I've straightened a fork by carefully positioning it under the front wheel of my truck and running over it. Screw the nut over the threads beforehand... just sayin'
Carl.
Unofficial March Shootout
- Thread starter GuitarlCarl
- Start date
Help Support Rat Rod Bikes Bicycle Forum:
Carl.
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2013
- Messages
- 1,960
- Reaction score
- 2,752
I keep a bare hub to straddle the fork blades after removing the wheel. Spin the fork so it faces backwards, then string a ratchet strap between the hub and the bottom bracket. (Walmart sells a cheap strap for under $4.00.)
The strap will allow you to apply consistent, measured force...a lot like cold setting dropouts. Professional shop tools work the same way--they just "push" instead of "pull."
Last edited:
I’m in.
Even us in the UP banana belt have some snow this March.
Last edited:
I spent some of today doing the yard work I missed out on yestersay.
Did some sanding on my A#1 build this afternoon. 90%of the clear is sanded off. A bit more sanding to go before spraying some paint.
Did some sanding on my A#1 build this afternoon. 90%of the clear is sanded off. A bit more sanding to go before spraying some paint.
Looks like I’m not the only one straightening forks…
Honestly, I’m so pleased with myself right now that if I didn’t get any farther on this build, I’d still be happy. I have had this bike in the basement for many years. As in more than 10. And part of why I never did anything with it is because the forks were bent. I kept reading online about ways to straighten them, and I kept saying I’d get around to trying one, but mostly I figured there was a decent chance I’d screw it up so I kept putting it off. Finally, this build challenge inspired me to try a method I actually saw somewhere here on RRB. And I’ll be danged… it seems to have worked.
The rig I made up consists of 4 parts:
The block to straddle the down tube and provide tension against the BB shell
The block to press against the dummy axle
The dummy axle itself
The jack
I’m pretty sure this is old hat for many of the guys here, and feel free to have a laugh at me for being so excited about what is essentially a pretty basic repair, but for anyone like me who hasn’t ventured into this type of repair yet, here’s a video I made of the process.
Honestly, I’m so pleased with myself right now that if I didn’t get any farther on this build, I’d still be happy. I have had this bike in the basement for many years. As in more than 10. And part of why I never did anything with it is because the forks were bent. I kept reading online about ways to straighten them, and I kept saying I’d get around to trying one, but mostly I figured there was a decent chance I’d screw it up so I kept putting it off. Finally, this build challenge inspired me to try a method I actually saw somewhere here on RRB. And I’ll be danged… it seems to have worked.
The rig I made up consists of 4 parts:
The block to straddle the down tube and provide tension against the BB shell
The block to press against the dummy axle
The dummy axle itself
The jack
I’m pretty sure this is old hat for many of the guys here, and feel free to have a laugh at me for being so excited about what is essentially a pretty basic repair, but for anyone like me who hasn’t ventured into this type of repair yet, here’s a video I made of the process.
I still like reading he ran it over with his truck...
Merle.
Merle.
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2013
- Messages
- 4,285
- Reaction score
- 9,459
The wheels are done. Polished the rims and put on semi knobby tires I found in my junk stash.
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2013
- Messages
- 4,285
- Reaction score
- 9,459
Wow! is that Escanaba? If it is I've never seen that much snow in the U.P. Banana Belt. We are looking forward to the Mackinac Island Classic Bike Ride this fall. Are you planning on going?I’m in.
Make it a rider again.
Carve wheel set from a girls mountain bike, remove the Centric decals, add fresh brakes, seat, grips, pedals and some bling.
Those look good.
I'm mired in layers of turquoise paint. It's coming off but not as easy as I'd hoped. Plus there's some original black under it all. The brush on aircraft stripper doesn't like the cold, wire wheel works but is time consuming. I haven't tried the torch yet.
Sent from the edge of an alternate universe...
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2013
- Messages
- 1,960
- Reaction score
- 2,752
First order of business, widen my dropouts and prep the wheels. They need work--oh dear. I've been focused on the "go"--not sure yet what I will do about the "stop." Might have to raid the co-op bins and get a little, ahem...creative.
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2013
- Messages
- 4,285
- Reaction score
- 9,459
Those look good.
I'm mired in layers of turquoise paint. It's coming off but not as easy as I'd hoped. Plus there's some original black under it all. The brush on aircraft stripper doesn't like the cold, wire wheel works but is time consuming. I haven't tried the torch yet.
Sent from the edge of an alternate universe...
Use oven cleaner on steel, works better than aircraft stripper in the cold. I spray it in on the bike in the snow in the driveway so as not to kill grass. Works even when the oven cleaner is mixed with snow. Let it sit, hours, sometimes I bring it in my shop and put it on newspaper to sit overnight. Use a hand wire brush between coats, use 2 or 3 coats waiting at lest an hour between coats and brushing. Then aircraft stripper, then a rotary wire brush being careful to avoid gouging the brazing. Then bring it inside for final sanding and use a sharpened spoke to dig out the stubborn stuff. Fastest way in the cold I have found.
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2013
- Messages
- 4,285
- Reaction score
- 9,459
Attachments
Last edited:
We live in Menominee on the bay of Green Bay. We are looking forward to another Mackinac island ride this year too! Hope it’s not too cold for you and this build off.
About 5 minutes with a hydraulic press and my fork looks much better.
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2013
- Messages
- 4,285
- Reaction score
- 9,459
-10F this morning but is now+13F so I went to my shop attic and trued the rear wheel. I just flipped the frame over and trued the wheel between the brake blocks. Much better now. A hammer and wood block took care of a rim dent. I had to quit as my fingers and toes couldn't take anymore. The weatherman is predicting -4F to single digits until Saturday. Then it's gong into the 30sF on Sunday. I should be able to finish truing the front wheel, putting on the chain, adjusting the brakes and trimming the cables soon with the warmer weather. Time is running out as I'm going on vacation to the warm March 18th. I think I'll finish if I don't run into something like a chain problem.
Colors...
Left to right background under the clears... gold, silver, copper, graphite, black pearl.
Left to right background under the clears... gold, silver, copper, graphite, black pearl.
Oven cleaner for the rest. (FyiFYI doesn't penetrate ceramic clear)
That's the biggest issue I'm having with stripping mine... A ton of DupliColor clear EFFEX. Great stuff, hardened very nicely and is resistant to the stripper as well. I guess after all the Ash Wednesday stuff is over (I'm helping a lot at church today) I'll be making a Walmart run... they're open all night.
Carl.
Carl.
Table full of fun.
Makings of a seatpost .
Makings of a seatpost .
