Unofficial March Shootout 3

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Paint!
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So I started to disassemble the mower deck yesterday and another storm cut loose. Couldn't move the tractor because the deck wasn't totally disconnected. It sat outside last night. That gave me a dry place to work on the Electra inside the shed today! Rain today washed out a lot of pollen that was getting me down, so I started reconnecting cables and remounted the front truss. Hopefully I will get this thing finished in time.
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Just gotta be sure to not run out of time...
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Guess who didn’t realize the chainguard screw popped out just before adding 6 colors of paint! The lower stay is still silver and the back of the chainguard too. Blaming the dog since it was there before I had to chase her down and the wind blew the bike stand over. Fixed the fender scratch but didn’t think the guard was off. Yeah that...also tried to blend runs for a tie dye look on the front fender but the boss said no. Those both will get re silvered then colors. Wasn’t pleased with the guard...so I started the whole thing with purple to define the first spiral at the crank. Then I added blue and blended the other colors inward from there. I had already tested on scrap how much to space colors out to blend. It is hard as heck to apply the golden mean spiral to a bike frame but that’s the intent...now to fix it all!:21:
 
Guess who didn’t realize the chainguard screw popped out just before adding 6 colors of paint! The lower stay is still silver and the back of the chainguard too. Blaming the dog since it was there before I had to chase her down and the wind blew the bike stand over. Fixed the fender scratch but didn’t think the guard was off. Yeah that...also tried to blend runs for a tie dye look on the front fender but the boss said no. Those both will get re silvered then colors. Wasn’t pleased with the guard...so I started the whole thing with purple to define the first spiral at the crank. Then I added blue and blended the other colors inward from there. I had already tested on scrap how much to space colors out to blend. It is hard as heck to apply the golden mean spiral to a bike frame but that’s the intent...now to fix it all!:21:

Oh crap. Hate it when stuff like that happens.

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Spent a good three hours this evening digging thru junk parts cobbling together a shifting mechanism. Shimano and SunTour aren't always happy together but too bad hehe... Then before I could fab an actual shifter for it, the plastic teeth gave out that hold it together. It works but it falls apart so I guess I'll be visiting my boneyard at the other house...hey we got two days. But I haven't gotten to the brake cables yet either...
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Suicide shift, left handed behind and below the saddle, will probably have a long lightweight handle of some sort...

GC.
 
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Suicide shift II works fine. I tried to get ya all some good pics. First thing I did was a small drill bit thru the frame, then a large unibit thru halfway. I have some thick wall pipe small of as handlebars and I cut a piece long enough to go into the frame with a stub long enough to attach the shifter mechanism. Also rounded the inside end to match the fee tubing. I welded a nut to the outside end and ran threaded rod thru it all with an acorn nut for the otherside. (I did all that last night)
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See the thick wall purposely doesn't go all the way thru. So I cut another nub of pipe and then drilled horizontally thru it all. Then I tapped it for 1/4 20.
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So I'm working on a longer shifter but I do like the fancy drawer pull I had...
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There's a lot going on in this last pic...

GC.
 
Brakes work but I don't have a cable long enough. I'm going to splice two together. I figure I can do it right where the frame originally had bare cable, between the stops.
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Got the caliper on and took it out for a couple more pics. HeadBanger II has a tough stance imo.
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I'll see about a video of the softail in action...

GC.
 
Okay, I am done. Whew.
Gears work, brakes work (they need a bit of adjustment), lights work, bike rides nice. New bars are comfy. Darker colors make a big difference in "attitude." Looking forward to a bunch of good riding...
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And then some...
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First a better pic of the "dress" shifter. Time constraints kept me from the longer one unless things change later. (11 hrs left!) Then a couple pics of a chrome bracket I made from a wire fender brace to support the brake cable, it's pretty long and droops a bit without it. Last is a fun pic. Look what I saw in my little boneyard. Do you see it?

GC.
 
The Gentlemen's Kruiser.
Done. Or rather done as it was at the build off end. Rides. Seat post not clamping and with a chill factor in the 20's not much fun. Generator headlight works!
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Probably going to swap out 44t with a 46t. Also swap out seat, pedals and brake levers for more vintage stuff. Also have to mount chain guard and a old "rat trap" rack. Shifter is beat up and cable is too short to reach up to the grip. Think I have another shimano 3 speed shifter set up in stash... Looking at all the cool build off shifters, would be cool to mount shifter to top tube like an old "Quadrant" style.
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And the tires @ 50 psi the sidewall cracks are pretty scary. Supposed to get nice today the tires can get me to the closest bridge for pics, right? :)
The build will continue refinement in this thread: https://ratrodbikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/kawasho-mountain-bike-the-gentlemens-kruiser.111470/
 
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