Enter The Carrot

[2LZ]

TominMO, how is the inside well of the stamped frame? My Bearcat has some surface rust inside it but not bad. I'm not sure how to tackle that. Maybe just hose it down with some WD40 and call it a day?

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

TominMO, how is the inside well of the stamped frame? My Bearcat has some surface rust inside it but not bad. I'm not sure how to tackle that. Maybe just hose it down with some WD40 and call it a day?

There is some rust at the bottom, where mud would tend to accumulate in front of the rear wheel. Once I do a light sanding and vacuuming inside and out, I will paint it with Rustoleum Rust Reformer (similar to POR-15 if you know what that is). Then I will fashion a plate to cover the small holes in front of the rear tire, held on by sheet metal screws, and hit it with spray undercoating.

Here's a pic of the wheel well. On stamped frames like this, undercoating or spray rubber would be a great idea when new. Thinking of the Icebear Champion for example.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by TominMO

I will paint it with Rustoleum Rust Reformer (similar to POR-15 if you know what that is). Then I will fashion a plate to cover the small holes in front of the rear tire, held on by sheet metal screws, and hit it with spray undercoating.

Fantastic ideas! I think I'll follow your lead on this. Last time I had a stamped frame bike, I was 9 years old.

[TominMO]

Since it's gonna be stoopid cold for a couple of days (-4F tonight), I thought I'd do some frame disassembly in the kitchen.

The upper shock mounts I left on for now because it looks like I need to use penetrant on the bolts/nuts. Left the ignition switch in too. Everything else is gone. The only really hard part was getting the center stand out. The shaft was rusted to both the holes in the frame (not too bad), and the stand's tube (bad). So lots of pounding, squirting penetrant, more pounding, for about 45 minutes. The swingarm bolt and the lower engine mount bolt were corroded but not rusted.

Anyway, it's ready for some more cleaning, preparatory to some TLC on the frame itself.

[2LZ]

I'm basically at the same point of progress on the Bearcat and am whining about busting out the pressure washer/degreaser because it's only going to be 52' today.

All you guys getting hit by this blast stay safe and warm.

[TominMO]

Just came back from turning on my crawlspace heater. 33 in the crawlspace, 14 outside. But it's going down another 18 degrees and staying there for quite a while. And it's snowing, but not much accumulation expected.

Took advantage of the warmer part of the day earlier this morning (34F) to pull the swingarm in the unheated garage.

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

I'm basically at the same point of progress on the Bearcat and am whining about busting out the pressure washer/degreaser because it's only going to be 52' today.

Cleaned up stuff a bit, but decided to follow your lead on the pressure washer idea. When the temp gets less ridiculous, I will take the frame over to the DIY car wash two blocks from my house. It's the only way to get the rear wheel well done right.

[TominMO]

-5 outside, WC is -25. No riding is planned. 43 in my house with all space heaters going. (No central heating.) Keeping water trickling in all faucets to ensure no line breaks. The adventure continues!

If I don't turn into a Tomsicle, it's gonna shoot up to 21 tmw! Awesome!

Edit: Despite the conditions, I'm not suffering. Suffering is a state of mind. A reaction to unpleasant conditions. I choose not to do it. I regard this as an exercise in problem solving, and an interesting experience that is gradually getting better over the next few days.

[cheesy]

Hang in there, Tom. Upper 40s by Thursday.

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by cheesy

Hang in there, Tom. Upper 40s by Thursday.

No problemo. Once Monday hits, I'm good. Overnight lows are gonna be much higher than the current daytime highs. It's good to have little exercises like this to toughen a person up a bit. Hard times are a-comin', and snowflakes ain't gonna make it.

[TominMO]

Picking up The Tomahto (not Tomayto) on Thursday, a day later than planned because the seller has to be somewhere else in Wednesday. Bonus: in the mid-50s on Thursday. The Tomahto will get its own thread.