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I've been thinking about building up an off road bike with this pile, in build off 20.
20241228_181421.jpg

But.....
 
I am really looking forward to this build off. Between a new job, a new puppy, and my doctor telling me to get more sleep… I have not had much time in the workshop recently.

Here is my starting point

IMG_6138.jpeg


Planning to build a set of wheels with a bendix kick-back. I really want to use the red tires, but that will require dimpling the seat and chain stays. So maybe I need different tires.
 
Plans are solidifying for my build. I ordered some 26x57mm hoops today. Got a quill stem for Christmas that may be the one. In my stash, i have a couple of MX bars that will fit the bill quite well.
20241219_092203.jpg

The two, 2 speed hubs I picked up, the red band was working buy tight and the yellow band was working and loose. So I tore them down.
20241228_122451.jpg

Yellow one had a stripped axle. It was filled with a light white grease. I am not sure why people think that's a good idea. These hubs get hot and will liquify that fairly easily.
20241209_191413.jpg

20241209_184728.jpg

Red one had dried out original grease. That will be the hub to use with the monark frame. Hit it today with some brake cleaner and will be assembling sometime this week.
20241229_135240.jpg
 
There's a chance I'll have to save my X-53 klunker build for a later date.
BftD_X53_71724_9.jpg


The reason why is because there's some sort of blockage about 2-3 inches down the seat tube that's preventing me from getting a seat post (or even a metal punch) down any further. I don't know how to fix it, and I'm worried I won't be able to without the help of one of my nearby friends.
BftD_X53_seat_post_blockage_1.jpg


The purple line is as far as I was able to get this seat post, and it's been cut short as it is.
BftD_X53_seat_post_blockage_2.jpg


I'd still like to enter a klunker though, so I just want to ask: if I take my single-speed klunker build from the last ORBO, and rebuild it as a 10 to 14-speed klunker for this ORBO, would that be allowed? I have a set of blue cable housings that closely match the bike, and I should have enough parts to make it happen.
BftD_step-thru_klunker_FINISHED_1.jpg
BftD_belle_cables.jpg
 
There's a chance I'll have to save my X-53 klunker build for a later date.
View attachment 285433

The reason why is because there's some sort of blockage about 2-3 inches down the seat tube that's preventing me from getting a seat post (or even a metal punch) down any further. I don't know how to fix it, and I'm worried I won't be able to without the help of one of my nearby friends.
View attachment 285429

The purple line is as far as I was able to get this seat post, and it's been cut short as it is.
View attachment 285430

I'd still like to enter a klunker though, so I just want to ask: if I take my single-speed klunker build from the last ORBO, and rebuild it as a 10 to 14-speed klunker for this ORBO, would that be allowed? I have a set of blue cable housings that closely match the bike, and I should have enough parts to make it happen.
View attachment 285431View attachment 285432
You rebuild it as something else that would be fine
 
There's a chance I'll have to save my X-53 klunker build for a later date.
View attachment 285433

The reason why is because there's some sort of blockage about 2-3 inches down the seat tube that's preventing me from getting a seat post (or even a metal punch) down any further. I don't know how to fix it, and I'm worried I won't be able to without the help of one of my nearby friends.
View attachment 285429

The purple line is as far as I was able to get this seat post, and it's been cut short as it is.
View attachment 285430

I'd still like to enter a klunker though, so I just want to ask: if I take my single-speed klunker build from the last ORBO, and rebuild it as a 10 to 14-speed klunker for this ORBO, would that be allowed? I have a set of blue cable housings that closely match the bike, and I should have enough parts to make it happen.
View attachment 285431View attachment 285432
Long drill bit and reamer looks like one of the bars go into the tube
 
On those old Murray frames, they didn't use a stem with a wedge, it was the hollow standard type seatpost. The top was narrower to fit the smaller seat bracket back then. The first old bike I worked on back in the 70's was a 1954 X53.
1735567297021.jpeg


Whatever is down in the seat tube looks smaller, so I can't even guess what that is in there, or how it is stuck. Does it extend down to the BB? You may be able to knock it upward if it is accessible.
 
There's a chance I'll have to save my X-53 klunker build for a later date.
View attachment 285433

The reason why is because there's some sort of blockage about 2-3 inches down the seat tube that's preventing me from getting a seat post (or even a metal punch) down any further. I don't know how to fix it, and I'm worried I won't be able to without the help of one of my nearby friends.
View attachment 285429

The purple line is as far as I was able to get this seat post, and it's been cut short as it is.
View attachment 285430

I'd still like to enter a klunker though, so I just want to ask: if I take my single-speed klunker build from the last ORBO, and rebuild it as a 10 to 14-speed klunker for this ORBO, would that be allowed? I have a set of blue cable housings that closely match the bike, and I should have enough parts to make it happen.
View attachment 285431View attachment 285432
It’s a good chance that it is a piece of brazing rod that melted off during the process of mating the tubing. I have found pieces welded to odd spots. A punch and a hell of a good whack with a hammer may get it out. ✌🏻
 
Okay, there is NO WAY I'm going to get to that blockage from underneath. I did get a better photo of it today, but it just raises more questions than anything.
20241230_132230.jpg


I hate to say it, but I don't think the X-53's going to be a klunker after all. Good news is I have a backup idea for how to build it, and I could probably get away with not having a seat post too...
BftD_mockup_mash_15.jpg
 
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It now looks more like an old stem that's been hammered in because it was too hard to get out.

From the BB, you could drill a 1/2 inch hole in the bottom, then take a long 3/8ths steel rod and hammer that thing back out.

But if you just want your seat lower, just trim an inch off the old stem. As long as you have a couple inches in the frame it will work ok.
 
It now looks more like an old stem that's been hammered in because it was too hard to get out.

From the BB, you could drill a 1/2 inch hole in the bottom, then take a long 3/8ths steel rod and hammer that thing back out.

But if you just want your seat lower, just trim an inch off the old stem. As long as you have a couple inches in the frame it will work ok.
I'd really like to avoid drilling holes in the frame if I can, but maybe I could try that at some point. I'm just worried that, like almost every other stuck seat post I've dealt with, it's practically fused to the frame.

If I was just building the X-53 with a single-speed coaster brake to ride on pavement, I'd be a little more okay with a shorter seat post, but since I planned to make it a 21-speed to thrash off-road, combined with my weight on the seat, I don't feel confident that idea would work.
 
If anyone is itching to get their build journals posted and start, just start them in this sub forum and tag a mod. We’ll move them later when the journals area gets unlocked. We don’t have the ability to perform those kinds of edits anymore so we need to wait for the owner/admin to unlock that area

@SwissGuy
@Pondo
@ingola
@The Renaissance Man

👍
 

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