I'm sure if I cut the rods a bit I could get a better angle but for some reason I can't bring myself to cut them.
Prewar + Postwar = My first rat build (fully assembled but build not done)
- Thread starter whitefiretiger
- Start date
Help Support Rat Rod Bikes Bicycle Forum:
OK slipped in a little time today on my build.
Used a half round file to clean up the inside of the steer tube and was able to put the stem in.
Also got the front fender reattached exactly where it came off.
Used a half round file to clean up the inside of the steer tube and was able to put the stem in.
Also got the front fender reattached exactly where it came off.
I keep looking at the truss rods now that the fender is on and I'm not Happy with the look. Think I'm going to try to re-bend them and if absolutely necessary I may cut them a little to get a better angle.
Also anybody know what light this 41 WF bike would have had or something similar that would mount to the 2 bolt holes on the front fender?
I'll try to get a measurement on the bolt hole spacing tomorrow.
Also anybody know what light this 41 WF bike would have had or something similar that would mount to the 2 bolt holes on the front fender?
I'll try to get a measurement on the bolt hole spacing tomorrow.
Last edited:
Actually, I think the fender makes the bend in the rods work better now... 
Luke.
Luke.
I would agree that bending the rods higher up would look more in line with the original design... and cutting them to fit is also a good idea...You may want to find some brake or fuel line and mock up the bend first to get it where it is aesthetically pleasing. Also a piece of wood sabre sawed to fit the bend you make may be a good idea to use to bend the rods against, or at least as a buck to check your bend. You could get real fancy like and router a groove in it for the rods, then use a deadblow hammer to form the rod to fit it. If you are enterprising, you could probably use a form like that to reproduce truss rods from plain old rod stock bought at the steel yard.
As far as a light would go, there is a guy on Ebay selling a Chinese knockoff of the basic design used back then that might be your best bet, once you add some patina. Delta Winners were used around then on Columbias but I don't know what the CWC used....but OG lights are spendy nowadays, unless you get a much later light like the Delta Wren and some other smaller units.
Nice work so far, looking forward to the finished product.
As far as a light would go, there is a guy on Ebay selling a Chinese knockoff of the basic design used back then that might be your best bet, once you add some patina. Delta Winners were used around then on Columbias but I don't know what the CWC used....but OG lights are spendy nowadays, unless you get a much later light like the Delta Wren and some other smaller units.
Nice work so far, looking forward to the finished product.
Thanks.
I think the thing I'm not digging about the truss rods is the angle is so close to the angle of the fender supports.
I think I want the rods to be more centered between the fork and fender support.
Thanks for the idea I may have some metal brake / fuel line around to use as a test piece.
I'll look around on flea bay at lights.
I think the thing I'm not digging about the truss rods is the angle is so close to the angle of the fender supports.
I think I want the rods to be more centered between the fork and fender support.
Thanks for the idea I may have some metal brake / fuel line around to use as a test piece.
I'll look around on flea bay at lights.
Last edited:
So I got up super early today to get some work in on my bike before it got unbearably hot outside.
I rebent the truss rods (bent the tabs they connect to on the head tube a tad as well) and got them exactly how I saw them in my head.
After that I tossed on some pedals and figured I'd try riding around the block... It turned out that even with the wheels out of true it rode great
so I ended up riding about 3 miles and stopping to take a ton of pics of my bike.
Here's a couple pics from my ride (I'll upload them all to my photobucket later and add a link to the gallery)
Here's the short version...
I rebent the truss rods (bent the tabs they connect to on the head tube a tad as well) and got them exactly how I saw them in my head.
After that I tossed on some pedals and figured I'd try riding around the block... It turned out that even with the wheels out of true it rode great
so I ended up riding about 3 miles and stopping to take a ton of pics of my bike. Here's a couple pics from my ride (I'll upload them all to my photobucket later and add a link to the gallery)
Here's the short version...
Thanks they are making me feel warm & tingly now myself lol.
Just spent about 45 minutes getting the chain guard to fit & finally have success (by about 1/8" at one point once a rotation)
Spent about 10 minutes trying to decide how I'm going to mount the rear fender but then got sidetracked by the head badge.
