tfi_friday

I've heard people putting a bit of solder on the bottom to keep the pins on, but that a show bike solution. The other option is to cut a small groove near the end of the shaft and use a 'C' clip to keep it in place. Best way is of course to mushroom it like the OG way

Some pics of OG Pink Tech 7's (not mine)

I never removed my lock pins, I polished everything, taped off the locking pins and then painted the lever bodies. I felt it was over complicated and unnecessary to remove them for paint, probably good to remove them for powder, but still not necessary.

Yep exactly that... I've heard people remove them before painting, but I didn't want to remove them the pins would never be as solid or as "factory". First I removed the springs, then taped off the upper part of the locking pin shaft, then pushed the button down to tape the lower part of the shaft. Then put the pin in a middle position to tape off the centre. Then painted them on a stick. The tape was thin enough to sit on the shaft inside the lever to get a neat paint job. During paint: Taped up before rebuild: Close up of the locking pin after painting:

I picked up a set of rough white Tech 7's a while backand had a go at restoring them. Plenty of rash and one of the arms was alightly bent. The paint is easier removed, and I removed the rash as best I could with a Dremmel, and built them up all silver, which looked quite tidy but didn't suit my build. I painted the body black and to go for the black/silver look.