The Rustacean

[BartRidesEternal]

Cool axle covers, good price too!

Yes! I love to dig for parts in these shops where people give stuff away and the money goes to a good cause.

Your build is awesome and the shifter mount on your RR is pure genius. I’m stealing it with thanks! This is my first year ratrod. Had a springer which was faulty from the factory. View attachment 240093

Awesome bike JA, love the red wheels! Take the idea, I enjoy the fact that you, or anyone, can use it.
Seeing your bike, I wonder what type of ratrod it is. My ratrod has the bb shell "off centrered" in regards to the seating tube. My "Rally Sport" frame looks like your frame. Both are awesome nonetheless!

 

[BartRidesEternal]

No big updates but my grips and rear lamp came in. I measured and made notes to fabricate some parts to get it all to fit properly in the end.

Vision. Will cut the lower part of the chrome bracket to keep it a little bit more subtle, yet an eyecatcher.

Very cool toolbag. I want this in a little different colour tone. A bit more creme/beige and a bit dirtier. Some gave me a tip to use tea.

Can't help but share it with you guys, guessing that many can appreciate this stuff:
This weekend I visited a testflight day on the 'Hoogeveen airport'. The main show was the "Fokker D21" replica flight. It was a great day with Willy's Jeeps, Armored cars, Several WW1 and WW2 era planes.
One thing I did not expect; I was talking to a guy with an Harley Davidson Liberator bike when the speakers announced a P51 Mustang coming in and doing a low incoming flight. I turned my head and saw the mustang doing a low flight and a steep climb and landed soon after that. First time seeing and hearing one fly..... goosebumps!

For the Fokker testflight a British testpilot came over who normally flies Supermarine Spitfires (I want that job!). Something with the rules that only testpilots can fly planes where not all the paperwork is in order yet.

Some pictures/recordings;

Plymouth

This beauty flew on D-Day.

Cadillac

Nash

BSA folding bike

P51

Fokker D21 1936

The pilot made some amazing pass by's, quite close to the spectators. Absolutely thrilling to watch and see the pieces of history fly.

 

[JA331]

Yes! I love to dig for parts in these shops where people give stuff away and the money goes to a good cause.


Awesome bike JA, love the red wheels! Take the idea, I enjoy the fact that you, or anyone, can use it.
Seeing your bike, I wonder what type of ratrod it is. My ratrod has the bb shell "off centrered" in regards to the seating tube. My "Rally Sport" frame looks like your frame. Both are awesome nonetheless!

My ratrod is the first year model which had the bottom bracket where it would normally be on most bikes. Yours is a later model with Electra’s flat foot technology with the bb located forward of the seat tube. This is my RR in original condition the day I picked it up.

 

[BartRidesEternal]

My ratrod is the first year model which had the bottom bracket where it would normally be on most bikes. Yours is a later model with Electra’s flat foot technology with the bb located forward of the seat tube. This is my RR in original condition the day I picked it up. View attachment 240380

Thanks for that information, yours is a beauty as well!


Update time

I fabricated, adapted, cut, filed and assembled the rear light on top of the fender.
I shortly tried it on the chainstay but immediately decided to go for the fender. It fits the front light and it gives the bike that "art deco / jet age" look.... just slightly.

It is small enough to not draw all the attention away.

The process;

Parts drawing. Adapter on top.

Adapter for the light base and the red glass.

Testfit. Its countersunk on the other end so it centers!

Can't go back now!

Alrighty

Painted the adapter dark grey and assembled a threaded rod. About to cut!

Glued the red glass on. Pressed it on gently.

Assembled with an acorn nut.

Its getting dark. Thunderstorm is a comin'!

After lots of measuring, checking I disassembled the rear wheel and drilled two holes. The screw assembled in the picture is for alignment, it fits the lamp corner radius on the inside.

I decided to use some sort of round (teeth?) nut and drill a hole sideways through the light base.

Assembled with thick sticky grease!

Very happy how this turned out! There is space for diode lights and cables if I want it to work, but first I'll try to finish this bike for the buildoff!

