On the down low

[LeMad Hatter]

Here's my starting bike. An unknown year, Austrian made JC Higgins bike. The plan is to convert it from a coaster hub to a 3 speed, replace the busted pedals and generally make it a better cruiser. Starting on it later tonight by breaking it down to service the bearings and unstick the seat post

 

[LeMad Hatter]

Started wrenching on the Higgins today. I sure an glad I got some new wheels and pedals for it! There's spokes pulling through the rear rim, as well as the coaster hub being completely seized up (read: wheel spins, sprocket and brake don't move).
Got the pedals off by simply twisting them with a pipe wrench, no pedal wrench required! Now I'm working on driving the cotter pins from the euro style pedals to service the bearings. This things a LOT crustier than I originally expected! The only frame modifications I'm doing is to remove the chainguard tabs and the Sturmey Archer cable idler pulley.

 

[LeMad Hatter]

Ok, I want to prove this happened! While monkeying on the seat post, I bumped the chainguard a little bit and it simply feel off! As you can see in the following pics, there's no cutting marks or metal fatigue like i worked the tabs off. Just rusty metal on both parts, so I don't know if this qualifies as a frame mod. The idler pulley definitely, but not these!

Oh, and I got the seat post out!

 

[SpikeFC]

It starts just like a kids bed-time story...

"And when the RRB forum members were tired from all the fabrication, and went to sleep, you could still hear the rust chewing up on LeMad Hatters JC Higgins..."

Definitely want to see this one when finished.

 

[LeMad Hatter]

It starts just like a kids bed-time story...

"And when the RRB forum members were tired from all the fabrication, and went to sleep, you could still hear the rust chewing up on LeMad Hatters JC Higgins..."

Definitely want to see this one when finished.

This bike is the crustiet one I've had the misfortune of working on yet. But she'll be a beautiful butterfly soon enough

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[Uncle Shish]

Reminds me of that 80s song by the FIXX, “One Thing Leads To Another”!

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Love the really crusty ones coming back from the dead...
Also, one of the coolest chainrings ever...

 

[LeMad Hatter]

Finally got the frame stripped down. A you can see, it's been painted red once before, and all of that patina is staying! Also, the only frame mods have been removing the guard tabs (they feel off!) and I ground off the Sturmey Archer idler pulley mount. New bearings and tapered pins for the crank arms are on order.
Playing around with some parts that were laying around, I mocked up what I'm hoping to accomplish in the last pic. Lots of firsts and a second going on here! First no weld build, first time the head tube will be below the top of the tires, first homemade springer, second time trying a soft tail build!

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[G-Matt]

Very cool ,,, you got you a half baked burrito . I know you have a ways to go but I love it so far [emoji1303][emoji1303]


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[LukeTheJoker]

Wow! That is low! Are you attaching another higher bottom bracket somehow?

 

[LeMad Hatter]

Wow! That is low! Are you attaching another higher bottom bracket somehow?

Yup, scavenging one tomorrow. Might have to push the front wheel out a tad more to make it all fit. Searching for a 24 or 20" primary fork as well

 

[SSG]

It should be a 1956 or 1957, was there a date on the bottom bracket spindle?

 

[LeMad Hatter]

It should be a 1956 or 1957, was there a date on the bottom bracket spindle?

Everything I could find is in the second post. It shows up much better in the pics than I can see in person

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[LeMad Hatter]

It should be a 1956 or 1957, was there a date on the bottom bracket spindle?

Misread your comment. The spindle says Puch 59


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[SSG]

If I'm not mistaken that should date it to 1959.

 

[kingfish254]

What's the low down on the down low?