Indian Hiawatha
- Thread starter silverbear
- Start date
Thanks, you guys. Yes, I'm itching to ride it, but only when it is ready to ride. I picked up the bike at Dan's today and brought it home, removed the front wheel and fork and gave the fork and rim a coat of red paint to match the frame. While I'm expecting the leaf spring fork from Curtis when it is ready, I want to see it in the red paint scheme. The cream gives too much contrast. The tires will do that, too, but hopefully not too much. When I have it back together I can finish up the cables. We also have the drive chain guard to make up and discussed that today.
Other work will continue on Saturdays in the Tinsmith's shop. I'll start a how to thread on an in frame gas tank for my Panther daily rider. I know nothing about welding and am determined to make this tank out of steel in order to learn how. While Dan will advise and will probably cut out the pieces with a band saw where he is employed during the work week, I'm going to do the welding myself with advice and some mentoring from Dan.
Next Saturday he's going to bring some scraps from work for me to do some practicing on.
The following week I intend to start making the tank and will do my best to document and photograph the process from a dummy's point of view. Comments and criticism from real welders will be welcomed. Dan isn't an accomplished welder either and has made one steel gas tank for his stretch Worksman build, but he knows more than I do. I will end up with a gas tank that fits the frame and holds gas without leaking... one way or another and if not the first try, then the second one. My purpose is not to show how to make a really cool tank, but to show that even a beginner can make one. By doing so I want to encourage others to give it a try. I'll be using a Hobart 110 volt mig welder.
SB
Other work will continue on Saturdays in the Tinsmith's shop. I'll start a how to thread on an in frame gas tank for my Panther daily rider. I know nothing about welding and am determined to make this tank out of steel in order to learn how. While Dan will advise and will probably cut out the pieces with a band saw where he is employed during the work week, I'm going to do the welding myself with advice and some mentoring from Dan.
Next Saturday he's going to bring some scraps from work for me to do some practicing on.
The following week I intend to start making the tank and will do my best to document and photograph the process from a dummy's point of view. Comments and criticism from real welders will be welcomed. Dan isn't an accomplished welder either and has made one steel gas tank for his stretch Worksman build, but he knows more than I do. I will end up with a gas tank that fits the frame and holds gas without leaking... one way or another and if not the first try, then the second one. My purpose is not to show how to make a really cool tank, but to show that even a beginner can make one. By doing so I want to encourage others to give it a try. I'll be using a Hobart 110 volt mig welder.
SB
SB, an DAN ,
It's been a while since I checked out this build all I can say is WOW !
You shouldnt have much trouble building your tank from steel just be sure to line it with tank kreeme or a similar product after welding .
Gary
It's been a while since I checked out this build all I can say is WOW !
You shouldnt have much trouble building your tank from steel just be sure to line it with tank kreeme or a similar product after welding .
Gary
Awesome SB I toled you a long time ago that you could weld and now you are going to try. I have watched your work and know you can do it. Just make sure you have plenty of light so you can see were you are welding,our old tired eyes need it. If you don't have a auto darkining helment you should get one. Don't buy a cheep one get one from a welding shop that can be ajusted and change the battrie.
I see a hole new wrold opening up for Silverbear. He will be colecting all kinds of metal and doing a lot.
Forks are comming along hopefully ship soon...............Curt
I see a hole new wrold opening up for Silverbear. He will be colecting all kinds of metal and doing a lot.
Forks are comming along hopefully ship soon...............Curt
Curt, that's so true. Silverbear will be welding up broken hearts and the crack of dawn before we know it.
Went up to our local tool supply the other day and looked a a very nice Miller 180 that did everything but make you a better welder for the blow out price on $900. Looked really close at it and sure enough. It said 'Steve" on it. Looked a little closer at it then I saw "needs to find $900 to buy it". Oh well.
Bike is beyond sweet. Can't wait to see it this summer.
Steve.
