Ratty FSC ( 47 Firestone )

[metalchewy]

Every time I walk out back, I think o should be building something. Temp is in the 40s at bight and 60s or 70s in the day.

Work has me pretty occupied through most daylight hours these days so I haven't had much of a chance to start following along on other builds. Will catch up eventually, but it is what it is. So I am tasting this build knowing I have to keep it rolling as I do each step.

I might be only half done at the end, but it will be in the stable and ridden regardless of whether it is finished or not.

So, for my muscle bike entry this year, I am starting on Mom's old bike, and getting her into a usable condition. Mom passed away in the early 2000s and I got this bike out of the top of barn in about 2017 or so.

It hasn't been used since the 80s. I tried getting a few components like the stem to release, but haven't had any luck yet.

So, I will start with what I can to make it mechanically sound and figure out the rest as I go. Don't have a picture of "Done" in my mind yet, so it may be an ever changing vision...

 

[metalchewy]

First challenge, rear brake strap bolt has no threads and the Nut spins in place

Snipped it off with some ..... and will end up cutting it off.

Next up, clean up wheels and repack bearings.

 

[OddJob]

Welcome aboard the build off train, my friend!

Diggin' the age and patina of your mom's bike.
RaT oN~!

 

[Markm]

Drip some oil or wd-40 down the goose neck. Loosen top bolt a bit. Drink a cold "beverage" and whack bolt with a hammer..drink second beverage..

 

[metalchewy]

Welcome aboard the build off train, my friend!

Diggin' the age and patina of your mom's bike.
RaT oN~!

Thank You @OddJob .

I was looking at it last week and knew it needed to be ridden. My wife saw it the other day when I pulled it out of the shed and agrees with my thinking.

This build will be a bit rust and not a Lotta shiny.... .... well maybe a little bit of shiny.

Drip some oil or wd-40 down the goose neck. Loosen top bolt a bit. Drink a cold "beverage" and whack bolt with a hammer..drink second beverage..

Agree with you.

I've been treating it with Kroil off and on for a while. The stem bolt fell out (rusted through) when I flipped it upside down. Now it's just getting the quill to release. Some focused heat may be involved..

 

[metalchewy]

Did a little scrubb8ng on the wheels to get a bit more paint coming thru.

Found a couple of tires that almost fit.

 

[Wildcat]

That's a nice Monark made bike, pre 1955. The patina looks great. Does it have a plate on the BB?
2.125 or 2.35 tires should work.

 

[metalchewy]

That's a nice Monark made bike, pre 1955. The patina looks great. Does it have a plate on the BB?
2.125 or 2.35 tires should work.

Funny you should ask. I cleaned it off and took a picture of it earlier.

 

[Wildcat]

According to my number list, that's a 1947 Monark made bike.

 

[metalchewy]

According to my number list, that's a 1947 Monark made bike.

Than you wildcat, I didn't even know where to look to find that out.

 

[Wildcat]

Than you wildcat, I didn't even know where to look to find that out.

I've researched bike serial numbers for some years now. I write down what looks good, scratch out dubious data, and update as needed as I find more info.

 

[metalchewy]

Spent a few hours on her this morning. Front tube blew in the middle of the night.

Went to switch to an old black whitewall and saw daylight through the tread.

Put a red with the same tread on instead. Grabbed a failed attempt at a leather banana from buildoffs past..

Put a bunch of power steering fluid into the hub to make it spin freely.

Picked the long sissy. With a step through frame, it makes sense to me.

Threw on my favorite 1" apes and have a rider.

Got a bit of a squeek, still need to replace that 75 year old grease.

Was a nice ride around the block. Felt solid.

 

[metalchewy]

Ground the screw-head off to release the tank.

As it sits now.

 

[metalchewy]

 

[metalchewy]

This looks like one of my grandpa fixes that he did for the bike

 

[The Renaissance Man]

I love seeing these 'farm repairs' on old bikes! People just toss the whole bike these days instead of keeping it going with something improvised.

You should be able to take a long punch or even the broken stem bolt if it is long enough to knock the wedge loose inside of the fork. It usually works well to soak it with BP Blaster for a day or two first and then drive it down.

 

[GeePig]

Ah, a Perry coaster brake!

 

[metalchewy]

I love seeing these 'farm repairs' on old bikes! People just toss the whole bike these days instead of keeping it going with something improvised.

You should be able to take a long punch or even the broken stem bolt if it is long enough to knock the wedge loose inside of the fork. It usually works well to soak it with BP Blaster for a day or two first and then drive it down.

Tried driving it down with a 440 pushrod and added more aero-Kroil. Still no budge yet. It will eventually give it up.

Ah, a Perry coaster brake!

It will be my the first one of these that I've rebuilt.

 

[metalchewy]

Had a bit of a stomach bug today. Spent an hour or so this afternoon and tore it all down.

Only broke one bolt, the one under the front fender. This one usually breaks on all the old bikes I have taken apart. Left handed bit and an ez out is planned.

Arthur tells me my hands hurt these days. Appt with an ortho in a couple weeks.

Washed it all down with dawn. Some of the white washed away. Ah well.

Linseed oil will be used tomorrow

 

[metalchewy]

I forget that I really like the smell of linseed oil until I smell it. Reminds me of a lot of cool memories in the past that I just don't think about until it is in the air.

Spent about 15 minutes and wiped it on, and then wiped some of the extra off. Adds a little shine to this old metallic paint.

Don't forget to leave the rags in the open. In my case, on the grate of the fire pit.

Kicking back end enjoying a beer

And smelling the oil dry with the dog.