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Brian macumber

Brian macumber

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Joined
May 8, 2018
Messages
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Location
Lakeland fl.
Picked up this I think its a 58 Firestone 500 at a swap meet a while back. Nothing special but it's my oldest bike to date and the only one with it's original tank.
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My plan is to clean up the frame some put it back together and add at least a rear basket possibly one on the front. First thing I wanted to make sure I could fit these tires on the fork but they rubbed a little.
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I haven't crimped a fork before but seen it done here. So I grabbed some vice grips, a bolt, and a piece of angle iron and squeezed tighten a little and repeat in different spots.
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Finally got enough room to clear the tire.
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With that out the way I went ahead and gave most of the parts a good washing. Just washing cleaned up the frame pretty good.
Before
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After
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Not sure if I want to do a OA bath or just some BLO or some kind of clear. I definitely want to do something with the inside of the tank halves before the rust eats thru forgot to get pics though.
 

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I like that blue/green. The frame cleaned up great. Glad you were able to make room for the tires too.
That bike looks like a great survivor. It should spruce up nicely.
 
POOL PARTY!!!
Pool Party Swimming GIF by TLC
 
Uncle Shish said:
Love the bike. I really dig the old graphics on the 50s bikes. I think you could clean the tank with very good results with an OA bath.
I spent a part of Sunday getting the pool ready 🤣 Come on over, the water's fine.
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Something big enough for the frame is what I am missing. Will have to check out some kids pools I have a tote big enough for the other parts but not big enough for the frame.
 
Uncle Shish said:
My pool doesn't totally fit a frame too well, either. It's bendy so I stuffed it in there.
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There is some give to those little pools.
I can still remember when I was about 12 or so, my brother pissed me off and was walking away from me. I looked down at my little sisters upside down pool, and thought "That would make a cool giant frisbee". I launched it at my brother and it landed on top of his head and proceeded to ring his head just like a horseshoe spins on a spike. I immediately turned tale and ran away laughing the whole way until he caught me. It remains one of the funniest things I have seen in my life. :D :D :D
 
Awesome bike! This will be a cool build for sure. If you don’t want to go the OA route you could try WD40 and steel wool. I’ve had decent results with that.
 
Pondo said:
Awesome bike! This will be a cool build for sure. If you don’t want to go the OA route you could try WD40 and steel wool. I’ve had decent results with that.
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Pondo is absolutely right on this method. My build off bike tank and frame this year were done utilizing this technique. I had heard horror stories of red bikes turning pink in the OA.
 
Pondo said:
Awesome bike! This will be a cool build for sure. If you don’t want to go the OA route you could try WD40 and steel wool. I’ve had decent results with that.
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Kinda worried about the steel wool taking the graphics off guess I could just be extra careful around them. Do you boiled linseed after?
 
Brian macumber said:
Kinda worried about the steel wool taking the graphics off guess I could just be extra careful around them. Do you boiled linseed after?
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Personally, I used 0000 Steel wool. I had no issues with disturbing the graphics. I have seen 60s Schwinn silk screened logos come off with just water and soap, so hard to say. Test small.
 
I agree with Uncle Shish, test small and go slow. I haven't had to worry too much about graphics on stuff I've done so far but it would pay to be careful. I don't know if you would need the BLO after the WD40 process. There will be a residue from the WD that might be sufficient.
 
Today after working on my unlimited build this morning I grabbed the WD-40 and some 0000 steel wool and went over the frame and decided to do a mock up. Grabbed the baskets and fenders put that on the frame. Changed out the wheels with these heavy duty teal think they came off a step thru huffy .
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Çleaned the chain guard up with wd and steel wool and put it on to get a idea of how it looked. I'm liking them better than the chrome ones I was going to use. Going to have to move the clips for the fender brace screws back to clear the basket braces that go on the axle also to get a little more clearance for the tire.
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Took a wire wheel in my drill and knocked the rust off the inside of the tank then used a spray bottle and paint brush to apply this rust stop stuff and letting halves dry.
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Soon as that dries I'll clean the outside up and try to find another screw for the tank.
 
Frame cleaned up well. I spent the day with wd40 and 0000 steel wool as well.
 
Brian, those tan walled beefy Vee tires on those teal rims go great with the frame and vibe of the build!

That Cracker Jack container is really cool. If you have those baskets, might as well use them to display some vintage stuff!
 
OddJob said:
Brian, those tan walled beefy Vee tires on those teal rims go great with the frame and vibe of the build!

That Cracker Jack container is really cool. If you have those baskets, might as well use them to display some vintage stuff!
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Having a ruff time trying to get them to seat properly have anybody else used these ?
 
My Speedballs were almost impossible to seat as well. Lay them out in the sun before you try to mount them and then use a little bit of soapy dishwater or if you have it water and Murphy’s oil soap on the bead

Just like OJ suggested you can also try and clean the rim lip area and take down any excess as well as clean it really well with alcohol
 
Been trying to get the tires to properly mount but not having much luck. Çleaned the tire beads up and the inside of the rim and they're still giving me fits. Got feed up and tried the only other set I have they mounted up easy but I'm not liking the look. So I tried to use some flex seal to see how white walls would look not bad but I still like the vee speedster better so going to try mounting them again today if it don't work out then I might have to rob the tires and wheels off a Firestone step thru I built for my daughter that's just been sitting since.
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Also I have cleaned up the chrome and put BLO on the frame chain guard and the tank. The sprocket and crank cleaned up really good
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The fender came out decent leaving these freckles and the back half of the rear fender has no hope for the chrome but I like it and found this reflector for it. The handle bar and stem also cleaned up really good too.So now back at trying to finish up this bike so I can get back on my unlimited build.
 

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