Went up to our local tool supply the other day and looked a a very nice Miller 180 that did everything but make you a better welder for the blow out price on $900. Looked really close at it and sure enough. It said 'Steve" on it. Looked a little closer at it then I saw "needs to find $900 to buy it". Oh well.
Bike is beyond sweet. Can't wait to see it this summer.
Steve.
Thanks for the encouragement, you guys. Even old dogs can learn new tricks so long as a treat's involved.
Curtis, good to hear the fork is nearly ready. I know it's been a learning experience and I appreciate your efforts. I've got both rims painted now, made a copper gasket for the intake manifold and ran the clutch cable. Getting closer...
SB
Curtis, good to hear the fork is nearly ready. I know it's been a learning experience and I appreciate your efforts. I've got both rims painted now, made a copper gasket for the intake manifold and ran the clutch cable. Getting closer...
SB
I have complete faith in your tank making adventure.. just did my first one and I have NO welding skills ..but lots of patience..it surprisingly turned out beautiful.. a tip that worked for me..and I'm a dummy at this is I started with a wood mold, trim to just how I wanted it and then made my template from it..finished product was so nice and snug it could be held in place with straps.. I'm excited to see your finished product !!
Well, that's encouraging. Congratulations on your success. It must be pretty satisfying to look at your tank sitting there on the bike and be able to say, "I made that". Pretty cool.
I'll start a thread on making my tank pretty soon. When I do I hope you'll post a photo of your gas tank and share some of your experiences in making it. On this coming thread, welding dummies rule!
SB
I have little doubt you would do a fantastic job building a tank, or whatever else you choose to tackle.
I agree with Fasteddy, a whole other world is about to open up for you and I can't wait to see what you come up with.
I agree with Fasteddy, a whole other world is about to open up for you and I can't wait to see what you come up with.
Very nice looking bike Silver Bear, ride it with pride. I too, think you can get into welding pretty easily. I've just ridden my Hiawatha St. Croix for the first time, and the tank I made for it was made from an old steel, water pressure tank that I brazed instead of welded, but it came out OK for the first one I made. I did have trouble with warping of the bottom so keep that in mind. Mine warped upwards in such a way that it actually helps push the gas towards the petcock, so I left it warped since it can't be seen. I also put a sight gauge on it so its easy to see if there's gas or not. Thanks for the tips on recovering old seats with leather!
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Porch Lizard,
I was just looking at your build thread and posted a comment, which I'll re-post here, too. Others should check out your build results... real nice. http://motorbicycling.com/showthread.php?p=372828#post372828
"Very nice results from all your efforts. I second the kudos for your gas tank and exhaust. When I have worked on my oldies, stripping them down to are metal and such I sometimes wonder about the original owner... was the bike a birthday present? Christmas? Hard earned from a paper route? And if that young person could look over your shoulder and see that the bike has a real motor... woohoo! No more playing cards in the spokes!
Cool stuff for sure.
Whereabouts in Iowa? I was born in Davenport, my hometown as a kid was Ottumwa and I have a brother who lives over near Missouri Valley.
Thanks for the encouragement to try a steel tank. And you're welcome for the tips on covering old seats. Yours came out nice.
SB
I was just looking at your build thread and posted a comment, which I'll re-post here, too. Others should check out your build results... real nice. http://motorbicycling.com/showthread.php?p=372828#post372828
"Very nice results from all your efforts. I second the kudos for your gas tank and exhaust. When I have worked on my oldies, stripping them down to are metal and such I sometimes wonder about the original owner... was the bike a birthday present? Christmas? Hard earned from a paper route? And if that young person could look over your shoulder and see that the bike has a real motor... woohoo! No more playing cards in the spokes!
Cool stuff for sure.
Whereabouts in Iowa? I was born in Davenport, my hometown as a kid was Ottumwa and I have a brother who lives over near Missouri Valley.
