3 wheel bike restoration, what do you think?

[tuscarora dave]

Here is a project I've been working on over time as I had time in between regular work. The owner of this bike drove by my shop on a regular basis and often noticed some of the before and after work that I had been pumping out. One day he stopped in and asked if I could do any restorative work on equipment or bicycles.

The answer was pretty much...

"Yes, as long as you're not in a hurry for it. I just can't stop the normal flow of things to work on this type of project so they have to be done piecemeal over time."

This bike is from the 70's and has very little to no supporting information, other than that the manufacturer "unknown" basically used the Royal Enfield name without permission, and parts were from Italy and USA and the bike was made in Japan.

All the bearings were replaced with loose ball bearings from a local bike shop. The entire bike was disassembled, de-rusted by either wire wheel or abrasive blasting then repainted using all automotive grade spray paint. I polished any chrome that still exists on the bike.

Re-chroming anything on this just wasn't in the owner's budget.

I'll receive the last payment and deliver the bike back to the customer next week. It was a fun project to do "as I had time" and I'm not sure what the next restoration will be but I'm sure I'll be tinkering with some sort of long term project.

So what do you guys think for a low budget restoration?



Before the restoration


http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/032_zps62d3bd04.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/032_zps62d3bd04.jpg.html)


After the restoration


http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/015_zpscb14e204.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/015_zpscb14e204.jpg.html)


http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/016_zpscb65f569.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/016_zpscb65f569.jpg.html)


http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/021_zpsa09de7a7.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/021_zpsa09de7a7.jpg.html)


http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/022_zps75c13234.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/022_zps75c13234.jpg.html)


http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/023_zpsee74f5b3.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/023_zpsee74f5b3.jpg.html)


http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/024_zps3d4226ad.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/024_zps3d4226ad.jpg.html)


http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/025_zpsdf6296f4.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/025_zpsdf6296f4.jpg.html)


http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/027_zpsff373a68.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/027_zpsff373a68.jpg.html)


http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/026_zps8a1402cf.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/026_zps8a1402cf.jpg.html)


http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/019_zpsb356e0b9.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/019_zpsb356e0b9.jpg.html)


http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/017_zpsbfcb3a79.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/017_zpsbfcb3a79.jpg.html)


http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/020_zps6a146dfb.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/020_zps6a146dfb.jpg.html)


http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/018_zpsa0f894d8.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/018_zpsa0f894d8.jpg.html)

[hernandez.art13]

It turned out really great. Looks kinda like those low rider bikes.

Great job :xyxthumbs:

[57BORNTORUN]

Before you know it you will be getting calls from "American Restoration" on the History Channel. :buffing:

[FUNX650]

Looks fantastic Dave!! :dblthumb2:

Reminds me of the Worksman cargo bikes from the old factory days.

You know that I hate to judge...
But I was right: There's hardly any project that you won't take on.

And I consider that a good thing.
Thanks for sharing.

:)

Bob

[tuscarora dave]

It turned out really great. Looks kinda like those low rider bikes.

Great job :xyxthumbs:
Thanks Art!!! He'll be cruizing the boardwalks with this in the spring/summer of 2014.


Before you know it you will be getting calls from "American Restoration" on the History Channel. :buffing:
I've often thought of specializing in that type of work actually. I'm really good at it and like doing it more than I do detailing cars. Thanks for the reply and :dblthumb2:



Looks fantastic Dave!! :dblthumb2:

Reminds me of the Worksman cargo bikes from the old factory days.

You know that I hate to judge...
But I was right: There's hardly any project that you won't take on.

And I consider that a good thing.
Thanks for sharing.

:)

Bob

Thanks Bob!! Whatever pays the bills right? I don't have the demographics to do only what I like doing and stay as busy as I need to stay, so I try to stay busy doing only what I like and that requires having/building/learning many skill sets. :props:

[Dan K]

Fantastic job Dave!

You are amazingly talented, and I am looking forward to your next project.

[dcjredline]

Turned out awesome! Wanna do a 1989 Firebird next? lol

[tuscarora dave]

Fantastic job Dave!

You are amazingly talented, and I am looking forward to your next project.

Thanks Dan!!


Turned out awesome! Wanna do a 1989 Firebird next? lol

Well....actually.....I have a 1988 Trans-Am that needs a ton of floor rot patched up, steering column tightened up, seat track replaced, tires replaced and who knows what else before it can be inspected for my father. It's hard to be motivated when you're not getting payed to do the work. I'll get through this one and then I'll have more experience on those cars.:props:

[Pureshine]

Great job Dave bike looks great :)

[dcjredline]

Well, youre not that far from me! Careful what you say lol. Mine isn't in that bad of shape, it basically needs a few spots fixed and new paint.

Make sure you post some pics of your dads car!


Thanks Dan!!



Well....actually.....I have a 1988 Trans-Am that needs a ton of floor rot patched up, steering column tightened up, seat track replaced, tires replaced and who knows what else before it can be inspected for my father. It's hard to be motivated when you're not getting payed to do the work. I'll get through this one and then I'll have more experience on those cars.:props:

[vet]

Dave, it looks great!

[danieledwards12]

wow

[Vegas Transplant]

:dblthumb2: You never cease to amaze me hand :dblthumb2:
What's up with you and Mike both posting bikes on the forum? Trend maybe?
Is Max going to start up a bike product line?

Happy detailing... :buffing:



EDIT: I never did figure out Colt's Halloween costume.

[tuscarora dave]

:dblthumb2: You never cease to amaze me hand :dblthumb2:
What's up with you and Mike both posting bikes on the forum? Trend maybe?
Is Max going to start up a bike product line?

Happy detailing... :buffing:



EDIT: I never did figure out Colt's Halloween costume.

Thanks VT. I didn't see Mike post a bike. Where's that at?

Colt's new coat has a skull and cross bones on it. Being on the shelf near Halloween I just assumed it was supposed to be a doggy costume.

http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd323/tuscaroradave/dogs/003_zpsba48b8ab.jpg (http://s528.photobucket.com/user/tuscaroradave/media/dogs/003_zpsba48b8ab.jpg.html)


I had taken photographs of every process of this bike restoration along the way showing every detail of the job but I never backed them up on an external hard drive like I should have and a virus took over my old computer and I lost all of them. :nomore:

I'm going to have to stop talking about doing it and just buy an external. I'm just glad that I uploaded the one before photo onto Photobucket back when I first got the bike in.

Good day my friends.

[oldmodman]

It probably looks better now than when it sat on the floor before it was sold for the first time.

Really nice job!

What did you do to the chain guard? It looks painted? Or is it a matte nickel finish?