Charity Bike Surprise! (photo added)

[yoothgeye]

It's that time of year again, when people start asking me for free bikes and to fix up bikes. I've put together a couple to give away, then the receptionist at the middle school called me and said she picked up some from the police impound and wanted me to help get them ready. There are about 11.

I helped her with a list of what each bike needed, then she connected me with an officer who would let me in the impound to get more bikes for parts.

I went there today with my trailer after work and we started pulling bikes. Some were marked "evidence" and had to be left there. Lots of sad story looking bikes, seems like the best ones were evidence. There was an 80s BMX with mags, Dominator saddle, etc... run over by a car, nothing straight... evidence! haha

We kept pulling bikes and putting them on my trailer as we checked the tags on each bike "lost and found" was what I got as long as it wasn't a recent date. As we got to the back corner I saw something familiar... it was my daughter's bike that was stolen 2 years ago, and besides a flat rear tire... it's perfect! The tag gave the address that it was found, only a few blocks from the house. It's not a bike we need any longer, but it's seriously cool to get it back.

Anyway, when I saw it I said "That's my daughter's bike!" and the detective said, "Take it back!" haha

Here's the pile of bikes I got:

 

[aka_locojoe]

That's cool it was found just too bad it took so long.

Good thing you're doing.

 

[Rat Rod]

Ha Ha...that's awesome about your daughter's bike.

 

[kngtmat]

Cool. I love when good things like that happen.

 

[Funkme]

Keep up the good work yoothgeye... Would be wonderful to see these kids faces when they receive a bike...

 

[jerrykr]

looks like the elf has a LOT of work to do!
Keep up the good work!

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Getting your daughters bike back is just awesome!

Luke.

 

[yoothgeye]

All I got to do yesterday on my day off was unpile them and put them out in the yard in differing piles of what needed work. I've got 2 out of 3 vehicles broke down right now and someone has loaned me a car while I get one of them running, so I was chasing down electrical gremlins in my Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ) all day until I finally think I found that I have a bad computer and that's why I'm not getting power to the fuel pump. Just put a new fuel pump in, bench tested the one I took out, it works, so looks like the computer made me buy a new fuel pump and waste about 5 hours putting it in...

 

[kngtmat]

We have stuff like that happen with our cars. Sometimes it's the fuel pump relay because and happens with many other cars no matter what car make it is.

 

[MplsCoaster]

Youthgeye said: so I was chasing down electrical gremlins in my Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ) all day until I finally think I found that I have a bad computer and that's why I'm not getting power to the fuel pump. Just put a new fuel pump in, bench tested the one I took out, it works, so looks like the computer made me buy a new fuel pump and waste about 5 hours putting it in...
Ouch! Checking fuel pump operation can be tricky, it happened to me when I used to be a ceritifed mech

Great you found your Daugther's bike and very cool you're build for charity

 

[yoothgeye]

Ouch! Checking fuel pump operation can be tricky, it happened to me when I used to be a ceritifed mech

Yeah, tricky indeed, luckily the Jeep is 20 years old and lots of people have posted on forums about similar problems, so I've been able to go down their rabbit holes instead of my own. Hopefully I can get to the junkyard and get a good computer cheap, if that's not the problem then I have 30 days to return it. It's a nice junkyard, too bad it's about an hour away.

Great you found your Daugther's bike and very cool you're build for charity

Thanks, I gave away a Haro Zippo this morning to a Hispanic family, I was put in touch with them through a school teacher who knew they couldn't afford a bike for their son, nice people, but I don't speak Spanish so I was glad there was an interpreter to help me. I was able to pick up "gracias" and offered back a "de nada," but really had to hold back from saying my normal Spanish saying "Mi padre es el choche."

 

[yoothgeye]

Got some parts yesterday (yes, this is a different load, not from impound though):

 

[The Renaissance Man]

 

[The Renaissance Man]

So what's the latest with the Charity Bikes?

Are you getting that trailer ready for Christmas eve?

Keep up the good work!

 

[yoothgeye]

I gave away 2 a couple weeks back. I gave away 3 this morning, the bulk of what I am fixing up (11-13 bikes) are promised to middle school age kids, but not until after Christmas.

 

[GuitarlCarl]

4th stage... He looks like Santa Claus!

Carl.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

4th stage... He looks like Santa Claus!

Carl.

Or an elf.

 

[yoothgeye]

One hand, eyes closed. Because tall bike.