Found this 1948 JC Higgins back in May. Took the bike apart about two weeks ago. Decided to give it an OA bath and remove some of the crust. The bike will still have plenty of patina even after I clean it up.
I just picked up a JC Higgins at the 1st annual "Oldfarts Swap Meet" and I'm not going to use the crank or the skip tooth sprocket PM if you are interested? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks, I saw your crank in the other thread today. Looks to be in great shape. I already have a replacement tho. It's off a 49 Higgins.
That's great news you looking for a different fork or going to give a go at straightening the OG? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Fork has been straightened too. Has been in the OA bath also. I still have to use some WD-40 and steel wool on it. And then some compound to bring back the paint a little. I'm up in the air as to whether I'll respray the white stars and accent. I don't usually like to do any paint touch ups. The white didn't hold up to the cleaning but there wasn't much left anyway and the rust removal out weighed saving what little paint remained. Most people use a Lil Brute fork jack to straighten forks. I used what I guess some might call a Big Brute. It's a 4 foot tall 4660 lb Farm jack with a couple of steel plates bolted on. Makes quick work of it. Usually takes longer to set up than the actual straightening does.
I've had good results with Gibbs instead of the WD-40 http://www.gibbsbrandlubricant.com/ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Very nice bike-hard to believe that batwing light survived in such good shape. Always like those rear reflectors on the front fender-a unique Higgins touch!!
The lower bearing cup for the fork has dimples in the race from the ball bearings. It happened when the fork was bent in a crash. I do have a nice replacement cup.
Progress on the frame after an OA bath. Long process of wiping away rust with WD-40 prior to working with compound on bringing a little more color back. Edit: These pictures are during the WD-40 wipe down. I still have to do the compound for the color.
Its lookin good, oh and whats an OA bath? I use cleaning vinegar to de-rust old parts is it the same thing?
OA is oxalic acid. Otherwise known as wood bleach. It's sold in powdered form and is mixed with water. It removes rust. Search oxalic acid on the forum, there are a few threads in the restoration section on how to use it and the effects it has. Unfortunately the fenders weren't painted as well as the frame by Murray. Doesn't look like any primer was used, and it's real thin. The paint came back well on the frame but the fenders still look brown. The tank also had a poor paint job from new. Pics coming soon. The frame was waxed tonight as well as the fenders and fork. Wheels are done except for reassembling the hubs.
Some folks have said that OA will wash out the red but it looks like this held up pretty good! @New Mexico Brant V/r Shawn
Actually it does wash out the red a little bit. But this one was so rusty it was worth the risk. I just kept an eye on the painted parts while they soaked. The frame held up ok. The tank and fenders not as well. The fenders had little maroon paint left, and stayed kinda brown. The tank graphics didn't hold up well either and I couldn't leave the tank in long enough to remove the rust. Neither the fenders or tank appear to have been painted with any primer. The paint on them wasn't as good as the frame paint.
