Quote Originally Posted by mudmucker View Post
Sure, I'd give it a go and salvage it. Especially that it sounds like it'll be a commuter beater bike? I'd get a new chain for sure. To remove rust I don't use solvent. I've used steel wool on some components like an old freewheel (you say cartridge in your post but did you mean cassette/freewheel?) But you may want to get a new one depending on how much pitting there is. I will also use a fine wire sander to put on the end of a drill and I'll wire sand the rust off. I've done this for chrome parts, and have salvaged rusty pedals, and bolts this way. If the pitting is deep, the rust will come back but you can keep on top of it and maybe put WD40 on it in the meantime.
MM- Yes, commuter, and yeah, I meant cassette.

I just pulled it inside to look at the damage better- Brakes and brake cables are fine, frame is fine, seatpost and headset (quilled) seem fine. Chain is dead. Cassette and derailleurs look salvageable. Looks like I'd need new shifter cables, but the it shifts (things moved when I clicked the shifters, but I didn't want to force it with the chain being frozen). Hard to tell about the front gears- at least the big gear looks like a couple of teeth might be damaged (tips shortened). I'd need to get the chain off to see the rest. Rims are fine, but a few of the spokes have some rust- might just be surface, they feel rather strong. I cut the rotted rubber off the shocks- there's a smidge of rust under there on one side, but it looks like stainless, so it should come off. I slathered some naval jelly on the rusted bits and will see how it looks tomorrow.

How do I tell if the BB and wheel bearings are okay? And how can I be sure the gears will be okay? (I guess more importantly, will I die if a tooth busts while riding?)