1951 J.C. Higgins

[ParkRNDL]

Till now, most of the bikes I've rescued were from the '60s and '70s. I have been on the lookout for a balloon-tire tank bike, and so a friend with too many projects just sold me this:

The wheels (especially the rear) had enough loose spokes that you could feel them wobble. So just to get it rideable, I robbed a set of wheels off a Target-grade Schwinn. I also tried on a seat from a Trek I've been cannibalizing (and which may also donate its fenders) just for looks; not sure I'm sold on it.

The guard is barely hanging on there and needs some attention, and I'm not a fan of the front sprocket. Also looking to put a rack and fenders on it.

LOVE the way this thing rides. Yet another reason I can't wait for spring.

 

[Starnger]

Till now, most of the bikes I've rescued were from the '60s and '70s. I have been on the lookout for a balloon-tire tank bike, and so a friend with too many projects just sold me this:
View attachment 113313

The wheels (especially the rear) had enough loose spokes that you could feel them wobble. So just to get it rideable, I robbed a set of wheels off a Target-grade Schwinn. I also tried on a seat from a Trek I've been cannibalizing (and which may also donate its fenders) just for looks; not sure I'm sold on it.

View attachment 113314

The guard is barely hanging on there and needs some attention, and I'm not a fan of the front sprocket. Also looking to put a rack and fenders on it.

LOVE the way this thing rides. Yet another reason I can't wait for spring.

I quite like the spiral front sprocket actually! I don't see many like this one.
Nice project! Same year as mine CWC bike Good luck with it!

 

[ParkRNDL]

I bought this Trek last year to use the wheels on an old Schwinn middleweight frame, and I've been trying to find uses for the rest of it ever since.

And when i got this Schwinn Windwood on FB Marketplace to use the wheels on this project, I also had an eye on the rack.

So this is where I'm at now.

The rear fender needs a little work on the bottom mount, and the rack is pretty much just balanced there for the pic. I need to come up with a way to get the front of the rack mounted. (Or get a proper rack that mounts to the seat clamp, of course... but I had this one sitting here, so I figured why not see if it'd work?)

I think I'll be picking away at this one for a long time. A big part of the fun is going to be finding and upgrading parts as i come across them.

 

[Starnger]

Can you mount that rack on the bridge between seat stays? Maybe with an extension plate.

 

[ParkRNDL]

Can you mount that rack on the bridge between seat stays? Maybe with an extension plate.

The seat stays are joined to a single tube at that point, and are actually an extension of the top tube.

I am thinking of using an L-shaped bracket attached to the fender mount bolt.

 

[ParkRNDL]

Interesting find...

I left it in there. Who knows how many years ago some kid stuffed it in one of the portholes (or maybe the horn button opening).

Also, this is what's left of the guard.

I am going to try to use some of the existing pieces to lash it all back together a little better than it was when I got it.

I'm also betting this tab was tack welded on by a previous owner. Other guards like this that I've seen online dont have it.

Edit: it actually kills me that I missed out on this one, which was sold here in Swap & Sell shortly before I picked this bike up. I don't remember by who... kingfish, maybe? All I know is the first time I saw it in the thread it said SOLD above it.

 

[ParkRNDL]

I just can't seem to leave the 3D printer idea alone...

This is my bike.

This is a bike I saw at a swap over the weekend.

This is the dumb stuff I get in my head.

 

[Brian macumber]

The seat stays are joined to a single tube at that point, and are actually an extension of the top tube.
View attachment 113484

I am thinking of using an L-shaped bracket attached to the fender mount bolt.

A 2 hole pipe strap would probably work to hold the rack

 

[ParkRNDL]

A 2 hole pipe strap would probably work to hold the rack

Hmmm. That might have been easier and sturdier than what I ended up doing. I got to tinkering the other night and used one of the brackets that held the fender to the bike it was on before. Had to drill on it a little to use a decent size bolt.

So now, from a distance, it kinda looks like the rack is floating.

If the rack seems wobbly once I start riding this thing, I might revisit the pipe strap idea...

 

[kingfish254]

I sold that red higgins guard, but I do have a blue one currently in the sale section

 

[kingfish254]

Love the idea of 3D printed header pipes.

 

[ParkRNDL]

Tried out my crazy header pipes today

Also, I got really nice truss rods and a really nice headbadge from @Jsparks .

All that's left to do now is take it out and enjoy it.

 

[Brian macumber]

They came out great

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Those pipes are great! V6 instead of a V8!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

except for the seat, this bike is fantastic. I really like all the parts you chose/made.

 

[Jsparks]

Tried out my crazy header pipes today
View attachment 113902 View attachment 113903

View attachment 113904

Also, I got really nice truss rods and a really nice headbadge from @Jsparks .
View attachment 113907 View attachment 113908 View attachment 113909 View attachment 113910

All that's left to do now is take it out and enjoy it.

Pipe came out Great, No they are Past Great.

 

[Jsparks]

Here is mine with the decal on the Tank.

 

[ParkRNDL]

except for the seat, this bike is fantastic. I really like all the parts you chose/made.

Yeah, I have a love/hate thing going on with the seat. At the moment i don't have anything really perfect for this bike, but I am thinking of just going back to the black one I got it with. I also kinda want a layback seatpost for it.

 

[Jsparks]

If you are looking for anything like these let me know.

 

[kingfish254]

Those pipes are killer! I guarantee you would have some buyers if you made more.