Dr. Shop Teacher's Ruttman Vintage Class Build-off Entry
Thanks for participating. Gotta love the Ruttman builds:thumbsup:.
Note...Please use caution when heating a Ruttman fork to straighten them....they do not like any. Pic attached for reference.
Note...Please use caution when heating a Ruttman fork to straighten them....they do not like any. Pic attached for reference.
Thanks, my graphics side...:laugh:
Thanks...I really want to do the plum crazy....the more I looked at the orange, the more yeech I felt!
Deconstruction and Aluminum Oxide Dust
Still trying to finish up the ARCO (it has an Indian curse) and had other stuff to paint and such, so in between I tore apart the Ruttman. The Carlisle tires had dry rotted terribly and molded themselves to the rims so I cut them off using a Dremel with a plunge saw. Used a carbide tooth blade to cut the bands. Took off the drive sprocket and, like the ARCO's, it is warped. The bike must have spent it's formative years along the coast as there was a ton of aluminum oxide corrosion on the rim halves. I used a wire wheel on the angle grinder to get most of it off (A NOTE: If you encounter this corrosion, make sure you wear a fine particulate mask as the dust is nasty).
I stripped one wheel with aircraft stripper and decided to keep going on it. I used my rotary tool with a 320 grit wheel, then a Dremel carbide steel polishing wheel, and finally a Dremel buffing pad with white compund. Polished up pretty nicely. Finally, I stripped and wire wheeled the foot pegs...just a little bit of chrome remained on them.
It's going to need bolts, axles and bearings so OldMiniBikes is getting an order soon and I have to talk to Karen about a couple of seats.
Still trying to finish up the ARCO (it has an Indian curse) and had other stuff to paint and such, so in between I tore apart the Ruttman. The Carlisle tires had dry rotted terribly and molded themselves to the rims so I cut them off using a Dremel with a plunge saw. Used a carbide tooth blade to cut the bands. Took off the drive sprocket and, like the ARCO's, it is warped. The bike must have spent it's formative years along the coast as there was a ton of aluminum oxide corrosion on the rim halves. I used a wire wheel on the angle grinder to get most of it off (A NOTE: If you encounter this corrosion, make sure you wear a fine particulate mask as the dust is nasty).
I stripped one wheel with aircraft stripper and decided to keep going on it. I used my rotary tool with a 320 grit wheel, then a Dremel carbide steel polishing wheel, and finally a Dremel buffing pad with white compund. Polished up pretty nicely. Finally, I stripped and wire wheeled the foot pegs...just a little bit of chrome remained on them.
It's going to need bolts, axles and bearings so OldMiniBikes is getting an order soon and I have to talk to Karen about a couple of seats.
Attachments
Wheels are finished....and a little clearcoating
Took the better part of a day to get the corrosion off of the wheels and get them polished up. Started a list for OldMiniBikes and it looks like I'm going to have to adapt the un-drilled 60 tooth sprocket because the Ruttman sprocket is out of stock. Should be fairly simple (and cheaper even with the bearing). Had a good weather day, so I was able to get outside and spray a bunch of parts in Eastwood 2K Clear including the white tins for the HS40.
Took the better part of a day to get the corrosion off of the wheels and get them polished up. Started a list for OldMiniBikes and it looks like I'm going to have to adapt the un-drilled 60 tooth sprocket because the Ruttman sprocket is out of stock. Should be fairly simple (and cheaper even with the bearing). Had a good weather day, so I was able to get outside and spray a bunch of parts in Eastwood 2K Clear including the white tins for the HS40.
Attachments
Did you try this for the sprocket?
New 72t Zinc Plated Steel Sprocket with Lightning Holes 4 Bolt Pattern #35 Chain - Old School Mini Bike Parts & Stuff
New 72t Zinc Plated Steel Sprocket with Lightning Holes 4 Bolt Pattern #35 Chain - Old School Mini Bike Parts & Stuff
Stripping front forks
Started stripping the frame today. Got the front forks pretty much done and straightened out the fender bracket. This bike was rode hard and put up wet a bunch of times:doah:. The orange enamel under the red was just tore up in places and there was a lot of surface rust I had to wheel off. The welds at the trees were very nice and and there are a few dimples from previous owner fixing the high speed forks (he did a nice job)--if I did anything with them I'd probably make them more visible:thumbsup:. Going to rain like crazy next couple of days, and tomorrow I have to go to Richmond to participate in a dissertation candidate's exam:scared:, so will be a few days before I'm back at it.
Started stripping the frame today. Got the front forks pretty much done and straightened out the fender bracket. This bike was rode hard and put up wet a bunch of times:doah:. The orange enamel under the red was just tore up in places and there was a lot of surface rust I had to wheel off. The welds at the trees were very nice and and there are a few dimples from previous owner fixing the high speed forks (he did a nice job)--if I did anything with them I'd probably make them more visible:thumbsup:. Going to rain like crazy next couple of days, and tomorrow I have to go to Richmond to participate in a dissertation candidate's exam:scared:, so will be a few days before I'm back at it.
Attachments
I'll tell you all--these forks took way longer to strip than I expected. Once they were clean, they look pretty good but getting there...wow.:facepalm:
I would have started the frame but the weather is changing and my back started screaming, "no mas!"
Buck, hiding downstairs keeps me out of my wife's burning eyeballs!:laugh:
I would have started the frame but the weather is changing and my back started screaming, "no mas!"
Buck, hiding downstairs keeps me out of my wife's burning eyeballs!:laugh: