1948 Monark Rocket Revival

[piercer99]

So, I got this frame just over a year ago. It was going to be thrown away, a friend of mine got it with a group of bikes he bought, package deal thing. Anyway, this Monark frame was is sad shape. The seat tube, bottom tube and the lower top tube, were all broken away at their joints, the brazing had failed. Also, anything that was supposed to be a moving part, was rusted solid, crank and forks primarily.

When I first saw a photo of it, I didn't know it's issues, just that if I wanted it, it was free. I must admit, I have a fondness for Monark bicycles and I really hate rust. The frame was about 60 miles from me, and I was in the middle of a huge project for work. One of my subs actually lives in the same town where the frame was, and I was able to get him to pick it up and bring it to me at work.

I was really stoked about it, until I actually held it in my hands and saw the damage to it, true, it was a scrap bike and most people would have sent it to the dump.

Yet, I am not most people, I love challenges. Anyone that knows about my 1963 Otasco Flying O Lancer knows that, but that is another story.

This is what I had to start working with.

 

[piercer99]

So, I got it home, attempted to break it down, and found out nothing would move. The seat came off, but that was it. The fork was frozen, crank frozen, seat post frozen.

I applied a generous amount of pb blaster to the areas and let it alone. At this time, I was rebuilding a 1947 Huffman, that wasn't in much better shape to start with, but it was a bike I really wanted and I figured I would be able to do something with this 48 Monark that would be able to offset the cost of building the Huffman.

So, for the next few months, I would add more penetrating oil everywhere and let it soak.


Finally came the day when things started to be able to come apart. Got the crank out of the hanger bracket, the bearings and cups were pretty much welded together so they went in the scrap. The crank arm was bent a little, it got set aside. The seat went to a friend who needed it more than I did at the time.

The forks, still wouldn't budge, so a couple more days on them. Finally success, kind of, the stem came out, got the top nut off and.. the collar twisted the top of the steer tube, so the fork was screwed. Yet it was broken down and ready to go back together after some rust removal and frame repair. Well kind of, the seat tube still would not move.

A couple more weeks of dealing with the seat tube, and the tube spun off, right at the top of the frame. At this time I said screw it and just drilled the rusted out hulk of a tube (8" of it) out of the down tube.

Then I repaired the brazes on the frame and touched up the frame to attempt a match at the original sun bleached Monark Maroon paint on the bike. After that, I sanded the entire frame with 1000 w/d paper, dropped a lay back post in it and started to put it together.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, when I get into working on bikes, I get tunnel vision and forget to take photos of each phase of work.

 

[piercer99]

The first version of this was just to get it rolling and put it up for sale. I used only parts I had in the bike barn and on hand. The bars, stem, fork, seat, crank, wheels and tires where all from the barn, a new chain and it was a rider. I also used some polishing compound and a lot of carnuba wax and brought back a shine to the bike, as well as some home made lettering for the frame. Keep in mind at this point, I was going to sell this bike to pay for and justify, keeping the 1947 Huffman Texas Special.

 

[piercer99]

So at this point in time, I had about 8 months of time in this bike, on and off. I probably should have posted it up for sale, but then I made the mistake of riding it.

It was a comfortable bike to ride dangit. Plus, in my opinion, it was a good looking bike, aside from the faded red Araya 7X rims, which looked more pink than red.

At that point in time, I decided I was going to keep it and swap out the

rims with my gold Araya 7X set that I have had forever.

 

[piercer99]

Then one night, while cruising c list and letgo, I spotted a 2004 Schwinn Cruiser 7, the select series, which are pretty nice bikes, if you like Schwinn. What it had though, was the Shimano Nexus Inter 7. I had been trying to get an Inter7 from a guy I know, but he would not budge below 150 for the wheelset, and they were rough, I wouldn't pay it.

The Schwinn however had been babied since it was new, I made an offer, a ridiculously low offer, and the guy accepted it. I could not get there quick enough, because that wheelset was going on the Monark.

Of course, the Inter7 hub is just over 5" wide, a bit larger than the factory New Departure was on this 48.

That did not cause me any worry, as I have an Inter4 wedged into a 48 Roadmaster Deluxe.

Also about this time, I had picked up a 1947 Firestone Pilot, which had a Monark fork on it, exactly the fork I needed for this bike, and the right color.

I swapped out the replacement fork to an original Monark, started using the frame expander on the rear stays, cranked it out to almost 6 inches, but it would go back to stock as soon as I pulled the expander. This was getting old, so I tapped into my mad engineering skills and made it work. The bike was in the stand, I put ratchet straps from my truck to one side, and another strap from my garage door hardware to the other, got the frame wide enough and the wheel slid right in.

The front fork expanded without a problem and now the bike was and is a 7 speed. Stock Monark 52t front sprocket, Shimano 22t on the rear, the bike really gets moving quickly, not a big problem up hill, and downhill it is just stupid fast. Went with a clay coloured Duro 26x2.125 tire on it, and it was looking pretty sweet. I also went back to the original stem, with the stock fork set up, and a more conventional handlebar.

I had reached the point where I thought it was done.

But is a build ever done?

 

[piercer99]

Over a year ago, while looking at the facebook marketplace, there was an ad, for an 'old monark piece'

Well the old piece was a chainguard, I had saved the ad at that time, and one night I remembered it, went on facebook, checked my saved ads, and it was still a live ad. I sent a message and got a response right away, yes they had it and it was for sale. I should say, it was the same colour as the bike is. The only problem was that this was a couple hours from me, about 110 miles each way. So I said I wanted it and would be back in touch. I was working about half way to the city it was in, so I set up going to get it at a lunch break, met up with the lady, who ended up selling it to me for 10.00 less than the original stupid small price and I was off with it.

Got home, it was pretty rust coated. I knocked down the rust with 220, then 500, then 1000 w/d, and waxed it up, almost a perfect match for the bike. I have always been big on chainguards, since I was a kid and my shoe lace got stuck in the chain wheel and I went down, while going down hill.

The bike looked great with the chain guard, and once again I thought I was done.

 

[piercer99]

Notice how I thought I was done a couple of times so far.

I was down in Irving picking up a couple of set of wheels I had built, and my friend asked me if I had any use for a fender for a Monark. Then he hands me a rear fender for a 1948, in the right colour. Dang it.

So, for a few months, I kept thinking about how cool fenders would be, most of all riding when the road is wet and not having the big wet stripe up the center of my back. I started looking actively for a front fender, same color and condition and could not find one. Then a guy in a club I am in, posted about having a set of deep fenders for sale, we struck a bargain and they were on the way to me. Only problem, they were blue, not sun faded maroon.

Got the fenders, stripped them, fixed some of the major bumps and dents, primed them, painted them, painted them again, and again. Then mounted them on the bike and it looks sick. The headlight didn't sit exactly right, a friend of mine offered me a repop pedestal for it, and I put that on yesterday, after getting it painted.

I can finally say, it is almost done.

Maybe a rear carrier, swap out the crank to the original dogleg and some truss rods, maybe some parade bars, but not much else.

Anyway, here is how it looks now, pretty much done. Since I got the wheel set right after Christmas, I have put about 250 miles on this bike, it rides really great.

1948 Monark Rocket
Alloy rims
Shimano Nexus Inter 7 coaster
Sealed Shimano front hub
Duro 26x2.125 tires
Electra saddle
layback seat post
Thompson coke bottle grips
Huffy water bottle holder (need it in Texas)
49 pounds, 8 ounces of fun.

 

[Brian macumber]

Great transformation

 

[toro1978]

Very pretty. I liked very much the version with the red wheels no fenders - it would have really stood out if You had kept the gold rims since gold and red(dish) is a great combination.
I also like the "final" version - those fenders are terrific, so deep! I also think that for this look the silver rims fit it better. Those Street King tires are sweet too.
And yes, they are never quite done, are they?

 

[JimMendel]

Nice looking old bike. One of these days I'll find a balloon tire bike to play with.

 

[piercer99]

Nice looking old bike. One of these days I'll find a balloon tire bike to play with.

Today could be your day. I have two for sale.

https://ratrodbikes.com/forum/index...exas-special-custom-build-daily-rider.108544/

https://ratrodbikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/1941-monark-rocket-complete-rider.108543/

 

[JimMendel]

If I was closer, I'd come and check them out.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Great build, I can't believe there was a time you were thinking of selling it!

 

[Uncle Shish]

Love the version with big fenders ... have to nickname you "The Goalie" ... as in nice save!

 

[piercer99]

Great build, I can't believe there was a time you were thinking of selling it!

well, this 1947 Huffman Texas Special was a really great project that I had no intention of selling.

Alas, I am buying a Pierce Racer and need the money to pay it off, so the Huffman is for sale.
Also my 1941 Rocket, I have wanted a Pierce since I was a kid.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

well, this 1947 Huffman Texas Special was a really great project that I had no intention of selling.

Alas, I am buying a Pierce Racer and need the money to pay it off, so the Huffman is for sale.
Also my 1941 Rocket, I have wanted a Pierce since I was a kid.View attachment 93907 View attachment 93908

Understood! Some people can't believe I have sold some of my bikes, but you can't keep them all!