 

[BobbyStillz]

Thanks for that information, yours is a beauty as well!


Update time

I fabricated, adapted, cut, filed and assembled the rear light on top of the fender.
I shortly tried it on the chainstay but immediately decided to go for the fender. It fits the front light and it gives the bike that "art deco / jet age" look.... just slightly.

It is small enough to not draw all the attention away.

The process;

View attachment 240592
Parts drawing. Adapter on top.

View attachment 240578
Adapter for the light base and the red glass.

View attachment 240579
View attachment 240580
Testfit. Its countersunk on the other end so it centers!

View attachment 240582
Can't go back now!

View attachment 240583
Alrighty

View attachment 240584
Painted the adapter dark grey and assembled a threaded rod. About to cut!

View attachment 240585

View attachment 240586
Glued the red glass on. Pressed it on gently.

View attachment 240587
Assembled with an acorn nut.


View attachment 240588
Its getting dark. Thunderstorm is a comin'!

After lots of measuring, checking I disassembled the rear wheel and drilled two holes. The screw assembled in the picture is for alignment, it fits the lamp corner radius on the inside.

I decided to use some sort of round (teeth?) nut and drill a hole sideways through the light base.

View attachment 240590
View attachment 240591
Assembled with thick sticky grease!

Very happy how this turned out! There is space for diode lights and cables if I want it to work, but first I'll try to finish this bike for the buildoff!

Well done! That is an awesome modification.

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Well done! That is an awesome modification.

Thanks Bobby!

I measured and drilled the cups. Filed to fit and fabricated an spacer (previous post, drawing) and assembled them.

Only some finishing and rounding left. I can colour the cups on the insides.... orange, black or white.... don't know yet. I can paint them white completely... hmm...

Looking good. And feels very solid!

I will round that bit a little bit on both sides.

Have some ideas... gonna use everything off of that mirror carcas.

 

[Pondo]

Wow, the fab work on that taillight! Very cool. The bike is turning out fantastic!

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Wow, the fab work on that taillight! Very cool. The bike is turning out fantastic!

Thanks Pondo, appreciate it!

Minor details, but in my opinion that have a great effect:

Cut a piece off the mirror mount (from the tail light) and filed it round.

Drilled a hole and tapped M6 thread in there. Added a grub screw with some sealant for locking purposes.

Drilled a hole in the plate and assembled it with a nut. Nice finish!

Yes!!

I painted the aluminum fork cups white on the inside. Will assemble them when I finish the work on the fork soon.

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Some details, I felt that the rear light contrasted too much with the fender. Plus I decided to not speedhole the stem. So what DID I do?

Before

After. Thank you Danmark!

Chose blue since the striping on the rims is blue too. A bit darker shade tough.

I'll let it dry and very lightly age it tomorrow before the clear coat.

 

[BartRidesEternal]

I lightly sanded the blue striping and matte clear coated it. Sorry did not take a picture.

Did some work on details and assembly:

Milled cups for the front fender brackets.

Fully assembled.

I am still hecitant on the 'whole' here. I can paint this section white or orange. Or only the fork section more white and leave the shiny cups alone. Any ideas?

I will take the bicycle out tomorrow to have a look at the whole thing.

In the meanwhile a laser is working on something sweet for this build:

Ratrodbikes buildoff 18.
With my aim "a 50's fat tired cruiser" on it. I have a weak spot where you can see the age on old vehicles and bikes. Offcourse not this whole bike is from that era, but the styling/aim is

 

[BartRidesEternal]

I think I’m gonna make it. Next week I will have a rider!
I ordered some 'detail' parts; Yellow transparant foil for the front lamp, the text plate and something for the leather bag that will be attached to the seat.
There is a probability that I need to replace the old spokes for a longer trip after the buildoff. The current ones are not bad, but the tension is not equally divided everywhere and the nipples are quite rusted.

Took her outside today and made some pictures.

