Powell Tree Surgery

[Scottessey]

Hey Fellas, The front suspension in my recently acquired Powell wasn't working correctly. The culprit was a dent that was limiting the movement of the internal parts. One side was fine, the other frozen. It was a little harry. It's always scary chopping into rare vintage parts. Thanks to BAB and my bro, MountainGote for diving right into this project with me. :thumbsup:

You may be able to see the dent in this pic. It's on the front of the lower plate, and also on the tube just to the left of the plate in the pic.

The goal was to save the plates, but replace the tubing. Started out with the dremel, but had to bring out the bigger guns to chop it up.

Here is an exploded view of what is way up inside the uppers on a powell tree. (mine is a D series).

Thanks BAB and Brian, I think the hardest part is behind me. :thumbsup: I'm pumped to get this thing together again, this time with perfect tubes!!!

 

[bayareaburrito]

That was an education for me as well Scott..
As always it was a pleasure hangin out with you and you brother:drinkup:
I got home excited to reassemble the Go Kart Cycle Green Horn rear wheel only to discover that I have miss placed the steel wheel half's.
I've searched everywhere for them..
Will post some pictures of you and your brother Brian's AWESOME work in the project log thread sometime tomorrow..
Again I can't thank you guys enuff for all of your help and time spent making these extremely hard to locate parts.. :thumbsup::bowdown:

 

[MiniBike Paul]

That is amazing how clean you were able to leave the upper and lower trees while cutting away the welds!

It would sure be interesting if we could ask the Powell brothers why they used a spacer ABOVE the spring - they could have used a 1" longer spring!

I tried to remove all that inside stuff from one of mine, soaked it with anti-rust, made a custom puller and messed with it for quite a while, but that brass collar below the spring would not pull out!!

I am sure Don has told you that Robt Bruce has all of that new, including the forks themselves . . . . . for many dollars!!

 

[bayareaburrito]

That is amazing how clean you were able to leave the upper and lower trees while cutting away the welds!

We saved the tree's but you don't wanna see what the fork tubes looked like when we were done..:grind: :doah:

 

[Mountain Gote]

Man, I must say I had my doubts... Thats was a blast and I think we all got our hands dirty.. Here is a pic of BAB at the wheel.. literally. I think I still have dust in my nose..:thumbsup:

 

[bayareaburrito]

HaHa Brian
Time ta break out the BIG GUN!!
Don't cha just love the taste and smell of metal dust and 40yr old rust in the morning..:laugh:

 

[george3]

the taste of ground rust. That is something you cant describe. lol How bad was the dent? You couldnt remove the dent?

 

[Clayon]

Wow you guys do great work. :thumbsup: You cut that so clean :grind: you boys got skill. :drinkup:

 

[Scottessey]

That is amazing how clean you were able to leave the upper and lower trees while cutting away the welds!

It would sure be interesting if we could ask the Powell brothers why they used a spacer ABOVE the spring - they could have used a 1" longer spring!

I tried to remove all that inside stuff from one of mine, soaked it with anti-rust, made a custom puller and messed with it for quite a while, but that brass collar below the spring would not pull out!!

I am sure Don has told you that Robt Bruce has all of that new, including the forks themselves . . . . . for many dollars!!

I talked to Robert about trees. They're a little steep for my budget but it was nice to know while hacking up the tree, that if we failed there was a back up.

The added bonus of going through the :grind:, is that the pieces should be a lot easier to polish while they're apart before welding. :thumbsup:

Don, did you find your wheel halves??

 

[bayareaburrito]

Scott
I did...:laugh:
They were right where I left them in a plastics container in plan view.:blink:
I swear I looked at it 1 hundred times.:doah:

 

[Scottessey]

Here's the culprit! :hammer:

 

[bayareaburrito]

Scott
That should be no problem for a man with your skillz. :grind:

 

[Scottessey]

Here's a little progress on my Powell tree. I've got plate hole back to round to accept the fork tubes again. When it comes to old school challenges like this, it really is cool having my dad still in the shop. He pulled out the torch, got it red hot, bounced it around a bit, and wiggled a spare piece of tubing in. I also removed the bearing since it had some bad balls. I've been spending quite a few of my lunches buffing the scuffs and pits out, but they're starting to look pretty good. Fork tubes are cut and waiting for my bro to install the retainer ring groove. :thumbsup:

I've been wondering if I should enter this bike into the build off. :shrug:

 

[Clayon]

I've been wondering if I should enter this bike into the build off. :shrug:

YES! :thumbsup:

 

[bandit 40]

Amazing:drinkup:

 

[TomH]

I think old school dad should get the first ride

 

[racer756]

YES! :thumbsup:

absolutely!

 

[Neck]

:bowdown: We're not worthy :bowdown: We're not worthy :bowdown: We're not worthy!

 

[buckeye]

I know huh? Makes me wonder what I am doing here.

 

[bayareaburrito]

it had some bad balls.

I've been wondering if I should enter this bike into the build off.

Isn't there a build off rule that prohibits a member with some bad ballz from entering?:blink: :shrug:

I say ta hell with rules and enter it!! :grind: :hammer: