1955 Monark Rocket Build/restore

Hey Guys Started Mounting The Motor In My Monark. I Have A Skyhawk Gt-5 And After Some Thought On How To Go About It. I Came Up With A Simple Mount That Should Be Solid. Check Out Pics. These Old Bikes Have Longer Frames Than What Is Available Now So Using The Stock Mounting Points On The Engine Is Out Of The Question. I'am Making A Rear Hub Right Now. Next Will Be The Gas Tank Which Will Be Inside The Stock Tank. Always Welcome Any Ideas Or Suggestions- Big Mike

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thats a cool bike. is the tank one piece

tank is two halves. used to have a horn in it. my plan is to build a steel tank that bolts in then the two halves will bolt to that. - big mike

Mike,
I try never to criticize anyone's work but I hope that weld in the first photo is just a tack weld. That is a high stress point and needs a good solid weld. It appears that the tube from the seat post to your engine is made from 1/2" EMT, (electrical conduit) That material is galvanized and to get a good joint the galvanize should be ground off. If you know all this I'm sorry I said anything but over the years I've seen some scary stuff and I don't want to see anyone hurt by a defective installation. Please don't be offended I mean this only as constructive criticism.
Tom

__________________
Age and Treachery Will Always Triumph
Over Youth and Skill

2door- it is just a tack weld also the steel used was 4130 tube i had laying around I had to sand the scale off before welding maybe that's why it looks like EMT. I have been a toolmaker for 21 years and have some engineering background in internal combustion engines and robotics so when it comes to structual integrity i can sometimes go overboard. But it never hurts to question someone on there way of doing something. no offense taken thanks -big mike

Glad you took my words the right way, Mike.
With your experience I'm sure you've seen some questionable things in your time too. As I said, I try not to criticize anyone for their work but I will offer advice when I see something that could be potentially unsafe. Looking forward to seeing that Monark completed. It has so much potential and you sound like the guy to succeed with it. Keep us posted on your Motorized Bicycle project.
Tom

__________________
Age and Treachery Will Always Triumph
Over Youth and Skill

Dont mean to rag on your build but.. I cant belive you would weld to a bike like that. Some bikes are meant just to be bicycles ya know? It has such great patina and is such a classic. I i know you can take the motor off and repaint it and stuff but its never the same, loses its character. Sorry man i just think its a shame.

odot, sorry you don't approve of my build. can't please everyone you know. this bike was all there when i bought it but was rough. someone painted this bike with house paint and the chrome is beyond repair from sitting in a barn. monark corp. put motor conversions on these bikes at the factory! so converting this bike is really not that much of a crime. This bike is getting painted and chromed and lettered back in it's ORIGINAL colors. Patinia is one of the most overused and most misunderstood words used in the antique world. there is a definite line between a nice original and a well used one that deserves to be brought back to it's former glory. i just sold my all origiinal 70' apple krate which was a genuine survivior right down to the tires. it was in nice shape when i found it. i cleaned and waxed the bike and then left it alone. Now if it was a basket case it would have been restored back to original. It deserves it. Too bad you don't see it my way because there is a lot of junk laying around that needs a second chance and people like us can make that happen. - big mike

I don't agree at all. I see old bikes get restored to like new condition and they are so expensive the owner never rides them. I have two old Schwinn Americans and I do with them as I wish, changing the handlebars to high rise, since they suit me better, changing the seats to worksman which are more comfortable and look better, changing the wheels to heavy duty 2.125. I added a Kawasaki Vulcan tfront fender light to one and the other will get an Indian motorcycle fender light. Both have the 80cc engines. I get lots of compliments on the bikes and they get ridden. I appreciate their being well made and having some history, which is all still there. In the end they are bicycles and not something to get up tight about. I just bought a 68 American I intend to redo as a motorbicycle and will do it up as I see fit.
I ran into similar attitudes when I got a 63 Airstream trailer which had been neglected... Airstream fanatics thought I should restore it to like new condition with all original stuff. I don't have that king of money and did the interior in knotty pine to suit an old guy and his dog as an efficiency apartment on wheels heated with an old caboose wood stove from a logging train up here by the Canadian Border. I made it mine. Let others restore them into like new show pieces. To each his own.
I look forward to seeing the Monarch in it's new incarnation. Keep us posted, please.
Silverbear

Hope you don't mind if I way in on this but it is something I have a lot of knowledge about.
I spent 40 years full time restoring antique furniture and have seen the "patina" fight from every angle.
If it is a 70 Apple Crate and all it needs is a wash and wax to bring it back then you are restoring "patina".
If it is a 150 year old cupboard with 15 coats of paint and you strip it down to the bare wood and can identify the original colour and replace it after you repair the cupboard then you have "restored" it.

I also have restored a few cars and at present I'm doing my nephews 1946 Chev. 2 ton and my brothers 1958 Plymouth wagon. They will be done to be a point while they look super, we can use them without fear of hurting them.
How often do you see a flawless restoration of a bike but when would you use it if you wanted to risk the $4,500 you payed for it. Do you put it in the living room and dust it every day or just put in a plastic case so dusting doesn't scatch it?

Qdot, I agree with you if it was 1 of 3or4 made but these bikes were churned out by the 1000s. Buy the parts, restore one take it out and ride the wheels off it. I'll bet that will take you a long time to do because every one will want to stop you and hear the story about how you got the really neat old bike and could you do one for them or sell yours.
I've been there. It's a sweet road to ride.

Steve