Put a tab of tape on the back of the headbadge and slapped it on for a look.
Thinking I may drill new holes for this badge and plug the old with bondo.
Just spent about 45 minutes getting the chain guard to fit & finally have success (by about 1/8" at one point once a rotation)
Spent about 10 minutes trying to decide how I'm going to mount the rear fender but then got sidetracked by the head badge.
Put a tab of tape on the back of the headbadge and slapped it on for a look.
Thinking I may drill new holes for this badge and plug the old with bondo.
Here's a link to see my photos from my rat ride this morning.
http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/whitefiretiger87/library/rats first ride
Photobuchet still says its uploading but I think they are all up.
There's also a bunch of pics of the crazy koi fish from the ponds I took pics by.
Enjoy.
http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/whitefiretiger87/library/rats first ride
Photobuchet still says its uploading but I think they are all up.
There's also a bunch of pics of the crazy koi fish from the ponds I took pics by.
Enjoy.
Really looking good, that is one nice bike!
Luke.
Luke.
No progress for a couple days.
Trying to keep my commuter going &
Trying to get another newer bike fixed back up to sell.
Maybe if it sells fast enough I can buy that black tiger that's for sale.
Been waiting to make my signature bike for years.
Here's a big thing I want to do to a tiger. (The fire is not exactly how I'd like but best I could come up with)
Trying to keep my commuter going &
Trying to get another newer bike fixed back up to sell.
Maybe if it sells fast enough I can buy that black tiger that's for sale.
Been waiting to make my signature bike for years.
Here's a big thing I want to do to a tiger. (The fire is not exactly how I'd like but best I could come up with)
Spent more time today trying to decide how I want to mount the rear fender.
Think I've come up with a plan; just sad I'm going to have to add a new hole to the fender.
Also found the paint stripper so after I get everything fitting I can rip it all back apart and strip that nasty grey metallic paint
Also I guess you could say I started on my next project (holiday impala) as I've started soaking everything with pb blaster so hopefully it will come apart with some ease when I'm ready to get going.
Think I've come up with a plan; just sad I'm going to have to add a new hole to the fender.
Also found the paint stripper so after I get everything fitting I can rip it all back apart and strip that nasty grey metallic paint
Also I guess you could say I started on my next project (holiday impala) as I've started soaking everything with pb blaster so hopefully it will come apart with some ease when I'm ready to get going.
Got some time today to work on my bike.
Made my adapter for the rear fender to mount up.
Made it completely out of Quicksteel. Put foil inside the rear fender mount on the frame, around the frame and fender.
Here's a shot of it being done.
Last thing to do is to fit the rack on it and snap some pics.
Then rip it into pieces so I can start working on the frame (strip then paint).
Made my adapter for the rear fender to mount up.
Made it completely out of Quicksteel. Put foil inside the rear fender mount on the frame, around the frame and fender.
Here's a shot of it being done.
Last thing to do is to fit the rack on it and snap some pics.
Then rip it into pieces so I can start working on the frame (strip then paint).
Between my work schedule and location getting changed a lot lately & the unbearable heat I havnt been able to get into the garage to work on this bike.
But I do have my 59 WF super deluxe at home and have been slowly getting the bolts worked lose. No real build work but gives me something to do.
Link to my 59 build
http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/85410/
But I do have my 59 WF super deluxe at home and have been slowly getting the bolts worked lose. No real build work but gives me something to do.
Link to my 59 build
http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/85410/
Last edited:
So not a lot going on with this but I did finally get time to take the back wheel to the co-op and get it true (true enough for my rat); if I had more time I could have dialed it in perfect but by the time I set the tension and got it within tolerance my time on the truing stand was up.
I didn't get any other work done on my rat because I got called into work today and my location & hours are completely different again.
Hoping next Sunday I'll have time to take the front wheel to the co-op for its turn.
I'm still hunting for paints to use on the frame that are close to the other parts.
I didn't get any other work done on my rat because I got called into work today and my location & hours are completely different again.
Hoping next Sunday I'll have time to take the front wheel to the co-op for its turn.
I'm still hunting for paints to use on the frame that are close to the other parts.
