Gas Bicycle Project

15 January:  Painted handlebars, I had the paint it had been sitting around for some time.

17 January:  Handlebars are painted black and ready to install.  I never really compared the rims on the Columbia.  Turns out that they are 27", even though the bike is a 26".  So my Goodwill tire would not fit, oh well.  So I need 2 rims, tires and tubes.  Well Walmart here I come.  I found a bike that meets the requirements.  26" plus it has twist shifter and suspension front forks. $75.   I even managed to buy it unassembled.  Replaced front forks put on tires and rims swapped in the new brakes.   It took a bit of time to get all the cables run the way that I wanted them.  The worst part was the shifter I didn't have a cable that was long enough.  So I had to get one and it was just barely long enough.  Still need a little adjustment on the shifting but I believe that is covered.   I took off the clutch cover to grind the spots where it bolts on.  I needed just a little more off a couple places to make it easy to unbolt if needed, just a little more room to turn the wrench.  Decided that the gas tank should match the bike, so I need to get blue metallic paint.

18 January:  Painted tank metallic blue., will consider going over it with a clear gloss., will wait on that in case I scratch it when I install it.

19 January:  Well today was the day to put it all together. I did have to visit the lab. at the hospital. first.  No good word there.  Getting the chains and gears in place  was a lot of fun,  especially when I had the drive chain get stuck behind the chain wheel.  Chain jumped off the sprocket a couple of times, I sort of expected that.  I finally decided to let the bike figure out where the sprocket needs to be.  I just pedalled along and it settled into place.  tightened it and off for a run with the fuel turned on.  Amazingly, the bike fired up without and hiccups.  It is actually easier to start than I thought.  it is much easier than "bike a".  Shifting is a bit of a problem with the clutch and brake handles in the way.  It will be better as soon as the dual brake shows up.  Then disaster hits. I suddenly am turning the throttle and nothing is happening.  Back in the driveway I take apart the throttle and the plastic inside the grip has broke.  I have the piece so I am JB welding it back together.  This either will work or not.  probably might have to get some superglue instead.;

20 January: Woke up to an email from zone8cycling, they are going to send me a new throttle..  Meanwhile I will have to work with the one I have.  JB Weld was a failure,  which I sort of suspected would be the case.  It is not so good with plastic.  Now I have super glue in the house but every tube is hard. So a trip to Ace, man I need an account there.  I bought the smallest tube of superglue I could get.  You get two in the package so even though I am opening one now I will have some in the future, yeah right, like I will find that little tube in six months.  I get the thing glued together before I have to leave.   I also added a plastic washer and glue it to the throttle to beef up the connection a bit.  

Riding back from my trip over to my brothers I stop at Xhale to see if my dual brake lever is in.  I am in luck and the brake lever is in.  I looked at the carriers while I was there. they sure want a lot of money for junk.  I think I am going to build one.  I do like the Schwinn one that I have on  Bike A, it is only $15 at Walmart, but I think that there is a better one in my mind.  I saw a mailbox stand at Ace for $10.  add in a couple pieces of  aluminum and a few nuts and bolts and I will have something really awesome.  It  will have a nice top to strap things to as well as be able to handle the ice chest/bag that I built for the first bike..  Well that is something that will have think about for the future.

Super glue is dry.  So the throttle goes back on.  So does the new brake lever..  Every thing is together, lets take this puppy for another spin.  I hop on pedal forward a bit and kind of lean into the downstroke and relese the clutch.  I'm off and running. up and down the block. a couple of times..  This is so much different from the other bike.  I don't know exactly if it is the engine or the shift kit.  It just feels very different.  

I clean up the tools and the bike putting some temp tie wraps on to hold the cables in place.  I am happy with a day gone well.

First  Look

She's ready

Tomorrow we roll

Part 8