ConTENtious

[CRASH]

Starting the body work. This screw hole on the bottom of the down tube is for the chain guard that isn’t being used.

So a slathered some Loc-Tite on a slightly bigger screw and forced it in.

Then I cut it off with an angle grinder and smoothed it out. It smoothed better than I thought it would.

Then hit it with some 220 grit.

I’m gonna hit it with a little bondo and call it a weekend.

 

[GeePig]

I blame the Navy for this ridiculous “attention to detail” for things that no one else would notice.
I’m breaking the bike down to get the pieces needing chrome to the player ASAP. These rocker arms for the rat-trap fork would have been fine. I was cleaning up some of the additions I made to one of them and I noticed the edges were rough. Probably because it was cast.
View attachment 251477

Probably stamped, pressed, brazed and chromed, a real classic technique - but so much nicer now that you have cleaned it up

 

[CRASH]

Chrome dropped.

 

[GeePig]

Ah, I look forward to the glorious shininess!

 

[CRASH]

My time during the week is limited, but I’m trying to knock out some metal prep where I can. I was sanding the frame and ran across another chain guard mounting screw hole I forgot about.

So crammed in another screw with Loc-Tite.

And shaved it off.

I smoothed it off and filled it in with bondo. Also found a few more spots that needed bondo. So now I’m. Letting it dry before I finish the metal prep before primer.

 

[CRASH]

I’ve given myself till the 19th as a deadline because I’ll be busy all T-giving weekend and the contest ends on a Thursday.
So I’ve got a lot to do, and despite that, I keep doing ridiculous stuff like this. No one is ever going to inspect the bottom of the fork blades!! Why am I wasting time taking them from this

To this!

And smoothing out these edges.

I’ve spent the day doing metal prep and primer. The first round of etch revealed small gouges I couldn’t see in the bare metal, but I had to take care of because paint will advertise them like a neon sign. My goal is to have this bike in the paint booth this week.

 

[CRASH]

Working down the first round of build primer. Lots of little “divots” in the frame that I think I’ve taken care of with this round. So another couple of coats of build will go on next to get smoothed out and ready for paint. I’m hoping to get it in the shop by Wednesday.

 

[barbedwire]

You are a master at your craft sir! This is so entertaining and informative to see the process playing out. You definitely have an attention to detail and that is making this even better because it is all I valving things often overlooked but now that you pointed them out and made them better I can't help but think how the factory took shortcuts on things like that haha

 

[CRASH]

I didn’t get a before/before if these springs, but they were pretty rusty. So they soaked in evaporust and came out like this.

Then off to the powder coater, and came back like this.

 

[CRASH]

 

[Pondo]

View attachment 252096

Wow, that's beautiful!

 

[The Renaissance Man]

It's not rusty, but it looks ok. lol



Just kidding of course. It turned out fantastic!

 

[CRASH]

Under the seat needed some help. It was bare metal.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Is that silver spray paint? Looks good

 

[CRASH]

Is that silver spray paint? Looks good

Yes, Rustoleum

 

[Chad T]

Wow CRASH this thread is like a good mystery novel. Couldn't stop reading once I started. Glad you got the brake arm hooked up on the front. Should be good for the smaller wheel and intended use. One more thing on those drum brakes. Make sure it's rotating in the direction it was designed to. I put a moped wheel with drum brake on one of my bikes as a kid. Was riding slow in the driveway and barely touched the brake. Threw me over the handlebars and bent the fork severely. Pads will lock on these if not rotating as designed. At least that one did for me. Can't wait to see this one!

 

[CRASH]

Wow CRASH this thread is like a good mystery novel. Couldn't stop reading once I started. Glad you got the brake arm hooked up on the front. Should be good for the smaller wheel and intended use. One more thing on those drum brakes. Make sure it's rotating in the direction it was designed to. I put a moped wheel with drum brake on one of my bikes as a kid. Was riding slow in the driveway and barely touched the brake. Threw me over the handlebars and bent the fork severely. Pads will lock on these if not rotating as designed. At least that one did for me. Can't wait to see this one!

Yes, this drum is set for the pads on the left side. Thanks for looking out!

 

[CRASH]

Chrome is back.

So I knocked out the front wheel.

 

[RustySprockets]

Big ol' pile of shiny!

 

[Son of Kradus]

Replacement is on order.

better stop working out, the next thread will last longer LOL