Meridian build update- It can be sat on!

[rykoala]

http://rykoala.org/gallery/albums/userpics/ryan-sitting-on-meridian.jpg

[SirJoey]

That's it? That's all you got done? (Just kidding, LOL!) :D

WTG, dude! Lookin' good! What's that grin for? heh-heh Wait till you're riding it, you'll REALLY be grinning, then!

Nice pile o' donors back there...

[rykoala]

Thanks! Next I have to put a seat back on. Then steering, then drivetrain. Then, idler pulley (old derailer) and riding the heck out of it to work out the bugs etc. Then, paint! Brush on rustoleum ($3/can at wally world) will be the paint de jour, with a side of krylon.

[AtomicZombie]

Lookin' good - keep it up!

Brad

[KoolKat]

You're almost there...you must be proud!!

[rykoala]

I am. It might be a few weeks until it is done though at the pace I've been going. Its nice having a full time job again though :) I just got a company iPhone and will get my Mac Book Pro next week :D

[dngspot]

Greatly inspired, you are doing a great job.

[rykoala]

Thanks for all the kind words. My neighbor who rides a custom steel road bike (built by the same guy who built Greg Lemond's bikes back in the day- Lemond was a Reno local) came by. He also used to build his own motorcycle frames, and race them on national circuits back in the 60's and 70's and has the scars to prove it, as well as the skin cancer on his arms from welding without long sleeve shirts. He said my welds looked good and that I was getting enough penetration, for which I am very glad. He was looking at some of the ugliest welds at the head tube junction.

My money flow is positive again, which is nice, so now I can afford simple things like drill bits, a new chain for it, etc. I might even be able to afford decent brakes for it :D

[rykoala]

I worked for a few hours yesterday and made some progress. I put a seat back on the frame. I didn't know what to use and had settled on some pressboard that I found in a dumpster, when I went into my kids room and saw his old skate board deck. With his permission I cut one end of it off and mounted it on the frame. It works great as a seat back! The end where it lifts up even works great to support my shoulders.

I also worked on the bottom bracket. I have the clamp welded to it and now have to drill the holes and trim the extra metal off.

Once the BB is in (tonight I hope!) then all I have left is steering. I'm greatly looking forward to this!

Here is a pic of the skateboard seat back: (Click to go to gallery and see the bigger version)
http://rykoala.org/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_skateboardbackseat.jpg (http://rykoala.org/gallery/displayimage.php?album=5&pos=15)

[rykoala]

Had a minor set back last night. The bottom bracket was done and had been bolted to the frame and all. I went to install the BB cups to finish that off... they wouldn't go in! The BB shell is very out of round. Why? Because I forgot to put the cups in while I was welding the brackets on! Ack! Fortunately I have another one that I can use. I've also become much better with my welding skills, so this one will turn out better.

[AtomicZombie]

I always leave the right side cup in the BB - this helps keep it round. You might be able to pound it back into shape using a hammer. Just put a board on the BB to protect it, and slam it back to shape.

Brad

[rykoala]

Hmm that's a good option. I know where its elongated too.... I'll give it a shot tonight. Thanks Brad :)

The directions are top notch. I tend to skim, however. It doesn't help that I have not printed it, and my laptop is in the living room, not the garage.

[SirJoey]

...Because I forgot to put the cups in while I was welding the brackets on!

I'm glad you posted this boo-boo, Ry. Cuz I'd have made the same mistake on the twin BBs for the KC, for sure! :eek:

Fortunately, I haven't gotten that far yet, but you've saved me a major headache, especially considering that I don't have any of the "good" BBs to spare! Thanx!

I've already made 2 of these for the cheapo, 1-piece crank jobs, but as you know, the cups just get driven in on those, so if they were warped out of round, I never even noticed & it didn't really matter anyway.

Oh wait, I forgot... I DID make one of the good ones as well, for the Deltoyd (DW), using the same mistake you just described, but I had no problem. I guess I just got lucky on that one!

[TheKid]

Maybe you welded too much at one time, and overheated the BB. It's better to tack weld each corner diagonally, ie. front one side, rear the other side, rear on the first side, front on the other, then the middles, then connect the tacks the same way.

[rykoala]

Kid: Yes, I did it all at once without regard to overheating the metal. I'll take my time on the next one if I can't get this one rounded out ;)

[rykoala]

SirJoey: Good, someone can learn from my mistakes! Excellent. I plan on building the new one tonight if I get time, and if the old one doesn't fix with a few hits of a hammer.