I really like the tractor idea.
Just a reminder though, Big Jim never did get painted. Throw all the parts together and take some pix, you're too close not to.
Enter what you've got! Not finishing two years in a row when you're running this show is not acceptable. Just get her together. Maybe polish it.
Yeah I believe in the ol' Rat Rod mantra...
RUN WHAT CHA "BRUNG!
(you did remember to "Bring It" didn't ya?)
Carl.
Yes I agree maybe spray bomb with that peel able paint assemble and enter pics hate to see you drop out but I understand not wanting to submit a bike at the quality you want
Heck, spray down the bare metal with vinegar and let it rust! Give it some patina! I know there's an "inducing rust" thread in RRB somewhere.
I agree with everything they said.
You can worry about makin it all prerrrrtty later...
A tin of spray paint rubs off very easy,just spray it on top of what ya got.
PUT IT TOGETHER AND POST IT , You have come to far to not enter this bike , paint it anyway you want later just get the pictures in for the voting !!!!!!
If I just keep repeating "I think I can, I think I can..." maybe I will get there yet!
Was not feeling well this morning but after the many email notifications received overnight from all your posts and motivation I pushed myself out there and got some work done!
Started by moving the mount on the seat forward by grinding the heads of the rivets and re-welding it in the next set of holes, therefore moving the seat backwards:
Tacked in a solid tube between the mounting holes under the seat:
Then cut and bent up an original 70's Repco (Australian) sissy bar, rewelded it back together, cut the bottom two adjustment holes off the bottom and trimmed those tabs to make mounting points:
Angle matches the seat tube:
Welded in the loose bolt that mounts the reflector plate to the back of the seat, it was a pain to remove the nut as the bolt just kept spinning inside the seat:
Took it for a ride and the seat is great, but then I had to move on to the next issue... The forks were off a mountain bike with a 22.2 steerer, all the vintage stems I have are 21.2mm, so they are loose and wobble and with the added vibration from the knobby tires loosen off very quickly. I had no option but to switch to a mountain bike stem which looks horrible:
Stopped for lunch while I thought of a solution, roast beef and a coke zero...
Decided the looks would be greatly improved just by shortening the reach on the stem allowing me to keep the 22.2mm steerer and the better clamping force of the MTB stem clamp, shortened the forks while I was at it to allow the top nut to tighten all the way down:
Much better!:
As it now sits after replacing the clapped out plastic pedals with some alloy platforms and going for a good ride:
Awesome bike, rides great!
That was it for the day though, the body has had enough.
Now I just need to strip it, clean off the excess tabs and mounts, give it some paint, re-assemble and re-cover the seat...
I think I can,
I think I can,
I think I can,
I think I can,
I think I can,
I think I can...
Luke.