MBBO Re-Factored... (Crazy Lady)

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metalchewy

For the love of the Ride 🚲 🔥
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Picked up this Higgins Flightliner flightless Haven't figured out the year yet, but I think she's from 62 or 63.

She's got a lot of rustina with a bit of patina. Started as a metallic blue and has become the lady you see now.
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Some Wald Crazy bars were thrown into the deal as a 'Goody'. I was drooling over them the second I saw them and extatic they came with the 3 bikes and 2 frames I got from a good friend. He doesn't let bikes go often so I jumped on the deal when given the chance.
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Tried putting a springer on it. It's a no go, so will have to figure out a fork soon in order to get this crazy girl rolling.
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This will be a 2 of 3 MBBO bobber style build.
 
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Those are neat bars!
I had never seen this version of this bar until they were handed to me. First thought was, those will look good on a muscle bike...

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Today I took a minute to pull the tank to assess the damage.
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The innards for the electrical are rusted to almost nothing... ever ready batteries look like they are from the 80s.
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Gonna take a bit of work to make the tank light up.
 
That old Murray is certainly going to make one crazy muscle bike! Can't wait to see it come together!
Agreed. She's a ratty crazy little thing. Still haven't washed her 🙃

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She's near the end of the contract for Murray built JC Higgins. I know she's from the early 60s, but can't find enuff info to get a year. Need a sears catalog from 60-63 to find the catalog number 47050 to know for sure.
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I found a Chrome Red fork for her.
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Not rusty like the rest, but will do better than the 30s fork. Picked up some nuts from ace for the wheel and pulled a quill stem out of a box.
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Need a seat post clamp and a chain, and a different back tire and she's a rider.
 
Those handlebars are wild!
I think so too. She's a wild and crazy ride. 👍

Still trying to figure out proper adjustment for my reach and wide shoulders.
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With the frozen seat post all I really need a seat clamp for is to secure the rack. It rattles a bit when I ride.
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I cut this off of a custom that I went seat post delete on.
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Planning to straighten the cut on the band saw and fit it in as the seat post and rack mount.
 
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I started the disassembly of the rusted out components in the tank. Couldn't get one screw loose on the battery holder and will need to drill it out.
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Planning to use AAs instead of Ds with LEDs should provide hours of light.
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Switch came out easily enuff and put it in some dawn and water to try to free up the button..

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The 5 minute soak loosened up the switch slider, but also softened up the pressed/glued paper backing and a terminal came off.
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Took it further apart and I found I could put a new back on it with the contacts to make it work.
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Then I found some vintage switches on ebay and ordered a replacement.l for a couple bucks.
 
Tried some silver foil and couldnt get it to lay right. Tried chrome paint. Also not impressed. Removed it before it cured.
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Little wire brush cup on the dremel
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220, 600, 1000 and some 1600 grit wet/dry sandpaper
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Emory on the polishing wheel next. Then will see if I need to sand more.
 
Put it on the polisher and got.it as shiny as I can.
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Put the positive tank side circuit together. Couldn't find my solder, so I used butt splices on the switch. Added a plug for easier disconnect from bezel.
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JBWeld quickest to hold down the battery holder to metal on the bracket. Just needed a solid place to mount it so using the stuck in bracket worked out.
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Switch installed and interstate batteries added.
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Bezel side circuit put together. Used an eyelet on the negative, rather than trying.to ground.to the tank. Waterproof switches so they won't corrode.
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Installed the tank. Wiring tucked in pretty well.
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Bolted together. Not sure I like those bulbs. 🤔 They are what I had in the box.
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Edit. After dark. Bright. One side brighter than the other. Need to add a new crossover wire.

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