Any bicycle guys ?

[D_Mac 8,619]

So I know a guy who was going to bring this to the curb. Wanted it out of his garage. I said wait a minute..... load it in the back of my truck. I'll take it home and monkey with it. Story goes its a Western Flyer from the 40s. I thought I could get it rolling down the street again but nooooo. Needs help that I can't give it. The rear axle is bent and the bearings inside are in pieces. So I put the fenders on it and was about to hang it on my fence as yard art when another friend of mines son in law pulls up to look at it. He is a custom bike builder. Builds those low rider bikes. He said he has some parts that would work on it and he would get it pedaling down thr road again. He was looking at it like I look at old Wheel Horse tractors. He told me about the seat and the balloon tires and the truss bars up front, the skip tooth chain. I told him I'm not a bike guy but get it rolling again. So he tossed it in the back of his truck. Let you know how it turns out. Any bike guys out there?

Edited July 1, 2023 by D_Mac

[ebinmaine 67,502]

8 minutes ago, D_Mac said:

Any bike guys out there?

That's a cool piece.  

I know next to nothing about the older ones though.  

 

I have a ... few.. from the 80s and 90s. 

Eleven or so. 

There's several road style (think 10 speed). 

Several older fixed frame mountain bikes. 

My own go-to mountain bike is a 1989 Shogun Trail Breaker I that I bought new in the spring of 1989.  

 

Another neat one I have is a 1984 Shogun road bike. 

I don't remember the specifics but it has the tallest frame available that year. 

It was barn/basement find from a few towns over. Sat out of the sun. The bright red paint is in phenomenal condition.  

 

 

[D_Mac 8,619]

You know we like pictures EB !!

[SylvanLakeWH 25,560]

Nice save! 

 

Look forward to pics of it rolling again!

 

That light is cool!!! 

[D_Mac 8,619]

Light is cool but not original to the bike. Something was mounted there when new as you can see the bracket is built onto the forks. It is cool. Bike has a look to it.

[Stepney 2,325]

They're fun. I don't have any pictures of my 1938 Raleigh in the last couple years, it's fitted with an old Sears gas engine kit over the front wheel now. This was years ago last time I had it out. No cables, the brakes are worked off rods and bellcranks running under the frame. Has the three speed Sturmey Archer rear hub. I used to have a beautiful 1952 Columbia Superbe but the thing was ungodly heavy for our hilly area. Had an 1890's Iver Johnson shaft drive way back. Sold that to buy my first nice WH actually. 

[D_Mac 8,619]

Gas powered...... don't give me any ideas !!

[peter lena 8,628]

@dmac   , https://tradesmansbike.wordpress.com/1940s-runwell-despatch-carrier-bicycle/  how about this ?  growing up in new york city , every grocery store had one , remember those , iron strap baskets . those bikes were like tanks . pete

[squonk 41,118]

Western Flyer. My Sister had a blue 24" bike with white wheels. From about 1968 on it sat in our barn. Around 75 my friends and I had a old bike demo derby. Guess who rode the bike he brought home! 

[Frankenstein 58 213]

I’ve been tinkering with these two Schwinn stingrays. The 60s muscle bikes. 

[squonk 41,118]

6 minutes ago, Frankenstein 58 said:

I’ve been tinkering with these two Schwinn stingrays. The 60s muscle bikes. 

I had a WF bike just like the bottom one pictured. Super light. You could pop wheelies without even trying.

[19richie66 17,508]

Rode this for a while. Got into tractors and it went away 

[ri702bill 8,322]

A friend of mine had a Schwinn Stingray 5 speed with the T Handle shifter on the top bar between the neck and the seat post. Single front sprocket, 5 speed rear sprockets with  a derailleur... and the metallic white banana seat. He changed out the seat rear low style Sissy bar for one about 2 feet taller - with a backrest...

 

[kpinnc 12,061]

Been years since this one has been ridden, but I must've put thousands of miles on it at one time. 

 

Not even sure I know where the shock pump is now... 

[ebinmaine 67,502]

On 6/30/2023 at 9:52 PM, D_Mac said:

You know we like pictures EB !!

 

Here's a few pics.  

 

Angles are bad because the bikes are hanging.  

 

 

[D_Mac 8,619]

No progress yet on mine. I'm waiting for the call saying " all done, come get it" Then mine will be hanging lime yours.

[8ntruck 7,004]

@ri702bill - does that Sting Ray have the Bendix 2 speed kickback hub?  The neighbor kid had one like that. 

[ri702bill 8,322]

Maybe - to me, it just looks like a coaster brake hub. The small horizontal flat antirotation bar and left frame clamp are slightly visable - on both..

[Frankenstein 58 213]

It’s just a coaster brake. I believe the Bendix 2 speed had either a red or a blue band. 

[D_Mac 8,619]

So the bike I started  this post about is back from getting worked on. I couldn't be happier. I think it looks amazing and it functions as it should. Late 30s to early 40s Western Flyer. You seen the before photos, here's the afters.

Edited July 17, 2023 by D_Mac

[SylvanLakeWH 25,560]

Nice!!! 

[D_Mac 8,619]

Did some more detailing. Almost done with it.

[D_Mac 8,619]

So I picked up another project bike today. 1950s Hiawatha. It's going to need a few things. 

[D_Mac 8,619]

Some progress on the bike. Tubes in the tires, fresh paint. Need to fit the new chain, and get a seat post, seat , and pedals yet. I'm thinking banana seat and sissy bar.

[D_Mac 8,619]

Little by little. Got the crank installed. Had to order a new nut and washer, so i had to wait until they were delivered. Packed the bearings with new grease. New chain. New kick stand. Waiting on pedals, seat post and clamp, and seat. Starting to look like a Wheel Horse. Thinking about asking @Vinylguy to make a headbadge for it as it dosnt have one. 

Edited August 3, 2023 by D_Mac