Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
It's happening! Powder coating: take 2!
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The Schwinn Dixie Dreamcycle: My Entry for the 16th Annual Rat Rod Bikes Build Off
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Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
I'll try posting pictures of the powder coating revamp sometime tomorrow if I can. I've got some house-cleaning I need to take care of first, so I haven't had as much time to edit and post stuff as I'd like.
Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
Sorry for the delay, but here's a highlight reel of Thursday's powder coating revamp on the frame, chain guard, and seat clamp. First, some before pictures. This time, Dad and I made sure to plug all threaded holes and bearing cup attachment points.
Here, Dad applies the first coat of powder to the parts.
Here, Dad applies the first coat of powder to the parts.
Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
The first coat doesn't look all that great after curing in the oven, in fact some parts look more silver than orange, but that's where the second layer of powder comes in...
Once the first layer of powder fully cools, he applies the second layer of powder: clear coat.
This is the result after the clear coat cures. That's when that orange really pops!
So now the parts are all powder coated. There's not much left to do at this stage, but I plan to make some more progress these next 2 days. I want to finish priming and painting the tank and tank mounts tomorrow and Tuesday while the weather is in the 60s and 70s. If I can get that done before it gets cold again, then all that's left is reassembly. I want to see if my fabricator friend can help me this time, since the last time I tried to put this bike together, the bearings weren't acting right. If he's able to help me, we might finish this bike before we start on my MBBO entry for this year.
Once the first layer of powder fully cools, he applies the second layer of powder: clear coat.
This is the result after the clear coat cures. That's when that orange really pops!
So now the parts are all powder coated. There's not much left to do at this stage, but I plan to make some more progress these next 2 days. I want to finish priming and painting the tank and tank mounts tomorrow and Tuesday while the weather is in the 60s and 70s. If I can get that done before it gets cold again, then all that's left is reassembly. I want to see if my fabricator friend can help me this time, since the last time I tried to put this bike together, the bearings weren't acting right. If he's able to help me, we might finish this bike before we start on my MBBO entry for this year.
Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
Spent some time yesterday working on the tank. I had to sand down all the imperfections that happened when I tried to rush the process of painting this tank. Here are the befores:
And here are the results of all that sanding:
I didn't want to drive all the way to my Dad's shop to paint my tank again, so I set up everything inside the garage. It's nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.
I applied 2 coats of primer, and let it dry.
I also got the new pedals in the mail yesterday, and this time, they work just fine!
I was going to sand the primer again and start painting today, but I wanted to test fit the tank inside the frame to see if all the layers of primer made an impact on the fitment of the tank. The tank just barely squeezed inside the frame, which means I need to sand a portion of the top and bottom of the tank to allow more room for the layers of paint I plan to apply. I don't know if I'm going to work on that today or sometime later, but I at least know what I need to do.
And here are the results of all that sanding:
I didn't want to drive all the way to my Dad's shop to paint my tank again, so I set up everything inside the garage. It's nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.
I applied 2 coats of primer, and let it dry.
I also got the new pedals in the mail yesterday, and this time, they work just fine!
I was going to sand the primer again and start painting today, but I wanted to test fit the tank inside the frame to see if all the layers of primer made an impact on the fitment of the tank. The tank just barely squeezed inside the frame, which means I need to sand a portion of the top and bottom of the tank to allow more room for the layers of paint I plan to apply. I don't know if I'm going to work on that today or sometime later, but I at least know what I need to do.
Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
Yesterday was a roller coaster of progress and setbacks. I met with my friend Allan yesterday, and we worked together on the final assembly of The Schwinn Dixie Dreamcycle. It took a few hours, but we actually got the bike fully assembled and even riding! All that was missing was the tank, because it's not finished being painted, and the pedals, because I accidentally left them at home. Even though it was missing the tank and pedals, I was still happy to see this bike that got me into this hobby more than 3 years ago fully assembled and ready to ride! Allan was pretty excited too, especially with that beautiful orange powder it was wearing. I was thrilled to ride this bike for the first time, (even though it may not show in the video, as I was currently in assessment mode.)
Unfortunately, what started out as the sweet taste of victory instantly turned into the painful agony of defeat. After that first test ride, I took it for another spin around the airport... and in less than a minute, all heck literally broke loose. The fork steerer tube snapped right around where we had repaired it months ago, causing the front wheel to jump ahead of the frame, and causing me to scrape my hands, knees and elbow against the tarmac.
The crash didn't damage the bike too bad. Aside from the fork, most of the damage was cosmetic. I'll want to get a new fork, sandblast and powder coat most of the parts again, and maybe replace the seat and handlebar grips. I, on the other hand, got banged up worse than I've experienced in a long while. I didn't break anything thankfully, but I'm really sore, especially in the entire length of my right arm.
Left hand got a blister and some road rash, and I'm a bit sore at the wrist too. Thankfully, it's not too bad.
On the other hand, my right hand got scraped really bad on 3 of my fingers, and my wrist, elbow, and even shoulder are all sore and stiff. This is particularly bad, as I write, draw, turn wrenches, and do pretty much everything with that arm/hand. I hate to say it, but because of what happened today, I'm going to need to take a break from working on bikes while I let this heal up.
While it's painful enough to have been injured like this, it's even more painful knowing that my bike was this close >< to being done, only for it to break before I could really enjoy it. And I wasn't the only one who was seriously bummed out about it. My friend Allan, who helped me fix this bike and helped me put it together was so stoked to see this bike come together, and equally disheartened to see it break in two. Mom and Dad were pretty shocked to hear what happened too. Despite the emotional crush this crash dumped on us, none of us want to give up on this bike. My family wants to see this bike completed, my friend Allan wants to see this bike completed, and I want to see this bike completed. So, whenever I'm in better shape, I'm going to fix up this bike again, probably after I finish my MBBO entry, if I can get back to work on that bike soon. I might even slap my repop chrome Schwinn springer fork on this bike, since the bearings are still greased, and ride it around like that while the bike waits its turn for repairs.
Until then, my plan from this point on is to let my body heal, and to see how everyone else is coming along on their bikes.
Unfortunately, what started out as the sweet taste of victory instantly turned into the painful agony of defeat. After that first test ride, I took it for another spin around the airport... and in less than a minute, all heck literally broke loose. The fork steerer tube snapped right around where we had repaired it months ago, causing the front wheel to jump ahead of the frame, and causing me to scrape my hands, knees and elbow against the tarmac.
The crash didn't damage the bike too bad. Aside from the fork, most of the damage was cosmetic. I'll want to get a new fork, sandblast and powder coat most of the parts again, and maybe replace the seat and handlebar grips. I, on the other hand, got banged up worse than I've experienced in a long while. I didn't break anything thankfully, but I'm really sore, especially in the entire length of my right arm.
Left hand got a blister and some road rash, and I'm a bit sore at the wrist too. Thankfully, it's not too bad.
On the other hand, my right hand got scraped really bad on 3 of my fingers, and my wrist, elbow, and even shoulder are all sore and stiff. This is particularly bad, as I write, draw, turn wrenches, and do pretty much everything with that arm/hand. I hate to say it, but because of what happened today, I'm going to need to take a break from working on bikes while I let this heal up.
While it's painful enough to have been injured like this, it's even more painful knowing that my bike was this close >< to being done, only for it to break before I could really enjoy it. And I wasn't the only one who was seriously bummed out about it. My friend Allan, who helped me fix this bike and helped me put it together was so stoked to see this bike come together, and equally disheartened to see it break in two. Mom and Dad were pretty shocked to hear what happened too. Despite the emotional crush this crash dumped on us, none of us want to give up on this bike. My family wants to see this bike completed, my friend Allan wants to see this bike completed, and I want to see this bike completed. So, whenever I'm in better shape, I'm going to fix up this bike again, probably after I finish my MBBO entry, if I can get back to work on that bike soon. I might even slap my repop chrome Schwinn springer fork on this bike, since the bearings are still greased, and ride it around like that while the bike waits its turn for repairs.
Until then, my plan from this point on is to let my body heal, and to see how everyone else is coming along on their bikes.
WOW I was getting ready to congratulate you for getting it done and how great it looked. Then I kept reading! You are lucky. Probably doesn't feel that way or at least for a while. You could have gotten REALLY hurt. Kick back and heal. That unrepaired springer or a new fork is a good idea.! Give Thanks!
Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
Yeah, I'm glad I was going straight when the fork broke, otherwise it could've been way worse. I'm definitely going to want to get a helmet and maybe even some pads now. "Prepare for the slide, not the ride," and all that. I'm still bummed about what happened and how much pain I'm in, but at least the bike isn't a total loss. I'm definitely going to take it easy for a while. Thanks dude.
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