Thanks for the encouragement to try a steel tank. And you're welcome for the tips on covering old seats. Yours came out nice.
SB
Over the past week I've been plugging away on the Indian Hiawatha. There are a number of minor things too mundane to even mention, but necessary to do anyway... stuff like lock tite where it is needed, fastening a bolt and nut here and there, finishing up the cables...little time consuming stuff that needs doing before the bike can be run safely.
Today I addressed what might not have been much of a problem, but it has been bothering me anyway. The engine drive chain was within a whisker of contacting the frame. It might rub under power and might not. I could mount a chain guide to redirect the chain as on kit bikes, but didn't want to unless necessary.
A better option would be to crimp the frame as was done on by Schwinn on their Whizzer model bikes. Crimping the frame was done to make room for the belt drive to the wheel sheave. My understanding is that this does not weaken the frame.
Msrfan and his Briggs builds is where I first saw this done and asked him about his crimping tool. He very kindly described how he made it, so when Dan the Tinsmith had the need for one on his stretch Worksman build he made his own which is shown in the photos below.
I borrowed Dan's tool and did the crimp to my frame today. The photos tell the story.
(cont.)
SB
Today I addressed what might not have been much of a problem, but it has been bothering me anyway. The engine drive chain was within a whisker of contacting the frame. It might rub under power and might not. I could mount a chain guide to redirect the chain as on kit bikes, but didn't want to unless necessary.
A better option would be to crimp the frame as was done on by Schwinn on their Whizzer model bikes. Crimping the frame was done to make room for the belt drive to the wheel sheave. My understanding is that this does not weaken the frame.
Msrfan and his Briggs builds is where I first saw this done and asked him about his crimping tool. He very kindly described how he made it, so when Dan the Tinsmith had the need for one on his stretch Worksman build he made his own which is shown in the photos below.
I borrowed Dan's tool and did the crimp to my frame today. The photos tell the story.
(cont.)
SB
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With just wrenches to work with this took some time and muscle power. I did two bites just to be sure and am pleased with the results. Plenty of clearance now.
The tool scraped away some paint so I did some touch up with a shade of fingernail polish pretty close to the color of the bike. I'll give another coat tomorrow and it will look a little better. Before this bike is all together there will be more chips and scratches. It may be that when the tri car front end is done there will be enough to fix that I'll take the bike apart for a paint do over. And maybe not, too.
I found the other half of my propane flaring tool so next up is finishing the gas line. Getting closer yet...
SB
The tool scraped away some paint so I did some touch up with a shade of fingernail polish pretty close to the color of the bike. I'll give another coat tomorrow and it will look a little better. Before this bike is all together there will be more chips and scratches. It may be that when the tri car front end is done there will be enough to fix that I'll take the bike apart for a paint do over. And maybe not, too.
I found the other half of my propane flaring tool so next up is finishing the gas line. Getting closer yet...
SB
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Nice job Silverbear, looks much better then a chain guide...... im not even going to ask why you have red nail polish on hand LOL
Harry,
I have three colors, red, black and cream. I learned this tip from Mike Simpson... that fingernail polish makes good touch up paint for little scratches and chips. So now when I do a paint job I also paint a washer or bolt or something that I can take to the drugstore to match up with fingernail polish. It even has it's own little brush. You can also use it in a pinch as thread lock if you run out of lock tite.
So there. It's a manly thing to do. Really.
SB
Tinsmith,
Probably his latest hottie. You know the man's a girl magnet with those bikes of his.
fasteddy.
Probably his latest hottie. You know the man's a girl magnet with those bikes of his.
fasteddy.
SB, I was just thinking. The next time you need to get some more nail polish I'll go along and take photos and we can do a thread on how to choose the right color and I want to see the reaction of the clerk when you tell them "it's for touch up on my motorized bicycle."
Dan
Dan
You guys are no help at all. As for Sallt Hanson, you don't want to know. That woman is hard as nails.
SB
SB