Fire arrow, 2nd try...

[idiotboy]

More boring but important progress tonight, gotta make these parts into a rear wheel

next step will be to reassemble the coaster brake and true the wheel, then I can start test-fitting parts

 

[horsefarmer]

Looks good! Thats next thing I gotta try, lacing a hub.

 

[Bike Bum]

Yeah, I've never laced a wheel before. I guess I should take an old crappy one just to practice with. Nice job!

 

[idiotboy]

It's really not difficult, I bought a book, Zinn and the art of mountain bike maintainence, several years ago to learn how to adjust my derailleurs instead of paying the bike shop. It sat collecting dust on my bookshelf until a couple years ago when I got into these old bikes and found out it had a chapter on wheel building with step by step instructions and pictures I've assembled about a dozen wheels now and I still use the book every time

 

[kingfish254]

When first laced some wheels a couple of build offs ago, I found it easiest to locate a good youtube video on it and then I would just watch-paus-rewind-play it over and over on my smartphone as I did each step.

 

[idiotboy]

I got the hubs greased and adjusted after work today, trued the rear wheel and mounted the tires, rolling stock is done

now I can start test- fitting parts to see what sticks I'm pretty sure the original fire arrow frame was a middleweight and this one was a balloon tire bike, cuz this tire was a tight fit in the old frame

but has plenty of clearance in this one

I might try to find a bigger tire....

 

[idiotboy]

I think this bike needs a stubby rear fender, so into the fender pile we go... Got this huffy cranbrook fender

a couple minutes with this...

and I ended up with this

I cut it so it has the same length below the chainstays as above the seatstays

details...

 

[The Renaissance Man]

The rear fender looks good with the symmetrical placement.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

The rear fender looks good with the symmetrical placement.

+1!

Luke.

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

The rear fender looks good with the symmetrical placement.

Same here!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[idiotboy]

Thanks guys, glad you like it since this bike is gonna have a tank, I want to add some visual weight to the rear, so cardboard and sharpie to the rescue

I'm going to fill in the area between the seat tube and fender

with this shape

the city scraps the damaged street signs but it looks like bike parts to me...

still needs a bit of belt sanding to fit good but this is the idea

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Nice work, suits perfectly with that fender!

Luke.

 

[kingfish254]

Nice fender work!

 

[idiotboy]

Thanks guys! Appreciate the positive feedback not much progress this weekend, today was chore day and tomorrow I'm gonna ride this

but I did buy a 26x2.5 hookworm tire, it fills up the fender much better

I have to deflate it to install the wheel so I think it's the perfect size

 

[Schwinnspastic]

lookin' good but so much for tire clearance !
Mark

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Looks like it is the perfect size!

Luke.

 

[Stevil]

Looks like you represent NERRB,Joel.
Good luck...Stevil

 

[idiotboy]

Thanks Steve I'll take all the luck I can get! If it ends up simple, clean, comfy and fun to ride I'll be happy and don't worry it will have a beverage opener on it somewhere...

 

[OddJob]

It's really not difficult, I bought a book, Zinn and the art of mountain bike maintainence, several years ago to learn how to adjust my derailleurs instead of paying the bike shop. It sat collecting dust on my bookshelf until a couple years ago when I got into these old bikes and found out it had a chapter on wheel building with step by step instructions and pictures I've assembled about a dozen wheels now and I still use the book every time

Yeah, Leonard's book is pretty well thought out and helpful. He's a friendly, helpful guy in person as well....and, one of the tallest avid cyclists I've ever met! Looks like you're moving along on the build....nice!

 

[idiotboy]

Wow it doesn't take long to bounce back to page 3! I've been slacking on this build lately, guess I should get back on it! Tonight I wire brushed the old house paint off the fork and primered the fork and frame

got it hanging next to the furnace, tomorrow night is paint night, stay tuned...