Pass the oven cleaner, please: Western Flyer X-53 (well, mostly)

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Joined
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Recent find, in as-found condition:
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This one came with it. I may try and use some odds and ends off it.

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Definitely sticking with the frame, tank, and rack/crash bars. (Edit: Yes, the rack-on-a-rack has to go. I may go pick that off right now as it sits in the garage lol.) I have been reading up on methods of removing spray bomb abuse while leaving the original paint. I think it's a bad sign that the tank flaked easily to bare metal in a few spots (unless it's a section where the tank was chrome. Hmmm, need to do more research), but I hope to uncover some saveable paint/patina. The color scheme will help me determine year, as well as the Murray serial number database on the Cabe.

I am thinking that correct springer forks for this thing are unobtainium, so I'd be happy to get a hold of any vintage springer that would look close to correct. Same goes for the guard; this is one of those no-name Schwinn knockoffs that is so incongruous with this bike that it's killing me. And as cool as the Monark light and fender are, I want to swap them out for something a little less heavy-looking. The headbadge seems to be wrong too, but it's the right brand and it's cool enough that I can run with it.

As for all the other incorrect bits and pieces (crank/sprocket, rear fender-to-rack hardware and reflector, the plethora of headlights, et cetera), well, it should be interesting to just pick away at them little by little as I find stuff that looks more correct.

Dang I want to ride this thing.
 
Love it. Killer score with the deep monark fenders too
 
Recent find, in as-found condition:
View attachment 279468

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This one came with it. I may try and use some odds and ends off it.

View attachment 279478

Definitely sticking with the frame, tank, and rack/crash bars. (Edit: Yes, the rack-on-a-rack has to go. I may go pick that off right now as it sits in the garage lol.) I have been reading up on methods of removing spray bomb abuse while leaving the original paint. I think it's a bad sign that the tank flaked easily to bare metal in a few spots (unless it's a section where the tank was chrome. Hmmm, need to do more research), but I hope to uncover some saveable paint/patina. The color scheme will help me determine year, as well as the Murray serial number database on the Cabe.

I am thinking that correct springer forks for this thing are unobtainium, so I'd be happy to get a hold of any vintage springer that would look close to correct. Same goes for the guard; this is one of those no-name Schwinn knockoffs that is so incongruous with this bike that it's killing me. And as cool as the Monark light and fender are, I want to swap them out for something a little less heavy-looking. The headbadge seems to be wrong too, but it's the right brand and it's cool enough that I can run with it.

As for all the other incorrect bits and pieces (crank/sprocket, rear fender-to-rack hardware and reflector, the plethora of headlights, et cetera), well, it should be interesting to just pick away at them little by little as I find stuff that looks more correct.

Dang I want to ride this thing.
So jelly, but happy for you on your acquisition…😁
 

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