The Rustoration Build Off

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fasteddy

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2009
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British Columbia Canada
Weekend Fun, trust me you NEED a Silver Bear tank. I have one on my desk as I'm typing this. Making a walnut stand for it. It is a work of art. Can't have gas in Canada so it's going to be displayed as a art piece. If I have time I'm going to make a glass display case.

Steve.
 

BarelyAWake

New Member
Jul 21, 2009
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Maine
Very nice weekend-fun! It not only looks to be in dang good shape - but it's even got it's fenders, frame tank & rack! (^) That's no small thing - original bits like that can be hard to come by.

Sweet! Good ol' silverbear has shown us all that a vintage step-through rocks fer motorizing (see that? he's an undue influence on our youth lol) - what are yer plans fer it? New color scheme or keepin' the old one?

We needz moar pics teh naow kthx :p
 

BarelyAWake

New Member
Jul 21, 2009
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Well, I tell ya what... should I just take a coupla days off work and I'd have the Rollfast on the road... but unfortunately that's jus' not in the cards lol

Still - I did manage to get a lil more done, fabbed some mounts and got the chainguard fitted and on there, cut up some old copper sheet and replaced the fuel tank mounts & made a cover plate thingie for the unsightly 1/2 round hole left by my forward motor mount standoff as well as a buncha lil tweaks here and there.

It's interesting how it's the lil things that take up so much time lol, those copper mounts for the fuel tank the simplest thing in the world, right? No - ofc they're all slightly different sizes as I wanted them flush with the tank so each one needed to be fitted separately and I still messed them up a lil. You can see in the profile pics that the tank is slightly higher than it should be - it's not as bad as it appears tho, there's a reflection on the bottom of the tank that's makin' the gap look larger than it is - but it is off some... but as you'd not be able to tell unless you were under the bike - I haz pronounced it "good 'nuff" and/or to be dealt with later. The important thing is the fuel system is DONE and leak free FTW! ... no wait... I still need to paint or replace the fuel cap and see if I can't dig up some brass bolts/washers to go with those copper straps. o.o *sigh* I'm sucha brass & copper junkie - I gotta find more heh, I can't wait till they "age" a bit... patience...

Even the silly chainguard took waaay too much effort, I know it's the simplest thing - but I had no mounts to work with and ofc there's the shiftkit chains heh, cut up some sheet steel & a hole here, a twist there and three points of contact are made to keep it as solid and rattle free as possible... I hates that "clang-clang" of a loose chainguard so I mebbe went a lil overkill on it, it's still gotta come back off as all the mounts are raw steel and I need to hit the guard itself with some undercoating.

I suppose the lil badge to cover the forward mount wasn't the most effective use of my time this weekend, but I had found the perfect sized chunk o'brass while poking around at work (some random pressure regulator/valve dealie). Both the badge's face and the threaded backing were exactly the same width and size as the mount, so unlike the rest of the silly stuff I did - this was quick & easy, locking into place like it's supposed to be there after a few cuts w/the ol' dremel. I'm gonna grind & polish off 'uniweld' as soon as I figure out something clever to replace it with... which in itself may take a while heh, I was thinkin of mebbe jus' stamping BAW on it *shrug*

I bought some cruiser pedals... like an idiot I didn't double check the thread sizes so ofc they don't fit, got the exhaust system complete save for one rear mount (no hoseclamps fer this 'un lol) the engine electricals & killswitch done & hidden away under the engine, but I'm gonna need to fab up a heat sheild for it as I think it too close to the expansion chamber. I cut up an old fender as a cover for the "missing" section the rear fender has, I was thinkin' of jus' replacing it - but this cut section will serve well as the backing for the behind-the-seatpost tank so it'll do, I think I'm just gonna pop-rivet it there for now as spring is here and I think that tank is gonna hafta wait... I still need to fab a dropstand and it's mounts - must have priorities if ya know what I mean lol

Lights & wiring, taillight, seat, grips & leather covers for 'em still need doing... meh... I could have the thing runnin' NOW if I just threw a clamp on the exhaust silencer...

I will resist... I must be strong... DETAILS! MUST FINISH DETAILS FIRST! I've sworn that I'll not put the Rollfast head badge back on till it's "done" (for this season at least) and ready to run heh



 

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silverbear

The Boy Who Never Grew Up
Jul 9, 2009
8,325
670
113
northeastern Minnesota
Barely...
Wow and How! That looks so good. You have more will power than I could ever muster up as I'd b riding that sweet thing. And I like the little brass thingie for the motor mount, a perfectly legitimate thing to consume your time. I think BAW maybe with a little ~ under it as a wave. Someday when you are no longer land locked I hope your boat has a place on it for your Rolls... just the thing for shore jaunts. It would make a mighty nice figure head, too, if you shrink wrap it or something. That is rolling sculpture...
SB
 

silverbear

The Boy Who Never Grew Up
Jul 9, 2009
8,325
670
113
northeastern Minnesota
Weekend Fun, trust me you NEED a Silver Bear tank. I have one on my desk as I'm typing this. Making a walnut stand for it. It is a work of art. Can't have gas in Canada so it's going to be displayed as a art piece. If I have time I'm going to make a glass display case.

