1947 Saginaw Powerbike build.

[icyuod2]

A friend of mine just finished filming a new antique show with the same guys that started American Pickers/ Canadian Pickers. This 1947 Saginaw Powerbike is one of the first items he purchased for the new show. (Show airs in Oct) To make a long story short, this ugly duckling now belongs to me.

It's missing a few pieces (front wheel, battery box, fender etc etc) and I'm sure things like the battery box will be hard to find. One day this rare bird will get a complete resto but for now, until I locate the missing items, I figured I'd give it a face lift. This will be a military inspired build based on equipment like the cushman m53.

It's been sometime since my last build but just like riding a bike, it's not something you forget. I risked the plague of the porcupine (You know.....When ya stick a wire wheel rated at 4500rpm on your angle grinder that's rated at 11000rpm) and stripped down the frame in min's. I spent a few more picking the quills from my hands/arms/chest and face.lol

Some flat krylon Camo series paint and this build is well under way.

 

[icyuod2]

Caught a vid clip the other morning for the promo for Backroad Bounty, the new TV show that landed this bike in my care. (Bike is actually in the commercial)

 

[icyuod2]

Bike is starting to shape up. I had to replace the neck cause it broke when tightening the new bars. Luckily I had an old 40's neck down in the basement. I'm actually kinda happy it broke now and not on the road. Pedals I saved from a Schwinn Exercycle I used for a build here a few years back.

http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/in...-unwanted-exercycles-parts-to-good-use.28257/

An old brown leather jacket for the new seat skin and a new set of bars and grips. (The old ones are bent to hell)

I'll probably end up stenciling the bike in white letters/emblems but I wanna wait till I get the entire bike together to make any decisions.
Enjoy

 

[icyuod2]

This weekend I'll start into the motor

 

[Vintagebikelover24]

thats awesome good job!

 

[Flying Zombie]

UPDATES PLEASE!

 

[GuitarlCarl]

Yeah, how's it goin'?

Carl.

 

[jats]

that thing is cool!

 

[Dogfart]

Somewhere in my files I have plans from a magazine from the 50's on a DIY version of one of these. The main difference was that that version eliminated the pedals. Same basic concept though. I should try and find them.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Somewhere in my files I have plans from a magazine from the 50's on a DIY version of one of these. The main difference was that that version eliminated the pedals. Same basic concept though. I should try and find them.

Would love to see that!

Luke.

 

[ozzmonaut]

I just did the same with a wire cup and wire wheel. Didn't get the quills too bad, but did have several stuck in my pant legs.

 

[Dogfart]

Would love to see that!

Luke.

I found them. Here is the cover page. I don't want to hijack this thread so I can start a new one and post the entire plan set if anyone is interested. At one time I started this build having cut all the angle iron pcs but never got past that for one reason or another (probably the fact that I was in my late 40's and had a second kid at the time - oops)

 

[Dogfart]

Sorry for the sideways pic, I can't seem to find a way to rotate it

 

[Fv2]

View attachment 15250
I found them. Here is the cover page. I don't want to hijack this thread so I can start a new one and post the entire plan set if anyone is interested. At one time I started this build having cut all the angle iron pcs but never got past that for one reason or another (probably the fact that I was in my late 40's and had a second kid at the time - oops)

I think I have similar plans on a disk. Some cool stuff from back in the day.