Chop's Color/Jetflow resto-rod

[Ichoptop]

I picked up a ladies JC Higgins Colorflow a few months back and finally have time to get to work on it. It is going to be a resto-rod for my wonderful wife. She puts up with my many hours away from home while I work in the shop, holes in my t-shirts from welding, has stiched me up more than once when I lay a knuckle open, and puts up with all the weirdness that the shop attracts. I picked it up for next to nothing from the second owner. It was in pretty good shape. The fenders were banged up pretty well, quite a few bumps and bruises, and an exploded battery in the horn box. I don't often restore anything since it is a pretty easy affair but she loves this bike and it is in just bad enough shape to require some skill.

The Plan: We ride bikes....a lot. So this will be a restoration visibly with some modern updates to be able to get parts on the fly and fix on the road.

here she is when she first rolled into the garage.

 

[Ichoptop]

In fear of things getting lost in the shop I have decided to work on this one at home. Hopefully to spend more time at home with my wife.

 

[Ichoptop]

First thing was the tear down and bag / tag all the parts. A few bolts were stuck with rust and had to be cut out. All in all it came apart pretty easily for its age.

They had left the batteries in the tank for the light and horn. Bad idea to do that for many years. One looked newer than the rest but one had popped some time ago.

Once tore down and everything boxed I started on the fenders. Removed all the paint / rust so I could see what I was working with. I circled all the dents and got out my favorite dolly (that my dad gave me a long time ago) and my hammers, and cranked up the stereo to Devil Makes three and started taking the dents out.

After lots of tapping, a little heat with the torch, and some quenching with cold water I am sure I can take care of the rest with some high build primer and some wet sanding.

finished rear fender

meanwhile I added a tail light to my daily ride to get ready for OBC in Vegas in 2 months.

 

[Ichoptop]

A few days ago I pulled the wheels apart. Unfortunately the rear hub was trashed. The coaster shoes had ate away the inside of the hub due to poor maintenance. Its really sad because the rear hubs on these things are really great looking. I had a set of Western Flyer wheels at the shop so I brought those home, tore them down, polished everything, then rebuilt the hub. With a little help from a flat file I was able to get the Higgins coaster brake arm to fit on the Bendix hub.

Worked for several hours today. Blasted all the brackets for the fenders, tank, and rack. Then pulled the rear rack onto the bench and did a few hours of hammer and dolly work to get it straight.

 

[kingfish254]

I love all of the tins on these Higgins'. You had a full load of work to post in the first day of this build. I can't wait to see how great it turns out.
Dig the stormtrooper tailight too.

 

[Ichoptop]

It wasn't the first day. I have had the pix in my phone. I think I have about 3 full days into it. The worst was trying to get the fender screw that goes into the fork out. I ended up drilling it out and welded a 1/4-20 bolt in its place.


Here are the tins

 

[Ichoptop]

I found this old boat beacon lens a few days ago. It took some creative grinding but I finally got it to fit the bezel for the rack. I never understood why the original lens was blue. And the style of the lens really fits the flow of the rack and bezel.

I stripped everything down in the blast cabinet and quickly and hit the underside of the rack, fenders, chain guard, and skirt guards with spray epoxy. It is tough as powder coat and will seal the sheet metal.

 

[SILVERKINGPC]

Cool bike. I can see why your wife loves that bike...Really nice to see it coming back for her to ride..(a lot)

 

[Ichoptop]

could be Ceebee. Old bikes aren't really my gig. I am more of a custom guy.

No pics today but I got the frame down to metal and in primer. I also got the rack, fork, and 3 of the 4 fender braces in primer....then I realized I didn't have any more primer in the paint cabinet. I'll order some in and if the weather and humidity cooperate I hope to get the fenders and last brace in primer this week.

 

[Psycho Sammi]

That beacon lens gives that rack a great new look !

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Very cool work!

Luke.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Very nice!

I really like this picture...

 

[Tomburr]

Great restoration going on here. Could you explain the spray epoxy a little further?

 

[Bike Bum]

I love JC Higgins bikes. I've been looking for one of those chain guards too.

 

[Cda_Cruisers]

I love JC Higgins bikes. I've been looking for one of those chain guards too.

Just the guard?

 

[Bike Bum]

Just the guard?

Yeah, I have the fenders, the back rack and the skirt guards but I haven't picked up the chain guard yet.