Steve.
Thanks, Bud.
SB
 

BarelyAWake

New Member
Jul 21, 2009
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Maine
Thanks silver- but I do gotta point out that it looks better in the pics than up close... not bad ofc, but I really have messed up the paint some with alla this futzin' about. I knew that'd happen ofc, which is why I haven't bothered with the original paint scheme and just base coated the thing. You speak of patience - but I suspect it'll not get stripped down and repainted till next winter, my "patience" is strained lol

Good call mang - yus, being a liveaboard and motorizing a bicycle IS related heh Not much room for a car on deck & the grocery run is often an epic journey lol The Rollfast is a touch on the heavy side fer slingin' into a boat and onto the dock, I'd be better off with the featherweight Schwinn... but... the Rollfast is worth the extra effort I think ;)
 

weekend-fun

New Member
Jun 21, 2009
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San Carlos CA
Wow, BA that bike looks like like it was made by a pro.. Oh wait your a pro :D
I cannot stress how very very very beatiful that bicycle is (^)

as for my bike- Im Gunnar keep the same scheme. The seller had no idea how old it was. What amazed mr is the tires hold air, the fenders are in great condt. and it has a tank still!! I have school today so I will see y'all at 4:00 PM lol.
 

fasteddy

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2009
7,470
4,954
113
British Columbia Canada
Barely Awake, that is fantasic Sir. The only thing that will improve on the bike is if you wear period correct clothes when you ride it.
The tourists are going to be asking to take photos and a simple 10 min. trip will last hours.

Simple job= this will take ten minutes, three hours later?

Steve.
 

BarelyAWake

New Member
Jul 21, 2009
7,194
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Maine
Thanks guys, ya'll are great support - I think I get a lot of that patience just from this thread TBH

While I've tinkered a bit on a coupla different things - I'm not the pro I stand accused heh, this is my first vintage bike - my second MB evvor o_O Gotta love crossover skills FTW Seriously? If ya'll spot somethin' weird/wrong or have any tips - defo point it out and I'll tell ya why I did it wrong...

It's always the same reason, I know who the culprit was... we argue alla time lol



Period correct clothes? How 'bout dusty denim, workshirt & the crazed hermit beard?

I gots it covered ;)


I draw the line at the weird leather beanie tho o.o
 

fasteddy

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2009
7,470
4,954
113
British Columbia Canada
Nope ,no denim and plaid shirts. Plus four pants, shirt, tie, Tweed sports jacket and a cloth cap. Make sure you polish your shoes!
You've seen the photos. Beard is a nice option.

The Japanese tourists will love you. You will be even more famous and seen on computers around the world.

Gas powered Penny Farthing?

Steve.
 

weekend-fun

New Member
Jun 21, 2009
999
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San Carlos CA
Oh, and the wheels are in awsome condition, which makes it easy(er) to pedal. I don't know what size they are though.
(update: I have assumend the bike is s pre or during WWII bike, is says sears on it.)
 

silverbear

The Boy Who Never Grew Up
Jul 9, 2009
8,325
670
113
northeastern Minnesota
Sears sold Elgin/JCHiggins both before and long after the war so I don't think it saying Sears on it means much. The guys at the classic bike website (I think barely gave you the link) can tell you when it was made or come close if you post photos there. If it says JCHiggins on it then it is after WWII. If the tire size is 1.75 in width then it is a middleweight and is probably late fifties to late sixties. If it is 2.125 wide then it is a heavy weight and is likely late forties to mid fifties. If it was pre war then the head badge would say Elgin and not JC Higgins. They didn't make bikes during war II. Whatever year it is, you've got a nice one. But it would be good to pin down when it was made. If there is a model number on the seat post copy that down and give it to the classic bike guys along with serial number and photos. They'll know.
SB
 

weekend-fun

New Member
Jun 21, 2009
999
0
0
San Carlos CA
Sears sold Elgin/JCHiggins both before and long after the war so I don't think it saying Sears on it means much. The guys at the classic bike website (I think barely gave you the link) can tell you when it was made or come close if you post photos there. If it says JCHiggins on it then it is after WWII. If the tire size is 1.75 in width then it is a middleweight and is probably late fifties to late sixties. If it is 2.125 wide then it is a heavy weight and is likely late forties to mid fifties. If it was pre war then the head badge would say Elgin and not JC Higgins. They didn't make bikes during war II. Whatever year it is, you've got a nice one. But it would be good to pin down when it was made. If there is a model number on the seat post copy that down and give it to the classic bike guys along with serial number and photos. They'll know.
SB

The size is 2.125, and on the bottom of the cranks it has a 9 8 55.. So i think we will call it a 1955!
The classic site is called thecabe, or classic & antuiqe bicycle exchange.