Just purchased a Western Flyer Hiawatha

Hi trucked ... I've already made an in-frame tank for my Hiawatha, painted it and the frame, and am now in the process of putting it all together. Still, I'll check out Dan Taylar's build and see what he's got. After making my tank, I found out it was a little more time consuming than I thought it would be but I'm real happy with the end results. The Hiawatha's front wheel has a slightly smaller axle than the Cranbrook wheel I'll be using, so I had to grind the front fork slots a little to make it work. The Cranbrook wheel has 12 gauge 36 spoke powder coated rims, and can be purchased from Huffy directly for $23.00 Front and $29.00 rear, ($52.00 plus shipping) and the entire bike can be purchased from Walmart for $79.95 plus $0.97 shipping. For the extra money, I get alot of extra parts for any future builds that I might do. I'm thinking about making my own custom frame, and could use the tubing to do part of it, the fenders, handlebars, seat, and pedals, can all be used as well. When or if I do start that build, I think it may be time to make the 4 stroke leap and see what I can do with all the bike parts I've got laying around. I've got 15 bikes --- 2 - 66 cc MaB, 1 Curries eZip Trailz electric, 3- 1950's single speeds, and the rest in multi speed donated bikes, and a three wheeler. I've also got a desire to use some of the 6 or so Briggs engines I've got for some kind of builds. I did an electric push trailer, and would love to do a gas powered one as well. Maybe a side car, or trike would be an interesting project as well. I'm disabled because of cancer, so this hobby is what keeps me getting up and doing things to keep me going, and so far it's been alot of fun doing it all, from the thinking about it stage, to the finished product. This web site has been a real help in making that happen quickly and with success. I've used alot of tips from this site, and I'm very thankful for the time people have taken to put all this info out here. I took my Cranbrook MaB out for a quick ride today and enjoyed the sunshine and 40 degree day tremendously. I'll put up some pics of my Hiawatha build when I get it on the road. I'm kinda slow so don't hold your breath.

Hi trucked ... Sorry about the delay in responding, but painting and assembling my Hiawatha has kept me busier than I thought it would. I know what you mean about the peripheral neuropathy, as I have it too. That chemo stuff seems to wreck the body all over the place. That's great news on your CT scan and I hope you continue to have good checkups. You listed some very interesting bikes that you have, and I'd enjoy seeing any pictures that you could post of them. I saw Ol Blue and its a great looking build. I'll bet any others you do will be just as nice, or even better.

Finally, I've started riding this 1951 Hiawatha St. Croix bike, made by Cleveland Welding Co. and originally sold by Gambles Skogmoes as a "Lustr-Tex" gray frame w/ Black fake tank and red trim, that cost $57.95 back in 1951. Here's a couple of pictures. Towards the beginning of this thread, I posted before pictures of the rusty condition it used to be in. I like the way it turned out and hope you do as well. Thanks for everyones help. Its still unfinished since I want to put the Hiawatha name on the gas tank, and would like to put the model name of St. Croix on it too.

Thanks for the thumbs-up ! I've got a few friends around here that I'm anxious to show it to. Hopefully, to get them into building too.

MHF ... I had to call the Huffy service center to find out the prices for wheels on the Cranbrook. They were very nice and did need the serial number and model number of the bike. There is a Huffy web site, and that's where I found out they do need the ser.# and model# in order to order parts. Also got the Ph# from there. There are different colors so you'll have to specify that too. However, the retail price of the bike is so small ($89.95 at Walmart and 97 cents shipping to home) that I bought the whole bike, instead of $52.00 plus shipping ($30.00 if I remember right) for just 2 wheels.

W of H Space .. thanks for the compliment.

SilverBear ... I'm glad you liked it, and boy did you hit my feelings exactly! I'd love to know who had this Hiawatha before me and what they would think of it now. This is my second motorized bicycle build, and all through both of them, I've kept telling my friends who are interested that I feel like a teenager again, and boy would I have loved to have a motorized bike when I was one. I had a 20" single speed and a quarter horse back then. I just got done shooting pics of 4 horses that took a cruise through Scarville today. They almost got away while I was fiddling with the camera, but did get some parting shots. Scarville is a town 23 miles west of interstate 35 (center of Iowa east/west) and 2 miles south of the Minnesota stateline. We are also 3 miles east of Vinje, IA. Scarville pop. 79---- Vinje pop. 2 (but it has a bar and grill and Scarville's burned down just before Christmas)

MHF ... Mansfield, MN is only about 7 miles north of where I live (Sacrville, IA) and if there was a reformatory there, I guess I've never been threatened to be sent there. Ha ha! The Mansfield I go through, is a small Minnesota town known for its Mansfield Meat Market where it processes beef, hogs, lamb, goats, deer, elk, etc. There's not much there anymore, (maybe 100 people) I think it might be Mansfield, Ohio you are thinking of. I live in Iowa, where the tall corn grows.