RRBBO13 Model 78. It’s a rider

[HuffnPuff]

I figured if I start a build thread here it will give me a deadline! Not my first bike build, but my first attempt at fabrication for a bike, not just parts and paint.

Starting point: Local dept store (Big W) bike. 100% Mambo single speed cruiser. It was complete, but I forgot to take a decent pics. Removing some parts/branding will bring it back to 60% original. Building on a tight budget with scrounged, recycled and home made bits.

The paint is so thin on this thing that in removing a couple of the stickers a razor blade went through to the steel with no effort. It's been stored outside so is pretty rusty already, so I'll continue that theme.

New forks coming - the fabrication bit.

 

[KOTA]

Building on a tight budget with scrounged, recycled and home made bits.

Sounds like my kind of bike! Have fun!

 

[HuffnPuff]

Last night I cut the brake mounts off the fork, thinking that I'd just use those and not try to find some triple clamps. This morning I purchased a new welder.....

Mightn't be needing these

 

[kingfish254]

Make it your own

 

[HuffnPuff]

Been doing some ‘painting’.

Also a big box arrived today with my new metal glueing spark machine. Looking forward to testing it out, but need to get some gas and gloves first.

 

[HuffnPuff]

Picked up some whitewall tyres to go with it this evening. In keeping with the budget build idea, they are attached to a bike I bought and will switch it’s tyres to black and flip it, hopefully for a few extra coins than it cost.

 

[HuffnPuff]

So far so good. A little progress this week. Working takes a lot out of build time doesn’t it!

Within 24hrs I whipped the whitewalls off the white cruiser, put some older tyres and a replacement chain on it because it was just about rusted solid and sold it on. $0 whitewalls.

Mock-up up so I can try to work out the extra rake for some new forks. Think I’ll need to lay the seat post back too.

 

[user 26311]

Im loving this build already! I was in Wally World just last week looking at a new cheap beach cruiser to cut up! Will probably pull the trigger on one next week then stick it in the attic for a future build!

 

[HuffnPuff]

Thanks Alan. These things are cheap, and there is no historical value either.

Mucked around with etching a new headtube badge today, but transferring the design to the aluminium plate failed. I used photo paper and it left a plastic coating on which sealed the plate against the acid etch. Try again tomorrow I guess.

measured up the front end a bit trying to work out fork length and rake today, but didn't have time to construct.

 

[HuffnPuff]

I started with 60% as a working title for my build. Don’t like it now so Im morphing it to model 78. With 7.8 being 60% of 13.

 

[HuffnPuff]

Layback seat post commenced. It appears I’ve cut a notch too many. I tried to calculate how much I should remove, but something went wrong apparently. It’ll get braced anyway, but it’s annoying to have an extra gap. Worst case, I’ll hack another post.

 

[HuffnPuff]

While waiting for welding supplies.... No turning back for the forks now. I need the steerer.

Kids don’t need safety nets on a trampoline do they? The net is long gone, with some spare poles so I’ve mocked up the forks with some mdf plates until I get some steel.

Sorry, phone’s turned that sideways.

 

[HuffnPuff]

Time’s flying, progress isn’t. Minor update started cleaning up this old headlight tonight. Apparently it was in a shop that caught fire. There was melted plastic over parts of it.

 

[SkyknightJohn]

[
Sorry, phone’s turned that sideways.

I find if I edit the photo >rotate >save >rotate again to the desired position (even if back to the original) > save, it won’t auto-rotate weird.

Diggin’ the work, too.

 

[HuffnPuff]

Got some time to work this afternoon. Played with the new welder which also happens to be a plasma cutter. My cutting is a bit rough, but I’m new to it. It’s also much better than a grinder for curves!

After a while on the grinder I was ‘reminded’ that grinders are noisy, so it was time to quit. Tank plate, fork too and bottom plates and a little bit for a seatpost support knocked up. Still need to tidy them up a lot, but that will need to wait.

 

[HuffnPuff]

Little update. Not enough time for fabrication, but a few minutes to dress up the pedals. Bit of trimming with the dremel, bit of persuasion with the mallet and ...

Also started on led converting the head light.

 

[HuffnPuff]

It's been cold and wet here. Winter is not conducive to time in the garage on a weeknight and weekends have been busy/distracted with other stuff. A heated workshop would be good, but can't justify that for a few nights a year.

I've drilled a couple of holes in the fork plates getting ready for welding, but that's about it for construction. Need to get a move on!

 

[arty dave]

It's sad innit? I want to keep moving on mine too but it's freaking cold and wet here too. I got my garage 1/2 insulated over summer, but I think the non-insulated 1/2 is letting in twice as much cold now. 0% chance of rain this weekend, wooo! I really need to get down a couple of layers of paint.
Did you see funkme's welding footwear? I'm starting to think she must be an Aussie too...

 

[kingfish254]

Did you see funkme's welding footwear? I'm starting to think she must be an Aussie too...

Smart man! Actually, she is.
@Funkme , your welding shoes gave you away.

 

[Funkme]

Smart man! Actually, she is.
@Funkme , your welding shoes gave you away.

Dang need to be more stealth.
HuffnPuff where on the Lake are you from?
Grew up in Eleebana,Warners Bay and Wangi.
Oh n Speers point.