ORBO Crusty

[dropstep]

I’m in with this Hiawatha badged frame. Hopefully I can find a seatpost

why is it every time a build off starts my work area is a wreck. Been cleaning 3 years worth of greasy hardware because I seem to save it all.

Both of the frames I currently have and like were partially stripped at some point in there life so going to try a rough paint job in the cold

 

[Wildcat]

Wish I could find an old Huffman frame. That's going to perfect for this build off.

How about bare polished metal?

 

[Ed Stately]

View attachment 255464I’m in with this Hiawatha badged frame. Hopefully I can find a seatpost View attachment 255465why is it every time a build off starts my work area is a wreck. Been cleaning 3 years worth of greasy hardware because I seem to save it all.

Both of the frames I currently have and like were partially stripped at some point in there life so going to try a rough paint job in the cold

What size seat post? I may have one for you. I've got a few Hiawatha's in the scrap pile.

 

[dropstep]

Squeezed in some bike time and found out I really need to organize. This isn’t including the forks, fenders and chainguards.

The minute I touched one I found out the totes weren’t on the pallets fully. So I looked for a seatpost and struck out.

Appears to be 13/16 and a few people have spoke up about seat posts so I’m going to return a message

did find out at some point the fine folks at scwhinn made a stem that small. If all else fails. You can see the rust on the stand from the quick sanding last night. Did find out my wife isn’t fond of primer drying in the basement. So it’s gotta stay out in the cold on paint days

found a fork that fits and a stem. Ignore the bars!

Did another round of scuffing with 400 grit and threw some primer on it this evening. See how it looks tomorrow evening and maybe bring it inside.

 

[BartRidesEternal]

I love that frame, and fork.
The fork tree reminds me of the Fokker Dr1

 

[dropstep]

Can you tell I wet sanded it again

It spent some time hanging out with the crank in its life.

Then I’m impatient so I sprayed a coat of color on it in the dark and 29 degrees. Busy day today so might get to see how bad I messed it up this evening

 

[Bike from the Dead]

Love those old Huffman frames. That'll make a great klunker! Love the shade of blue you're painting it.

 

[dropstep]

My dark paint turned out better then I expected.

Had to wet sand a few spots. I know I called this thing crusty but the paints coming around and I might not bring patina back

fantastic painting weather in Ohio.

There’s now 2 different shades of blue, it’s hard to see on my phone but I’m hoping I’m better light the colors show. Trying something different on the fork, if I hate this color the fork and bars will end up black.

Almost forgot, somehow the biggest issue I had was a giant sag on the fork.

 

[dropstep]

Had to get it in the stand and look at the fork tonight. Think I might like the silver metal flake.

then trying to capture a photo that shows the blend of both shades of blue.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Man, that frame looks so good just sitting in the stand. Absolutely love it. It has the look of a CWC, the rear triangle curves are slaying me. Can't wait to see it all dressed up and ready to go

 

[dropstep]

This things turning out way nicer then I expected already. I have a few parts stashed for the big summer build but I’m tempted to use them here it’s a shame this is going to get ridden in snow and mud.

Last round of cleaning hardware was the reason I went downstairs but I couldn’t help myself and assembled the front of the bike.

 

[dropstep]

Follow along for more cleaning and boring decisions.

Sadly the chrome is shot. These are my 3 favorites out of the 25 or so I have.

I very briefly considered this monster from monark. It’s aluminum so it has to be light

the 39T didn’t really make me happy, doesn’t look right.

This 46-48 I’m not sure just bigger then a modern 44 would take a half link to get the wheel wear I’d like. (Weird testing parts when you care about the paint), I apparently didn’t photo the middle 44t option.

Ignore the orange chain, it was the only new and clean chain I had handy! Whatever I decide for sprocket won’t be chrome

 

[dropstep]

Thanks to a nice guy on the forum I have a seat post. Also this is the current crank/sprocket set. Getting closer to ready to ride.

 

[dropstep]

I’m apparently out of black seats that don’t make my ... hurt. This white loses me some cool points I’m sure but I’m trying it first along with the white grips.

 

[Wildcat]

The early Huffys, (Huffmans) had a spiral chain ring.

Here's a 49:

Did you find a serial number on your frame?

 

[MattiThundrrr]

This white loses me some cool points

Yes. That is definitely not it

 

[dropstep]

Haven’t looked but this is what was salvageable when I got it in a pile of bikes this summer.

Trying out the wheels and tires. Might swap to the slightly less aggressive tires off my GT.

Just for chuckles I grabbed the red tires. That’s a hard nope but it is kind of funny seeing wheels worth more than the rest of the bike on it.

@Wildcat i do have the chain ring off it but it’s really beat. Someone started stripping everything then it ended up in a bulk buyers outside pile.

@MattiThundrrr until I get a chain and test ride it the white stays it’s that or a pink bmx seat right now.

 

[dropstep]

H53312 on the left rear dropout. Some digit in front of the H but can’t make it out anymore

 

[Wildcat]

H53312 on the left rear dropout. Some digit in front of the H but can’t make it out anymore

That missing digit is the last digit of the year. 8H would be 1958.

 

[dropstep]

It’s either an 8 or a 3.

Didn’t want to lose matti’s vote already so trying a more appropriate black seat and grips.

Almost robbed this seat but it’s just as big as the white one

I’m clearly a fan of big seats thought