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Drive donor and I've got to do some adapting...
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Modern drive on a turn of the last century bike... gonna need adapters.
 
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Napkin blueprint calls for a conversion to a standard bike chain and use two modern cogs for the rear steering. I've done this before, shouldn't be too hard to mod the newer fork. But I am going to see if I can find one set up for brakes. A lonely coaster brake out back is fine for a minute, but don't cruise down any hills. Anyhow getting that steering up and working is next. While I track down some adapters for the BBs and get them shipped in.
 
Just popping by GuitarCarl's garage...and, OH MY! That frame! That original fork! Those wheels / tires!

Whatever color that primer is, really works with that old school frame, and those brownish red walled tires. I'd be tempted to clear over that 'nude' frame and go with it. Black or brown seats and grips would work.

Carl this thing is really cool!

If that original fork had the pulley for a rope steer, which seems possible, what would the welded cog be for? Seems redundant.
 
Just popping by GuitarCarl's garage...and, OH MY! That frame! That original fork! Those wheels / tires!

Whatever color that primer is, really works with that old school frame, and those brownish red walled tires. I'd be tempted to clear over that 'nude' frame and go with it. Black or brown seats and grips would work.

Carl this thing is really cool!

If that original fork had the pulley for a rope steer, which seems possible, what would the welded cog be for? Seems redundant.
It's a rough weld not factory at all and I think it was adapted. The cog on the steering end seems of a different quality that the rest as well. My thought is the rope wasn't efficient and chain was substituted. Frame is a greasy satin black now... I'm mostly waiting on parts.
 
Alright a rough month left, better pick them taters up and get to cookin'! Parts been trickling in, I got the new gears for the steering (need to grab a couple turn buckles at the hardware store) The fork gear should be easy, couple tack welds and then fill in the gaps a bit. But I have to stretch the neck too if I want to use the fork with the brakes mounted (I do) so that's two bits of welding and I've got to fabricate the whole bottom half of the steering column. The threads are trashed up but I'm hoping they'll miraculously fix themselves or I'll be needlefile and Dremel tooling them into a reasonable facsimile of threads, enough to hold the nonexistent piece that will hold the gear, held in place by the trashed nut I have. Yeah. I'm gonna have to scabricate something... oh pictures of the parts...
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Woohoo! I'm still here...
 
I know bench clutter makes it tough to see but the main part of the drive is in. Used a halflink and it'll need a little tensioner added but that's easy peasey. Also need to dig thru my pedal stash and see if there's another pair of waffle blocks. The plastic has to go!
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Ground the teeth off the old cog for the bottom of the steering shaft. Ready to weld on the new one. Got a couple more welding projects to prep, then knock em all out at once...
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I also need to tap the side holes for set screws... it has opposing holes but no threads, and the shaft has no hole for a pin, so your guess is as good as mine...
 
Here's an old photo of the bike I cut up into Harlequin T. See them rims n tires? Them wheels gotta be 5 years old or better in this pic from around 2005, The first version of this bike I painted Seafoam Green and was ugly. Two guys on here could FLY but it flexed a lot, so the conversion to a lowrider for 1 was perfect. But yeah there's my current build's wheels.
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Nothing but a wire feeder available right now, so that's a bunch of tic taking done. No grind or filing yet, just a wire brush. Ugly but the chain fits and I'll clean it up later.
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Decided on cable free, no front brakes. I'm not planning on racing it and I could add calipers later...
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Built this last night instead of working on my bike... Gotta be ready incase there's no room at the inn.
 
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Bad pictures cuz my garage is so cuttered but...punch list is a lot shorter now.
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Punch list: Idler for the drive, 2 turn buckles to fabricate the rear steering, drill out the steering column pin for the cog (or weld it) seats and grips (be nice to match - haha) front tube (got it), rear chain... touch up paint and bedazzled. I'm just happy the handlebars match...🤪
 
Ten days and counting. Got the turn buckles and I've got a new tube. Thinking I may just tac weld that gear on, but I will try to tap the holes in the side for two set screws first. Drive chain is easy just raid the boneyard, maybe find a seat post or two as well... I've been here before, drag my feet for two months and then hustle to get this thing across the finish line. But It's going to be a continuing build to collect matching pedals, grips and saddles. Missed the Halloween ride this year but I'd love to ride it next year with a skeleton in front. That's my goal, this whole build has been a set up for that gag. Ten days to finish, eleven months to completion...
 
Not a big fan of the backwards rear stem. BUT, they match and it needs to clear the front rider when turning. I've seen plenty spun around like that but never liked the look... I've also some some brown coke bottle grips coming...

GC.
 
No regrets BUT...
There's thing's I still want to do. Matching saddles and an vintage head light converted to LED will be on the first punch list. She's badly pitted so no decaling or stripes, but I'll probably paint some white headtubes and maybe the BB 's. I spent too much time staring at it, to really get it all done. It's just a cool old design and I could've chopped it up like 99% of my builds, but it's been around roughly 110 - 120 years and as pitted and worn as it is, it needs to keep rolling.
 

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