6th and Ongoing! 50's Hawthorne Hot Rod

[Unchained]

Well I've declared this bike done 5 times now but I think I'm serious this time. ...We'll see how long that lasts. I laced my first wheel today in only several hours! :shock: At least I have my drum brake working again and on a nicer front rim. What do you guys think about the bike?

http://i43.tinypic.com/333d1cg.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/53nz9y.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/zwxht.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/2nrzt3l.jpg

*EDIT: title change and new pics, page 2.

 

[Markm]

Re: 5th and final... I think

Cool!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[tnt1]

Re: 5th and final... I think

Where did you and markm get them red pedals t/y Tony 8)

 

[Unchained]

Re: 5th and final... I think

Hi there,

They are Torrington 10 pedals, mine happen to be made in Westfield, Massachusetts (that's only cool because it's a 40-60 minute drive from where I live). They appear occasionally on Ebay... I think mine have been rebuilt or are NOS. The pedal bliocks are more commonly black. I bought my red pair from a site member here, you just have to keep an eye out I guess. Thanks for the comments!

 

[Markm]

Re: 5th and final... I think

I got mine in a trade lot....torringtons, huh?

 

[Unchained]

Re: 5th and final... I think

Yeah, Persons Co. made red ones too I think...

 

[sensor]

Re: 5th and final... I think

looks great and i love that headlamp :mrgreen:

 

[Unchained]

Re: 5th and final... I think

Thanks! I added the visor and I think that is a nice touch- I will never look at a a rusty middleweight fender the same again... :lol: :wink: Unfortunately this light is fussy and an odd voltage and I can't power it to save my life... anyone seen a 4.7v bicycle headlight before? I know it's made for a bicycle, I just don't get the odd voltage... I even put a NOS lens in and tested that with a CAR battery with no promising results. I'm hoping a 6v battery in the tank will do the trick... dream on, huh?

 

[karfer67]

Re: 5th and final... I think

gotta love the skirt guards

 

[stretch]

Re: 5th and final... I think

its a rat rod! and rat rods are everchanging! ive got a bike that is going o be paint a third, maybe fourth time!(idk hoow many times it was paint before i stretched it). :mrgreen: IMO

 

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

Re: 5th and final... I think

i like it.

 

[Unchained]

Re: 5th and final... I think

Thanks for the compliments guys. I don't think the 12v battery killed it, we tried normal battery sizes before that and couldn't get the sucker to go. It's not like I ride at night very often, but I figure that if I have a light up front it might as well work. :wink:

I'm glad this post was brought back up to the top, because I would like some opinions on the front wheel. Do the spokes look funny being slightly too short as pictured? I don't know that I really like the extra threads showing so much... but then too, it kind of has that "built in the backyard 50 years ago" feel as is. :lol: ...Which is what I was aiming for. Longer spoke heads might do the trick and cover my extra threads... the rear wheel does have longer spoke heads anyway... Then too, should I spray bomb the spokes and spokes heads silver on the front wheel to match the rim I used? Share your thoughts, please!

 

[Unchained]

Re: 5th and final... I think

I forgot to say that this bike isn't done afterall, I'm going to be messing around with a springer for it later... :lol: And then there's always that tire pump I'd like to add... :roll:

 

[sensor]

Re: 5th and final... I think

have you tried it with an old 9vlt?(the big old rectangular ones) battery or 3or4 d cells? im guessing thatll get her going

 

[Unchained]

Re: 5th and final... I think

Well, the thing is, my tank has one of those big old square battery units for the older 6v "lantern" flashlight batteries. I have been having a hard time finding those in stores (today, they are not suited for the application as both the negative and positive terminals are on top of the battery; that just shorts my circuit and does no good. The horn just grunts and I couldn't get the light to do anything. The battery I need should have a single, centered positive terminal on top and a metal bottom as a negative terminal). I can't bring myself to buy any old battery and I don't know that the old style is in production anywhere. I also don't feel like switching my internals, so here is how it sits until further notice I guess

 

[KZ1000]

Re: 5th and final... I think

couldn't you solder batteries together (like R/C car people do), to make your own "cell"

 

[Unchained]

Re: 5th and final... I think

Thanks for that suggestion- however I don't know anything about soldering batteries together and am not sure I have the correct tools... I am going to have to do some searching.

 

[PorkBelly Pete]

Re: 5th and final... I think

Well, the thing is, my tank has one of those big old square battery units for the older 6v "lantern" flashlight batteries. I have been having a hard time finding those in stores (today, they are not suited for the application as both the negative and positive terminals are on top of the battery; that just shorts my circuit and does no good. The horn just grunts and I couldn't get the light to do anything. The battery I need should have a single, centered positive terminal on top and a metal bottom as a negative terminal). I can't bring myself to buy any old battery and I don't know that the old style is in production anywhere. I also don't feel like switching my internals, so here is how it sits until further notice I guess

ya, you're not going to find a battery like that at your hardware store, that's for sure. the real solution sounds like a new wiring job, you can always go to a small 12v battery and change bulbs...........

 

[Unchained]

Re: 5th and final... I think

Well, to change bulbs I would have to cut and modify the glass lens, as the bulb is actually non-removable and part of the nice old lens... I have thought about using a dremel or other small implement of that nature to cut the lens apart a little and do an LED upgrade, but I'd rather not as I like the old school look of the lens and don't want to cut it apart- I'm not sure that can be done safely anyway...

 

[Unchained]

Re: 5th and final... I think

Well, this bike will soon be under revision yet again, thus changing the name to 6 and ongoing. :lol: My springers should be here early this week, I am excited for their arrival.