(WBO) Columbia Thunderbolt

[Yooperman]

Columbia “Thunderbolt” 26 inch middleweight

I first gave this starter bike to my brother but after it started becoming pieces I decided it was time for it to become a rider again. Last week I finally found her a tank and I have a nice set of red wheels with a 3 speed coaster brake hub.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Great start! welcome to the build-off!

Luke.

 

[KEMPRACING]

I love this style frame , I will be keeping my eye on this one

 

[Funkme]

Yep she looks naked in the snow...
Will look great revamped.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Welcome on board.

BRRrrrr

 

[patman73]

glad texas has no snow !
goo bones to start with

 

[Yooperman]

I got the tank and plan to take pictures with the tank, chain guard and fenders ASAP.


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[horsefarmer]

Awesome! looking good.

 

[Yooperman]

More pictures of mockup before the fun begins. Note added eBay tank, original fenders/chain guard, and some Schwinn wheels/seat post from another project.


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[Yooperman]

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[The Renaissance Man]

I like the little tank. Anything new to report?

 

[Yooperman]

The thunder is starting to be more of a 1960 Columbia torpodo by origin. I had a good time tearing her into parts Sunday.


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[Yooperman]

Picture down to the frame. A little rubbing off old spray paint revealed a nice red finish under coats of black and barn brown.

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[Yooperman]

Also found a bend in her fork. My brother suggested I build it backwards and ram into the wall a couple of times. If I do this how do I know she won't just bend back to the previous position?

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[Yooperman]

For now, this week is busy stripping the frame back to her glory color. Hopefully keeping the original paint. I am using safety stripper to pull the spray paint off.


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[horsefarmer]

How to straighten a bent bicycle fork on youtube


Interesting its a Columbia tank bike like yours.

 

[GuitarlCarl]

Hmm??? Ram into tree or carefully bend it while the car sits on it....

Carl.

 

[Yooperman]

Thanks to GuitarCarl suggestion of table clamping the fork, I got 5 degrees of bend out of fork!
GuitarCarl comment "NO NO NO. If you're gonna try to fix it, you need to use a controlled amount of pressure... You have a nice big C-clamp? Nice thick table top/ workbench top? Put blocking under the tube, up by the threads and under the forks about 6-8 inches up, with the forks lying down facing up. Put a C-clamp on the fork at the crown and under your bench top, then apply pressure by cranking the clamp tighter... nice and easy. It will move, no heat, no brute force. (no slamming into trees...) "



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[Yooperman]

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[Dr. Tankenstein]

Great job!


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