From the guy who

[KBarne]

Brought you: Allow me to entertain

Allow me again to entertain with the Dumpster Rat, this time a bit longer than a week! So I got this bicycle from the local dumpster:

I wanted to do a Zero dollar build! There is a frame design that I wanted to try and this dumpster find is going to allow me to try it out. I sourced some rectangle tubing (can I say that?) from the local scrap yard, and proceeded to chop off the top tube with a grinder. Cut, welded, and fit the new top tube into place:

It kind of started to take shape, but the design needs more finessing.

More tomorrow!

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Your last bike was awesome, so looking forward to this one!

Luke.

 

[KBarne]

Thanks Luke! time for day two:

So i massaged the look, added in a new seatpost tube, bringing the seat back and down. I welded up a little headtube fixture in an attempt to make the angular top tube fit a little better. I removed the chain guard on the front sprocket. Added in some shelving brackets to the seat stays and rattle canned in primer!

wow this is terrible these very small tweaks did get me closer to what I have in my minds eye. Fortunately while thinking about how I wanted to build the front end, I noticed this frame has a 1" headtube. Most of my bicycles are 1 1/8 necked down to 1" so this presented a problem. I contacted paragon machine works and ordered an HT2007 head tube! Its a 44mm by 105 (`1.5")

A new head tube in the mix opens this project, cause why stop with the headtube, toptube, seattube, and seatstays? Am I the only person who thinks its time to cue the "A-team" music?



Sparks!

Either way until tomorrow enjoy!

 

[KBarne]

Good Morning Rat Rodders! After a good fill of A-team music I chopped up and mocked up the frame with new down tube, extended the top tube 4".

Had some waiting to do for the new head tube to arrive so I started to scour interwebz for random stuff, and look what arrived at my door:

Triple trees with 1.5" blades and 1 1/8 steerer tube!

These are Ford Model A connecting rods. These particular connecting rods have some really nifty dimensions. Center to center they are 7 3/4" long, and the caps happen to be 1.5" (for those of you who like to do math, double the length add in a 4 1/2" spread and we are talking handlebar length territory)

Thanks, tomorrow brings another installment!

 

[mikeeebikey]

You graduated with MacGyver!
Nice work.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Looking forward to seeing those bars happen!

Luke.

 

[KBarne]

Thanks mike! Its amazing what you can do with bubblegum, a shoe string and some creativity!

Here is a quick mock up to get the head tube angle: (Luke I tossed on the connecting rod as a teaser)

after a bit of welding and re-welding:

Finished with the welding:

Also took the time to drill out the rivets on the large sprocket, of the 3 chain cassette.

This will set up for tomorrow and test fitting parts! Thanks until tomorrow!

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Luke.

 

[KBarne]

Time to mock up:

Ground down the original set post flush:

This is starting to take shape nicely! There is still some room for fine tuning the look..

Tossed on the tires:

for some reason the forks looked anemic to me, so I found some 2.125 OD, 1.5 ID aluminum tubing..

Chop saw did a nice job with a metal cutting disc attached, on the note of caution, if you cut to fast you will get deflection from the cutting wheel and the cut will not be flush! Good thing I got enough for trial and error! Till tomorrow! Thanks.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Bike is looking good! Those bars are a stroke of genius!

Luke.

 

[noodlenoggin]

Wow, this build kinda started as "yawn," but has transmogrified thoroughly into "wow!"

 

[KBarne]

Luke; Noodle; Thanks, The connecting rod handlebars were inspired by some lamps I made!

On to progress:

Slipped on the top two tubes: (gettin beefy)

Ran into a bit of a problem on the bottom sections staying in place:

To solve this and keep them held up against the lower portion of the triple tree I drilled two holes in each, threaded the holes to accept set screws.

All told i am diggin the look but it still needs more. I ordered up some Weldable Bar Clamps to complete the look:

And cause who doesn't like artistic:

Taking it out for a test spin, to get the chain length for gearing correct, I did notice that the nubbs on the connecting rods were a bit uncomfortable. So the tops of those are getting cut off! Until tomorrow thanks!

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Very cool! Those forks are looking much more beefy!

Luke.

 

[kingfish254]

I dig the forks and love the bars!

 

[Joosh]

Once again, I was lost at the start, but it looks like its gonna turn out amazing!

 

[KBarne]

Thanks fella's lets see if we hit the mark:

Got the 3peice crank in and with the newly chopped twin chain ring, cut the chain to length, took it for a spin in the snow. There are some tid bits remaining; but that will have to wait till spring as my work schedule got really hectic! Here is how it sits currently:

You can see where I cut off the nubs to let my palms sit out just a bit further!

wide side:

My favorite:

Some notes, the cockpit is kinda cramped but this was built for looks, and cruising its not gonna win any weight weenie awards, or trophy's for tour De France! As a cruiser it is awesome going down hill! I have been searching for seat ideas, i'm leaning heavily towards a hinged springer, but finding one that is the right shape is hard. (came this far might make one my self!) Perhaps a half banana springer? The original idea for this frame was smooth and sleek, but having it in a "raw" state I think adds a bit of character? I would be very interested in what the Rat Rodders have to say! As always thanks for taking the time to check out this thread!

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Leave it raw would be my vote, looks aggressive and suits the bars better...
Awesome bike!

Luke.

 

[Joosh]

The stance is perfect! I vote raw as well.

 

[blown240]

leave it raw for sure! Add an 80cc motor

 

[KBarne]

I agree gentlemen, and thank you for your feed back!

Add an 80cc motor

I have been milling over the motorizing for a while! I cant do the 80cc, gotta be a v-twin. I would need a transmission attached, to me those single pumpers wide-open sound too lawnmower!

Take it head on! Took a sheet of aluminum, drew in the mock saddle, cut it out on bandsaw and started to work the the bends for a new saddle. This is going to need a support bracket off the seat stays, and probably another attached underneath. The general shape is forming; the form is going to require more work but when completed, hopefully I will have a workable saddle! Thanks!