Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
Cool, I might just try that out. Is it safe on painted parts, or just chrome/bare metal?
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
POISON APPLE: '79 Schwinn Fair Lady Trike
- Thread starter Bike from the Dead
- Start date
#eBayPartner Most Recent BUY IT NOW Items Listed on eBay
Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
Well, I had planned on continuing with my "good enough" design, but after Dad saw how I looked sitting on the seat with the trike mocked up as is, I'm not sure what I'm going to do now. He said, and I quote, that I "look like the witch from The Wizard of Oz on her bike, sitting up straight and stiff." He added that I looked all scrunched up sitting on the trike that way. He suggested just building it the way I really want, with the seat sitting between the rear tires, and the springer fork done up the way @Reallybigtim does his forks.
So, now I really don't know what I'm going to do. One option looks goofy, but fits my current budget, and the other option would look best, but I would have to let all the parts sit for however long while I gather the funds to build it. I could also use the funds to finish up my RRBBO15 entry, Dumpster Diamond, and probably have more than enough left over to finish up my other bikes. Or I could put that money towards something else.
Right now, I think I need to sketch up my ideas for the "best final" design for this trike, and go from there. I think I'll do some sketches for the finishing touches I want to add to Dumpster Diamond, too.
So, now I really don't know what I'm going to do. One option looks goofy, but fits my current budget, and the other option would look best, but I would have to let all the parts sit for however long while I gather the funds to build it. I could also use the funds to finish up my RRBBO15 entry, Dumpster Diamond, and probably have more than enough left over to finish up my other bikes. Or I could put that money towards something else.
Right now, I think I need to sketch up my ideas for the "best final" design for this trike, and go from there. I think I'll do some sketches for the finishing touches I want to add to Dumpster Diamond, too.
Superman1984
Cruisin' on my Bluebird
I have only used it on the rusty chrome & metal bits but you could test it on a scrap painted part? I wouldn't let it sit for long but I imagine you could use it as a cleaner to remove surface rust & oxidization haze as it's acidic
Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
I might have a part or two I could test it on. I'll keep that in mind, thanks!
Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
Minor update, but I figured I'd share anyway. I couldn't steer the trike with the handlebars angled back, given I'm a 6-foot guy on a bike originally designed for kids, so, as much as I liked seeing the handlebars in line with the springer fork support rods, I decided to angle the handlebars forward so I'd have some leg room. I tried angling the handlebars to match the angle of the handlebar stem, so there's still some level of continuity. I don't like how it looks as much as it did with the handlebars angled back, but I don't dislike it as much as I though I would. Besides, I'm just going for "good enough" for now. It doesn't have to be perfect, not yet anyway.
More updates coming soon. I ran out of time to shoot some photos of today's small progress, but I'll be sure to remedy that tomorrow.
More updates coming soon. I ran out of time to shoot some photos of today's small progress, but I'll be sure to remedy that tomorrow.
Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
Even smaller progress report, but I thought it was worth sharing.
I want to try and figure out in 3 dimensions how this tank is going to go together for this trike. I had originally planned to use some cheap foam core from Walmart, but when I thought about trying a foam cutter on it, I decided I should probably get some actual craft foam too, just in case that foam core is flammable. I have never done this sort of thing before, but I'm excited to try it out! I'd like to get to work on this soon, but I'd like to reorganize my workspace before I do.
I want to try and figure out in 3 dimensions how this tank is going to go together for this trike. I had originally planned to use some cheap foam core from Walmart, but when I thought about trying a foam cutter on it, I decided I should probably get some actual craft foam too, just in case that foam core is flammable. I have never done this sort of thing before, but I'm excited to try it out! I'd like to get to work on this soon, but I'd like to reorganize my workspace before I do.
Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
Went and pulled more frames and parts out of storage (some of which I had just put into storage only a week or two ago,) so I could hopefully get a better idea of what I'll do with some of the parts I'm currently using on Poison Apple when I rebuild it with a different trike axle in the future. It was already dark by the time I got home and unloaded everything, so I plan to mock up both this trike and another '50s Schwinn DX bike, PROJECT QUICK CHANGE/Schwinn Dixie sometime tomorrow when I have more daylight.
Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
Okay, while I'm still going for a relatively straightforward build on Poison Apple right now, I know that someday, eventually, I'm going to want to rebuild this trike with this stance...
...this 3-speed coaster brake trike hub and axle...
...and a pair of old school Cragar SS wheels.
When I can afford to rebuild Poison Apple into the crazy trike I have in mind, that means that the current trike axle and some other parts will be taken off to make way for the new parts. That got me thinking recently about what I'd do with those parts when that time comes. I know I'd want to use that trike axle again, and for whatever reason, I couldn't stop thinking about using it and the fat bike tires I had originally intended to use for this project on one of two identical 26" Schwinn Hollywood frames I disassembled for parts a couple years ago. So, I decided to grab the parts I needed out of storage and just mock it up for a lark.
I even made a rough mockup for a conversion tank, though I can't say I like it all that much.
Honestly, while this was just a quick mockup, I'm just not crazy about the overall look for this as a trike. The rear wheels sit too far back, the front wheel doesn't sit forward enough, the top bar doesn't really go anywhere at the back, it needs a bigger diameter front wheel than the 26" I used, the rear triangle looks absurdly large compared to the rest of the frame, it just goes on.
I would have loved to use my $10 rusty purple Space/Flightliner frame for this mockup, and I even brought it out of storage to test it out today, but the dropout extensions get in the way of the rear axle. I'd either need to angle the rear axle so it'd clear, or cut off the dropouts to make it fit for this mockup.
As much as The Trashliner Trike's frame-twisting and desire to flip over and throw me off at every turn spooked me, there was just something fun about riding a trike that sketchy.
Maybe I could Reimagine T.T.T. with this somewhat nicer frame, a rat trap springer fork, and a TRM convertible tank, with a nice metallic purple paint job to polish it off. In fact, the whole reason I bought Trashliner was because I had planned to turn my purple Sears Roebuck bike into a trike, and it seemed like a good test bed and parts donor at the time. It wasn't until I learned just how sketchy a Space/Flightliner trike frame actually performed, and after I acquired the '79 Schwinn Fair Lady that would eventually become Poison Apple, that I switched gears and chose not to turn my purple Space/Flightliner into a trike. Now though, I'm reconsidering it, at least for a later date.
Don't worry though. I'm still going to build Poison Apple with the parts I've been mocking it up with the past few months. I'm just working on a few other bikes that require less work to complete since the 2020-2021 MBBO is over, and I don't have a set deadline anymore.
...this 3-speed coaster brake trike hub and axle...
...and a pair of old school Cragar SS wheels.
When I can afford to rebuild Poison Apple into the crazy trike I have in mind, that means that the current trike axle and some other parts will be taken off to make way for the new parts. That got me thinking recently about what I'd do with those parts when that time comes. I know I'd want to use that trike axle again, and for whatever reason, I couldn't stop thinking about using it and the fat bike tires I had originally intended to use for this project on one of two identical 26" Schwinn Hollywood frames I disassembled for parts a couple years ago. So, I decided to grab the parts I needed out of storage and just mock it up for a lark.
I even made a rough mockup for a conversion tank, though I can't say I like it all that much.
Honestly, while this was just a quick mockup, I'm just not crazy about the overall look for this as a trike. The rear wheels sit too far back, the front wheel doesn't sit forward enough, the top bar doesn't really go anywhere at the back, it needs a bigger diameter front wheel than the 26" I used, the rear triangle looks absurdly large compared to the rest of the frame, it just goes on.
I would have loved to use my $10 rusty purple Space/Flightliner frame for this mockup, and I even brought it out of storage to test it out today, but the dropout extensions get in the way of the rear axle. I'd either need to angle the rear axle so it'd clear, or cut off the dropouts to make it fit for this mockup.