To do list:

• Details: bag, colouring, bell, plate, lamp and much more.
• Cleaning and lubricating the hubs.
• Removing and assembling the tires again. This was a testfit.
• Fabricate bar ends instead of the 'backup' plastic ones.
• Adjusting, checking and riding it!

I am so grateful and happy how this turned out.
Only need to decide on the fork cups and finishing, but my gut feeling is getting there. Still open to suggestions on colour and finishing on that part.

Thank you all for having a look!

 

[Pondo]

Looks great! Just needs a chain and a rider at this point. Great job with the details and the patina work!

 

[BobbyStillz]

I lightly sanded the blue striping and matte clear coated it. Sorry did not take a picture.

Did some work on details and assembly:

View attachment 241447
Milled cups for the front fender brackets.

View attachment 241448
Fully assembled.

View attachment 241449
I am still hecitant on the 'whole' here. I can paint this section white or orange. Or only the fork section more white and leave the shiny cups alone. Any ideas?

I will take the bicycle out tomorrow to have a look at the whole thing.

In the meanwhile a laser is working on something sweet for this build:

View attachment 241450
Ratrodbikes buildoff 18.
With my aim "a 50's fat tired cruiser" on it. I have a weak spot where you can see the age on old vehicles and bikes. Offcourse not this whole bike is from that era, but the styling/aim is

Leave the cups alone. I think it looks great!

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Looks great! Just needs a chain and a rider at this point. Great job with the details and the patina work!

Leave the cups alone. I think it looks great!

Thanks guys!

I Rebuilt and greased the hubs. I looked everywhere but could not find a date. A date when this hub is built. According to sources its between 46 and 63.
And I really enjoyed the rebuild, this hub is beefy! Really tough design. Even tougher than the modern CB-E110 from Shimano (hehe, she-mano).

And more details....

Bendix. Elmira 36 hole, 13 gauge.

Parts are in great shape! Even the dustcap is beefy.

Rear seat strap with flags. Referring to the Dutch 346 cruiser, American wheelset and overall style.

Wheel back in place.

 

[Frankie plekhand]

Great build and i love how you keep track of your build!

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Thanks Frankie!

This evening I managed to put the chain on and go for a testride around the block. This thing rides very different than any other bike I have had.
And I picked up the text plate, very happy with the result!

So happy how that rear light turned out, wow!

After the testride, I decided to go for these bars.

I'll leave this as is. I plan to design and fabricate a little chain tensioning tool for these type of dropouts. It is relatively easy by hand, but sometimes the chain slacks when you tighten the nut.


Left to do:
Details! Paint, screws and bar ends.
Maybe I can age the text plate a little bit, what do you think?

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Looks so good, Bart. Absolutely excellent stuff. That's a killer bike

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Looks so good, Bart. Absolutely excellent stuff. That's a killer bike

Thank you sir!!

Hmm, now that I'm looking at the last picture of previous post;

Is that rear shaft washer positioned right? One side has teeth...

• Teeth on the outside you 'lock' the nut, but not on the frame side.
• Teeth on the inside you 'lock' the shaft from moving in the frame when accelerating.

Alright, I think I will let the teeth bite in the frame. I will flip them.

My thoughts on the tool:

Pretty neat huh. The little plate is for paint protection.

It is no issue for the deadline. But would love this to take with me in August/ September for a long ride, due to chain stretch.


Thanks guys!!

 

[SwissGuy]

To the inside it is!

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Switched the rear shaft washer around and assembled the rear coasterbrake arm with a beefy M6 screw.

And more details!
The assembly of that rear text plate felt a bit..... flat. Needed some more depth. So I used the last piece of that car mirror, its completely re-cycled into something new

Front fender washer. I know that part is not used for that, but ratrods.

Clamp it in! So I can file it level.

Yes, found a brass screw.

Behind the scenes assembly.

Flush on the top, love it!

Assembled, filed the bottom into a pointy shape.

Rounding it to match the shape of the fender.



Results:

If I say so myself, I love the fact the top is flush.

Got more in store soon!