The Almost 10 by Almost 15

[Strouty]

I have been using evaporust lately and it is just plain awesome. You definitely have put it to good use, those parts look new.

 

[Squashfest81]

Thanks Boiler and Strout.
Here’s the headset stuff all evaporusty and shiny!
Strout, when life feels overwhelming, just toss something in the evaporust. Cheered me up.

 

[JBergquist]

Oh, I like the internal routing idea. I have a vintage steel Fuji.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[Squashfest81]

JB, always nice to get someone’s first post. I’m getting antsy to see the bike come together. Fingers crossed on getting all the cables in and the lengths right. The holes are angled nicely, but snug. Don’t want my cables slopping around.

 

[Squashfest81]

Was riding home from this volunteer bike thing and thought I saw a telescope on the curb. It wouldn’t fit in the backpack so I stashed it in the shrubs to grab later.
I’m no baseball guy, but the kiddos, my father, and I had a blast launching balls!

 

[BoilermakerFan]

That could definitely be fun! Nice find.

 

[Squashfest81]

Man, I’m on a side of the road roll.
Grabbed this sweet 70’s Murray 3 speed! Even has a PeeWee Herman style mirror.

 

[Strouty]

Some kid is asking his parents where his bike went.

Looks like a nice find.

 

[Squashfest81]

Strout, come on man! I actually spoke with the nice old lady. And the pitching machine had a free sign.
Aired up the tires and she cruises and shifts. Now a little evaporust and steel wool! I’ve been looking for a parts bike for the tandem. Decent chrome, 3 speed hub, racks and lights. Maybe? Got a line on a guy with literally piles of vintage bikes. May just leave the Murray alone.

 

[Strouty]

The bike looks great! Amazing what people will toss. I listed something free for the taking this morning. About an hour later I had a text. I honestly thought that it would take longer. Lady came right over and picked up both colonies of cockroaches. Yup, feeders for a now deceased lizard we had. Quickest Craigslist transaction I ever had.

 

[Strouty]

Has it been too hot????

 

[Squashfest81]

Strout, sorry I missed the post.
Hot, it’s been hot. PM coming your way.
Got some house stuff done while the wife was away for a week and now the kiddos are back in school. Squeezing in those last few beach days. Life is busy man.

 

[Squashfest81]

I’ve been a stay at home dad since my son was born 5 years ago. Tomorrow I start a new gig. Should be fun.
And today’s trash day find. Just peaking out of a bin was all this sweet leather. Huh, I don’t know anything about saddles.

 

[Squashfest81]

Grabbed this box before the scrappers today. It maybe should go to scrap. It’s bent, beat, sprayed, and one slide is done. Guess we will see how straight we can get it.
Anyone recognize it? Looks all snappy to me.

 

[Strouty]

Did you find any stamped serial number or anything on the back of the box?

 

[Squashfest81]

Strout. Haven’t found s stamp, but I started a thread in the vintage section. As expected it was quickly identified as a 70’s kr 531. I spoke with Snappy a few days ago and they no longer have parts or slides for this guy. Think I’ll look into fitting some modern slides. Earlier today I drilled the rivets to remove the big hinged top. Got to pounding it straight, but had to quit for family fun. I’ll leave it off til after I spray bomb it.

 

[Squashfest81]

While the GJ is talking M37’s. Here is the last pic of my fathers 53 M37 and my 81 Dodge Ex-Air Force crew cab. We had gone through the M and she was driveable. The 81 crew was going to be my family truckster replacement for my 76 Trailduster, but that project was proving too much so I let her go. Got to get the Trailduster back on the road come spring.

 

[Strouty]

I have a soft spot for crew cabs.

 

[Squashfest81]

That short bed 318 4 speed with Dana 60’s front and rear was going to be killer. But alas, she’s gone. Hard to beat a ******* Trailduster. 400, 727, part time 203, 60’s with 4.10, rear Detroit, and riding on H2 wheels. Notice the cut fenders, homage to M37’s and M715’s.

