Another Rocket

[bikiba]

I purchased this Rocket a number of years ago and it has sit quietly in my garage doing nothing. I finally had enough room to pull it out and my wife and kids went to see Toy Story 4 so I had enough time to make a dent in it. My goal is to FINALLY get it in shape to take it for a ride.

Cleaned the tank with water and steel wool. One side must have been facing the sun all the years due to one side being more faded than the other.


Will post more pix.

 

[bikiba]

Some more pics. I cleaned both sides of the tank, rack, frame and fork. The shiny bars I bought as like for like replacements off another monark a few years ago. I have to cleanup the rims, hubs need to be cleaned, chain is soaking, i need to give the stem a little treatment and I managed to ALMOST get the crank off. Guessing another 3-4 hours before he is on the road again.

 

[bikiba]

Some more semi-cleaned up pieces. Not totally done - but baby steps. I was looking at the chain and thinking if this were a modern chain and needed to be shifted , go through a derailleur I would have just tossed it worrying about chain stretch.

 

[piercer_99]

Is this a 1952?

 

[bikiba]

Is this a 1952?

ive heard 53 thrown out there - i really have no idea, but would love to know myself

 

[piercer_99]

ive heard 53 thrown out there - i really have no idea, but would love to know myself

1953 will have a bracket welded on the bottom bracket for the chain guard to bolt to. 1952 it clamps on the down tube.

1951 was a different tank graphic.

 

[bikiba]

A few more before and afters. Or after and befores

Went to the auto store and picked up some grease to get the crank, fork, stem and bars back on. Im going to try and linseed wipe the paint tomorrow and tackle the rims/hubs if time permits. Funny thing about this bike that there was less rust and just CAKEDDDDDDDD on dirt everywhere. It was almost like they used it as a 50s mountain bike there was so much old dirt everywhere. OR they had it somewhere that it got covered in mud.

im not really going to town with the detailing - just getting it ride ready.

 

[bikiba]

I did two wipes of linseed oil and the paint looks much better, and tried to un-dent one of the dents in the tank, which came out about 80%. little by little.... getting there. Not looking forward to the rims and hubs. Gonna be dirt central.

And I never posted a pic of the original...

 

[Scribble]

Monarks always seem to clean up nice, here's my 53 Western-Flyer branded Rocket.

 

[bikiba]

wow - the shape, chainguard etc looks just like my rocket!