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So, like a lot of folks, I have a little more free time right now. I’ve taken the past few weeks to clean up, rebuild, overhaul, etc a few bikes to sell off. And have also been organizing and going through the hoard.

A bunch of friends chipped in last week and bought me an awesome new bike work stand for my b-day. I was setting the stand up today and threw the closest frame to me in it just for a lil test fit. The frame was a ‘59 straight bar I’d picked up a few months ago in a haul. It had been damaged and rewelded (poorly) at some point. The entire rear triangle was way outta wack. Kicked off to one side and twisted.


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Having it in the stand sparked me. So, I straightened out the rear end. Luckily I have a park tool frame alignment guide so it’s a lot easier then eye ballin it.

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(hub helps for accurate measurements)


Once the frame was nice n straight and spaced property, I started to get some ideas. So, I gave it a quick sanding, and looked at my spray paint stash.

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not 100% on what fork I’ll use, but figured I’d pull one to paint anyhow.

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The aim on this one is just pull random stuff I have layin around, no money spent, and just build something I can thrash around on and not worry about. What I like to call a ‘backyard bike’, cause it can sit in the backyard and weather with no worries. Hop on and go whenever.

Paint needs 48 hours to cure. So I’ll let it hang for two days and then assemble something.

(For some reason, on my phone all the pics are showing sideways or upside down. But they get the message across)
 
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Love it!
 
That bike looks good with that paint scheme. That wouldn't last long unlocked in a backyard around here.
I didn't think Schwinn had a straighbar bike that late, but I looked and sure enough, the Tornado was their only straightbar in 59.
 
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Nice paint! Did dribble paint on my build off bike a couple years ago. Great idea to extend recycle reuse lock down procedure to paint, BTW. :thumbsup:
 
I’m sorry, I missed your method. Frame was blue, you painted it black and then the blue mysteriously showed up again after you said “(vinegar” ?


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I’m sorry, I missed your method. Frame was blue, you painted it black and then the blue mysteriously showed up again after you said “(vinegar” ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
My bad. I edited out the word ‘vinegar’. I had initially mentioned the vinegar bath in the background (the black tub/container) as just a, hey, that’s what that is. But it’s not important or relevant to this build.

The frame was poorly painted blue with lots of runs. So I sanded it smooth, then painted black. Then I took some blue and sprayed it into the spray paint cap and flicked it at the frame to create the splatter effect. I’ve always wanted to paint a bike like this, just never really had a reason too.
 
Thanks guys. Lookin to be a fun one.

dug around for some parts this morning. Found some decent double wall aluminum wheels. I had tossed them aside a year or so ago because the hi-stop coaster made a bunch of noise and I couldn’t get it to go away.

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I happen to have a loose Shimano hub I wasn’t going to use for anything, so I swapped all the guts from the Shimano shell to the hi-stop. Sounds better in hand, but won’t fully know until I ride on it.

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Found this seatpost clamp. Not sure if it was Schwinn, but it fits a Schwinn frame. Looks as if something was welded on it at some point. Going to file it smooth and paint it.
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I decided I’d like to clear coat the frame since I happen to have some gloss clear. Probably do that Friday, and let set over the weekend. Hoping to assemble the beginning of next week.
 
Small steps while I wait for paint to dry. Got the clear coat laid down today, figure I’ll give it 48 plus hours to dry before I assemble.
Found some tires and tubes and mounted them up-

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sifted through a pile of bearings, races, cups, etc, and came up with a bb and headset. Degreased, derusted, and depainted some stuff to get what I need to get rollin-

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I think I’ve got most stuff sorted. Just need to figure out what I want to do for the front sprocket. I’ve got tons of options, but the challenge is to build it to my aesthetic, whilst not being too nice as it will primarily sit outside in the weather. Same idea with handlebars. But I’ll pick bars last once the bike is assembled. So far all the parts are stuff that’s just laying around outside in my back yard.
 
Decided the clear coat had had enough time and took care of assembly.

found some K&N motocross bars in a pile and decided to go with them for now

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landed on using a Wald sprocket, Takagi 175 crank, and Shimano pedals. Figure the Wald is kinda timeless, and I don’t mind if it sits outside. Plus, it’s a 44 tooth. The only two sizes for rear cogs I had that fit Shimano were 19 and 22. I like my gear inches in the high 50s-60, so 44-19 works great.
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When installing the front wheel, I decided I’d rather not have a quick release, so I swapped it for a solid one. Was fortunate to have a 9mm

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Had this nicely worn badge so I threw it on

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Took it for a test ride around the block and dig it. I may change the bars to somethin wider, but these work for now.

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Non drive side for paint comparison

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Love it!
 

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