Vintage Western Flyer

[Ajames]

Last summer at a motorcycle swap meet there was a fellow selling some of the worst condition bikes I have ever seen, rusted out rims, broken spokes etc. What was interesting was they where some of the oldest bikes I have ever seen in person.

The old rancher who died was a collector or had a lot of kids since the 1920's. There was about 30 bikes in the pile from a ranch in Edmond Oklahoma.

I saw this poor western flyer girls bike among the collection and I couldn't help myself so I bought it.

Condition;
Spokes rusted and broken
Tires where thread and crusty rubber
Crank bent and rusted tight
Rims has rust holes and bent
Frame slightly bent
No saddle
Chain could be used as a lamp post

The best I can tell it had all of the original bearings and tires on it.

Bottom total rust welded, but still I wanted it, so I bought it for 25 dollars and had to carry it the rest of way lol.

A new chain, bearings and all rubber replaced. The old bike was riding the streets again some 50 years or so later yesterday.

I want to keep the rusty frame and fenders the way they are. This bike rides very well, it's a little too high geared but not bad. It's a keeper.
I call it the ole ..... lol, not really, I used those words a lot while trying to break the rusted parts loose

I have to say, the quality of the metal parts are impressive, this bike will last another 50 years.

Ride Safe...

 

[Ajames]

I'll be riding it as much as possible until my Keystone build is complete.

 

[Wildcat]

That's a AMF made Western Flyer, from the late 50's/early 60's. With a bent fork. The serial number will give you the date it was made. It will be on the left rear dropout, beginning with a letter. K is 1960, L is 1961, M 1962, and N 1963. It'll ride much better with the correct angle on the fork.

 

[Ajames]

Thank you wildcat, I checked the rear drop out and no letters.
There is a partial aluminum sticker on the seat post.
The best I can tell it says on the top line "model" and the bottom line has "2FC_ _23_" looks like three numbers missing.

 

[Wildcat]

There on the dropout is L347820 from what I can see, making it a 1961 model.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

^eagle eyed 'cat!

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Does the hub look like this?

That is a potential date Sachs date code after the F&S. Could help you pin down a date using the chart found here:
http://www.808.dk/?hub-production-dateIf the hub was made in 61, you might see a D

 

[Ajames]

Does the hub look like this?View attachment 178508
That is a potential date Sachs date code after the F&S. Could help you pin down a date using the chart found here:
http://www.808.dk/?hub-production-dateIf the hub was made in 61, you might see a D

Yes it does...

 

[Ajames]

Does the hub look like this?View attachment 178508
That is a potential date Sachs date code after the F&S. Could help you pin down a date using the chart found here:
http://www.808.dk/?hub-production-dateIf the hub was made in 61, you might see a D

 

[Ajames]

There on the dropout is L347820 from what I can see, making it a 1961 model.

View attachment 178473

Dang you are the eagle eye I'm right in front of it and couldn't see it, thank you Matt I need to get my eyes checked lol.

 

[Ajames]

One thing is for sure, I really enjoy riding this bike more than my trek mountain bike. I'll be going on a 25 mile ride and I will see how it does, from what I can tell at this point it should do ok.

 

[SantaMark]

Last summer at a motorcycle swap meet there was a fellow selling some of the worst condition bikes I have ever seen, rusted out rims, broken spokes etc. What was interesting was they where some of the oldest bikes I have ever seen in person.

The old rancher who died was a collector or had a lot of kids since the 1920's. There was about 30 bikes in the pile from a ranch in Edmond Oklahoma.

I saw this poor western flyer girls bike among the collection and I couldn't help myself so I bought it.

Condition;
Spokes rusted and broken
Tires where thread and crusty rubber
Crank bent and rusted tight
Rims has rust holes and bent
Frame slightly bent
No saddle
Chain could be used as a lamp post

The best I can tell it had all of the original bearings and tires on it.

Bottom total rust welded, but still I wanted it, so I bought it for 25 dollars and had to carry it the rest of way lol.

A new chain, bearings and all rubber replaced. The old bike was riding the streets again some 50 years or so later yesterday.

I want to keep the rusty frame and fenders the way they are. This bike rides very well, it's a little too high geared but not bad. It's a keeper.
I call it the ole ..... lol, not really, I used those words a lot while trying to break the rusted parts loose

I have to say, the quality of the metal parts are impressive, this bike will last another 50 years.

Ride Safe...

It's a keeper. You did a good thing, followed your gut instinct and now own a functional classic. Love the star cutouts in the pedal sprocket.

 

[Wildcat]

That helps verify the serial number list I have.

 

[Ajames]

To wildcat about the bent forks, you are right it's bent too - I'm thinking at one time it got pushed with something heavy, probably pushing that pile of bikes around through the years with a tractor or something. No matter I won't let this bike die, I have a press that will straighten it up.

Thank You Wildcat

 

[Wildcat]

Those old forks are heavy, so straightening them might be ok. The bend is right at the crown where the lower bearing sits, the legs look good. . When you take the fork off you can easily see where the bend is and bend it back. But that's where the problem may be, a crack may develop right at that point where you can't notice it. And metal is always weaker after 2 bends. So, I suggest getting it changed out if you are going to put a lot of miles on the bike. A springer would ride and look great on that bike. A BMX style fork would also look good and be rugged. The head tube on these frames are long, so check the replacement if you get one for size.
This is one of the cheap springers. I've used two of them with no problems, but if I had money to throw around I would get a Monarch springer.

 

[Ajames]

Had an interesting day today, I was supposed to work on a vintage shovelhead, instead ended up taking Wildcats advice with the fork, basically stripped it down and heated it 400 degrees and carefully pressed it back into place and reassembled it, feels a lot better, it's actually smooth steering. Thanks for the heads up wildcat.

All that's left to do is get the appropriate style of tire for 60s bike, what I can tell it came with white walls love it, this bike has impressed me a lot. Definitely had some damage and a lot of rusted parts, but it still at 61 years old is a good riding bike, oh by the way it's not for sale ride safe...

 

[Ajames]

Those old forks are heavy, so straightening them might be ok. The bend is right at the crown where the lower bearing sits, the legs look good. . When you take the fork off you can easily see where the bend is and bend it back. But that's where the problem may be, a crack may develop right at that point where you can't notice it. And metal is always weaker after 2 bends. So, I suggest getting it changed out if you are going to put a lot of miles on the bike. A springer would ride and look great on that bike. A BMX style fork would also look good and be rugged. The head tube on these frames are long, so check the replacement if you get one for size.
This is one of the cheap springers. I've used two of them with no problems, but if I had money to throw around I would get a Monarch springer.
View attachment 178581

I really like the sprinters, nice bike...

 

[Ajames]

Hope to go on ride this weekend, I really think it will make the 25 mile journey, photos and vids to come

 

[Ajames]

My newest project, I gotta turn this into a motorcycle...

 

[Ajames]

I just finished this one, and the western flyer sits among them