc. I am planning on replacing the tires with Python MRC medium tires and putting on a new SRAM PC951 chain and going from there. I don't want to spend a ton of money on this just yet,but I don't want junk hence my choices(any suggestions?).  I am currently cleaning up the mess from the melted ecu's(any suggestions?) Anyway looking forward to the new ride and finding time to use it .  I have mostly dry sand and loose dirt on my local trails BTW.  Here are a couple of pics...

Tim

[Thunderchild]

I have never seen melted elastomers before .  Have you tried a scotch pad or something similar?  Not sure what the elastomer raw ingredients are.  If a physical means doesn't work and If the elastomers are urethane based, a methylene chloride containing cleaner might work.  I have seen it used in urethane manufacturing as a clean-up agent.  However, methylene chloride vaporizes quickly at room temperature(then you inhale it), so use it outside and wear nitrile or other non-latex gloves.  It will penetrate latex gloves. 

Thunderchild 

[Willem]

I got an 856 from a San Antonio, TX garage (wicked hot) with the same issue. That material is some kind of Jurassic sludge. After 3 years I can still see traces of it on the "non-stick" floormats in the back of my Honda Element.
But, cleaning all that off was well worth the miles of smiles!

[Colin]

Hey, 1st post, just to intro, I just took over a Proflex 856 from a friend.  It had been in his garage and also outside unused for several years.  Our Summer temps can and do reach the 120 F marks regularly.  It has been unused because the ecu's melted . After I took it, I found Colin's site on the web and just recieved my new COR front and rear spring kits.  Thank You Colin.  I will use the bike mostly for XC, this is my 2nd MTB, first is a hard tail Nishiki(which I still have) from the same era as the 856.  Although I took some time off of riding due to kids/work etc. I am planning on replacing the tires with Python MRC medium tires and putting on a new SRAM PC951 chain and going from there. I don't want to spend a ton of money on this just yet,but I don't want junk hence my choices(any suggestions?).  I am currently cleaning up the mess from the melted ecu's(any suggestions?) Anyway looking forward to the new ride and finding time to use it .  I have mostly dry sand and loose dirt on my local trails BTW.  Here are a couple of pics...

Tim

I think you'll find it's Callum, not Colin at RDS who supplied you the COR Springs.

(Just so I don't get any of his glory/Karma! <GRIN>)

Looks like a great condition 856, Good Luck and Well Done!

Colin S

[orange]

looks like a Land Rover Discovery in the background too

[fishguy]

Sorry Callum, and Colin I got the bike together and decided to support the LBS instead of the internet and ended up with some Specialized tires.  Have only toured the neighborhood but bike seems to ride great!  Yes I do love my Disco 

Tim