Help me identify this J.C. Higgins

[brewtownpete]

I picked this J.C. Higgins bike up and need help identifying year and model (maybe a jetflow?) so I can restore it with missing parts.

Stamped on the bottom of the frame under the crank is:

MOSU
MOD-502 45460
14481

Also wanted to know the best way to restore the seat. The springs & hardware are perfect, the seat itself (sheet metal) is rusted pretty bad, can't get the 2 pieces apart to have it re-upholstered.. Maybe bondo or Fiberglss to get the shape back?

Any help appreciated.

 

[dogdart]

45460
is a model # , julesjunk posted one "Fresh find (sort of) J C Higgins" was ID'd as a '56-57 Jet flo

 

[karfer67]

thats what i based my bike called "the higgins" on. i built it back in 2006 and it is still my fave bike. i love this frame it is funny that more of these have been poping up lately. do a search or maybe someone who is better at finding pics can find one of mine

 

[ratina]

I would say color flow or jet flow, I forget which is which. My dad is restoring a similar one we believe is a 58, the lower bar has more curve to it.

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

looks to be a color flow,but i could be wrong ,i was wrong once before :lol: welcome to the forum !.dont remember seeing your intro ?

 

[karfer67]

were there boys color flows? a collector told me only the girls bikes were the color flows. i call it the most bestest bestest frame to do a kustom on is what i tink!!

 

[brewtownpete]

looks to be a color flow,but i could be wrong ,i was wrong once before :lol: welcome to the forum !.dont remember seeing your intro ?

Thanks--Just getting into this, not sure where you do the intro.

 

[karfer67]

at the top of the forum where it says intros. oh and i found pics of my bike check it out

 

[brewtownpete]

Pretty cool

at the top of the forum where it says intros. oh and i found pics of my bike check it out

 

[icyuod2]

the seat should have 2 pans. youll probably have to remove all the springs, and then i imagen there will be a couple metal taps you have to unfold. once thats done, restoration is easy.

use contact cement on your padding and fabric (i use old leather/ jackets etc)apply it to both your fabric and seat pan. give it a good 20 mins to tack up before sticking the pieces together. the contact cement will allow you to get a nice tight fold over the edge of the pan and the bottom pan will hold it all in place.

heres a couple of the seats i've done this way. see the taps that hold the pans together?

 

[brewtownpete]

Thanks for the advise on the seat

 

[roadmaster]

didn't know what year it is, but that looks cool as is and i bet ya it'll make a sweet resto. good luck and look fwd to picts.

 

[brewtownpete]

Here's the updated photo of my restoral.

 

[karfer67]

got her looking sharp i love the way these ride

 

[icyuod2]

looks fantastic. and the seat turned out awesome!

 

[GameBent]

Wow, that looks great!
I really dig the beehive springer.

 

[mastronaut]

Nicely done! That's the shnit! 8) 8)

 

[Rustinkerer]

Looking sweet! By the way, 4546 is a 1956-57 Deluxe model #. -Adam

 

[brewtownpete]

Thanks for the info.

Looking sweet! By the way, 4546 is a 1956-57 Deluxe model #. -Adam

 

[Galtbacken]

That's one of my favourite frames...one of my favourite springer forks too...and seat! It's an absolutely beautiful bike, great job!