As much as The Trashliner Trike's frame-twisting and desire to flip over and throw me off at every turn spooked me, there was just something fun about riding a trike that sketchy.
Maybe I could Reimagine T.T.T. with this somewhat nicer frame, a rat trap springer fork, and a TRM convertible tank, with a nice metallic purple paint job to polish it off. In fact, the whole reason I bought Trashliner was because I had planned to turn my purple Sears Roebuck bike into a trike, and it seemed like a good test bed and parts donor at the time. It wasn't until I learned just how sketchy a Space/Flightliner trike frame actually performed, and after I acquired the '79 Schwinn Fair Lady that would eventually become Poison Apple, that I switched gears and chose not to turn my purple Space/Flightliner into a trike. Now though, I'm reconsidering it, at least for a later date.
Don't worry though. I'm still going to build Poison Apple with the parts I've been mocking it up with the past few months. I'm just working on a few other bikes that require less work to complete since the 2020-2021 MBBO is over, and I don't have a set deadline anymore.
Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
Sorry for the lack of updates. Ever since the sandblaster broke a few months ago, progress has been all but non-existent. Luckily, the sandblaster is just about ready to use again, so I decided to take care of one small detail before I start blasting the parts. I lost the little screw that attached this little chain guard to the trike axle, so I needed to drill the hole to be a little bigger so I could just use a regular bolt and nut to hold the chain guard in place. It's a small thing, but I'm glad I finally took care of it.
I'm not sure what my next step is for this trike at the moment, as I'm building another Schwinn for the RRBBO right now as well. There are still a few other details I want to figure out before I sandblast/powder coat everything, like the little exhaust pipe, a rear license plate, and a few other things, but that may have to wait until I get this other bike done first.
I'm not sure what my next step is for this trike at the moment, as I'm building another Schwinn for the RRBBO right now as well. There are still a few other details I want to figure out before I sandblast/powder coat everything, like the little exhaust pipe, a rear license plate, and a few other things, but that may have to wait until I get this other bike done first.
Bike from the Dead
I live for the CABE
Big news: I can start sandblasting again! Dad and I got the new sandblasting parts installed into his sandblaster, and after testing it out on my other Schwinn frame, it proves to be fully-functional!
For comparison, here's the old sandblasting tip and nozzle on the left, and the new tip and nozzle on the right.
Here's the sandblaster in question. 1950 26" Schwinn DX bike frame for scale, because there are no bananas at my dad's shop.
I didn't completely sandblast the frame, as this was just a test for now. I'll sandblast everything when I've fixed a few parts, and when Dad is ready to powder coat everything.
So, what's next for Poison Apple? Well, I'm still trying to figure out this kickstand exhaust pipe idea, preferably before I begin sandblasting and powder coating everything. There are a few other details to iron out, but right now, I'm focusing most of my attention on my RRBBO entry, which you can view here. I might still go ahead and sandblast everything and have Dad powder coat most of the parts, but I'll have to wait and see.
That's all for now, but stay tuned for more!
For comparison, here's the old sandblasting tip and nozzle on the left, and the new tip and nozzle on the right.
Here's the sandblaster in question. 1950 26" Schwinn DX bike frame for scale, because there are no bananas at my dad's shop.
I didn't completely sandblast the frame, as this was just a test for now. I'll sandblast everything when I've fixed a few parts, and when Dad is ready to powder coat everything.
So, what's next for Poison Apple? Well, I'm still trying to figure out this kickstand exhaust pipe idea, preferably before I begin sandblasting and powder coating everything. There are a few other details to iron out, but right now, I'm focusing most of my attention on my RRBBO entry, which you can view here. I might still go ahead and sandblast everything and have Dad powder coat most of the parts, but I'll have to wait and see.
That's all for now, but stay tuned for more!
Similar threads
