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Jul 24, 2023 20:36:54 GMT
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The frame on the back is held on by 4 bolts, 2 either side. Had a brainwave to put a threaded bar in linking one side to the other. Was going to put 2 in (replacing all 4 bolts) but the second one would foul the gears. As it is the bar I've put in is right in the middle of the big empty space that's causing the problem, so should go some way towards solving it. Obviously it's the big shiny bar in the middle. Can't test the theory because there's currently not axle or bearings in there. Need to get 6 new bearing and trying to decide whether to get original spec (slightly spendy) or upgrade ( not eating this month) I'm also going to remove 1 (2) links from the rear chain to move the rear frame forward a touch. Might not seem much but it might take a bit of twist out of the flex. Glad I got this trike now, really enjoying the process.
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Jul 24, 2023 21:46:15 GMT
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If you could retain the gears and stick a 20” wheel in there that would be really interesting We havnt tried a wheel in there but it looks about right for a 20. My mates got really geeky about the origins of the frame, I mean angry levels of geeky. It's got the hole where the rear brake/reflector would be mounted ( but in this case is unused) but the steerer tube is too long. My thoughts are its was a frame made up to suit its purpose, made out of pre-existing parts. The fact it looks like a bmx is a coincidence. Looking at later and current trikes similar to this, they are not the same and appear to be a development based on this frame. There is also a conversion kit available to turn a normal bike into a trike using a rear frame similar to this, but the end result I've seen looked a bit bodged. None of this has helped date my one but I'd put it at mid 90s judging by the condition of some parts and the fact the frame required sandblasting and painting 2 years before I got it. Or it sat on the beach all its life which is a remote possibility.
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Last Edit: Jul 24, 2023 22:03:00 GMT by bmcnut
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Jul 28, 2023 20:53:42 GMT
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Soon after getting the trike I started thinking about important things, like stickers. As I didn't know what the bike was called, it needed a new name. I soon settled on Triton. The name given to TRIumph-NORton hybrid motorbikes. But in this case TRIke-weighs a TON. Stickers turned up today. Shoddy picture because it's getting dark and I've had a beer. But yes, I like them.😊
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Jul 30, 2023 18:25:27 GMT
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The kids mtbs have 20in wheels, so would it fit the backbof the trike without the derailleur fitted? I'm sure if I put a chain on it it would be rideable. Looks daft. I was going to swap the derailleur for another one, but realised the mounts were different so stuck with the original. Gave it a service Also got a derailleur guard off the kids bikes with the right fitting. The trike doesn't really need one but it'll help it not stand out quite so much. Also started on a box for the back. It's quite heavy.
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Afew small steps this week. Wanted to change the crank for a single speed and realised the kids bike one fitted, arms are a little short but it'll do until something else turns up. Also got given some stunt pegs. Can't see them ever getting used but had to fit them for added bmx points. I've also been giving the paint a tidy up with rustins satin black wood and metal paint. I've used the stuff on furniture before and it gives a great even finnish as long as its properly mixed. The original paint is knacked metallic black, hard to tell the difference unless you look hard but I still might give the whole bike a couple of coats. Currently giving the rear ends bits and pieces a coat
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Sept 9, 2023 22:41:24 GMT
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Havnt done much to the trike recently. Left it alone for a couple of weeks and lost interest. It'll happen at some point. Today I went for a ride and it was hot. Almost didn't go as temps up to 32 but figured if I keep on the water I'll be OK. 30 miles round trip to visit my aunt. It was a suprise. I didn't even know if she was in but she was. Had tea and cakes. Helped with her compost bin. Walked in the greenhouse. Found a box of my uncles bits who sadly passed away recently. Found a horn. This horn was on my uncles little boat that he took me on the River Thames in about 1985. Apparently its a fair bit older than that. It's got a great sound. A proper honk. Now. I never thought I wanted to fit a horn on my bike but its currently sitting in a jug of coke to get rid of the rust a bit, then I'll wax it and I'm sticking it on the brown rockhopper. On the way home I stopped at a mates and picked up a bracket which was a result. I've lost count of the amount of times the horn has been honked this afternoon It was a great ride today but now I'm sitting here after a couple of beers with my legs telling me it was a really really bad idea.
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Sept 16, 2023 21:21:20 GMT
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Once the coke had done its thing on the horn I used some proper rust stuff on the worst bits then poished it. It sounds different now, more clown-like. The mount my mate gave me is a microphone mount and might do the job but it only grips the horn so might sort something with the original rusty clamp which needs a bar mount. Got given something today off the uncles latest tip bike. Tbh I'm not quite sure why he didn't want it, i had to have it though, goes well with my BMC washer, Elan rack and Cube water bottles
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Since putting the mtbmx together with whatever I'd salvaged off other bikes, there were a couple of things I wanted to change to Finnish it off. For a bike that seemed like a slightly daft idea it came out looking OK and rode great, so it justified a bit more effort. First was the tyres. The first I tried were 1.175. Rode OK but looked far too skinny. I'd also noticed at this point that the rear wheel has a slight buckle in it. Should be sorted by fiddling with the spokes a bit to true it up. Although it rode OK as well as the slight buckle the tyre wouldn't sit properly on the rim. The rim isn't that bad so I put it down to distortion the the old tyre or the innertubes. I had some old whitewalls off another bike. Really nice tyres with plenty of tread but the sidewalls are a bit tatty. There is no size written on the tyre but they measure up at 2.0. I liked the idea of whitewall so tried them on. Seemed like a good idea but not keen on the whitewalls once fitted. Make the wheel look bigger and the tyre skinnier. Next I tried on the front tyre of my mates cruiser. This is a 2.2 and looked much better. However there was very little room on the back even though it didn't actually rub So I started looking at 2.1 online and soon found some Cult Vans. Then more searching and found some much cheaper. They arrived yesterday. Unfortunately the innertubes didn't so I can't fit them yet. Another part I wanted to change was the grips. Nothing wrong with what's on there but not quite bmx enough. Mate said 'ODI's Get ODI's. It need ODI's' Whilst buying the tyres I found that ODI do matching Vans grips Don't think I'll be looking much further for a pair of grips.
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Last Edit: Dec 2, 2023 12:49:49 GMT by bmcnut
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Dec 10, 2023 11:49:19 GMT
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Decided to go with black grips in the end. It was pointed out that jf the red ones weren't exactly the same shade of red as the frame, they'd look irritatingly odd. And last night fitted the tyres. They couldn't be better. The gap between the tyre and the frame is minimal but not tight enough to rub, and they're really grippy. The grips are surprisingly easy on the hands and grippy too. Haven't test ridden it yet as the weather won't allow.
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Accidentally drove past into the tip last week. No decent bikes so i bought this which was mostly broken.
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Yay I managed a post! The only thing I don't really look at on bikes at the tip us seats. They're either missing, badly damaged or rubbish. I didn't look at the seat until I got home. It didn't stay on it for long before it made its way to the bmx. It also had nice shimano brake levers which I thought were bent or had the wrong pins in. But they were just loose and in need of a service/polish.
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So seat went to one bike, levers to another. Was going to scrap the new bike but it's got some nice forks and shimano everywhere. Thought I'd try some wider bars on it. Then some grips off a scooter. And my shoddy old whitewalls. Not looking very scrap anymore.
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Dec 19, 2023 13:45:55 GMT
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A better pic of the bmx with its new seat which match the tyres and grips really well. It's also gained some better brake levers. And a better pic of the shimano levers on my marin. Slowly putting this bike together using nice bits as I find them. Basically a junk yard special.
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