 

[Strouty]

Looks like it is in great shape too.

 

[Squashfest81]

She is, but she’s been sitting for too long.
Drilled the rivets holding the giant hinged top of the 531 box and got to straightening.
Also, took a few today to clean up the saddle and see if someone will take it off my hands. If only I were a cowboy.

 

[Strouty]

The saddle looks great, bet it will be worth a buck or two.

 

[BoilermakerFan]

She is, but she’s been sitting for too long.
Drilled the rivets holding the giant hinged top of the 531 box and got to straightening.
Also, took a few today to clean up the saddle and see if someone will take it off my hands. If only I were a cowboy.

Cowboys don't use English saddles.

It did clean up really well. Pick up some Ballistol and work it in to the stirrup straps too.

 

[Squashfest81]

Boiler, what about Swiss saddles? Made in Switzerland! Oh, do you know Mary Lou? It’s got a nice little brass tag.

 

[BoilermakerFan]

Cowboys use Western Saddles with the horn for the ropes... But a Swiss saddle is pretty sweet.

Mary Lou?

 

[Squashfest81]

Mary Lou?

The saddle has a brass plaque on the back with the owners name. I don’t know her either.

 

[BSAschields]

Great Thread.... Im all about repurposing things too.... Good ideas here

 

[BoilermakerFan]

The saddle has a brass plaque on the back with the owners name. I don’t know her either.

Or the horse's name?

Very cool though. Keep it for a while, then see if you can sell it.

 

[Squashfest81]

Thanks BSA. I think inspiration comes in part by the stuff around us. I like to look around the shop and find a solution with the stuff on hand.

 

[Squashfest81]

Keep it? Boiler, I’ve got an almost 10 by almost 15 shed. This thing can’t stay.
Good thought on the horses name though. Because I care about online anonymity I left out the last name. I googled the name and there is a 71 year old woman locally with that as her maiden name. Could be...?

 

[Squashfest81]

My parents both recall renting Surreys on Cape Cod when they were younger. Like early 70's. I remember seeing the remnants of them on the Cape at bike rental places when I was a kid in the early 80's, but never being ridden. They've all but disappeared. They are really unsafe on side hills, so I think they were all discarded. Too big to store so they all sat outside to rot and since scrapped.
My father and I cruised over to Falmouth to save this beast for 75 buck. Here she is still strapped to the Jeep. It’s going to be crazy.

 

[BoilermakerFan]

That's sweet! Looking forward to seeing the finished restoration.

 

[Strouty]

How are things going? Updates?

 

[Squashfest81]

I am too Boiler. It’s going to be a blast!
Hey Strout. Actually sold the saddle, guess that’s an update. She beat me up on it though, but it was saved from the trash truck and is going to get riddin.
My new gig has me at our local dump regularly, so here’s the first few grabs.
Nice set of draws and that cool robot looking Juice ‘O’ Mat!

 

[Strouty]

Something is better than a worn out saddle hanging around.

 

[Squashfest81]

Shop progress has been limited, but I did get the top cover of this box straight. She opens, closes, and even fits right. Too cold to spray and I don’t have the room to spare. Just need to find her a home.

 

[Strouty]

It looks pretty good compared to what it looked like before.

Have you been finding any more goodies?

 

[Squashfest81]

Not much Strout, but I did save this from my fathers garage today. He bought it from a neighbor about 15 years ago. It’s been run sporadically, but never actually used. So, it will need some cleaning up.
The question: How to start it? It’s electric start only by battery. My father set it up with battery quick connects to start it off his tractor and not have to deal with a battery. I don’t have a tractor and it will be placed away from the vehicles.
Any great ideas? Maybe go jump pack?

 

[Strouty]

Jump pack would work well, hopefully it hasn’t lost the ability to generate power, when they sit, they can have that happed.

 

[Squashfest81]

Don’t scare me Strout. I trust she will make power. I’ll keep you posted.