Tricycle nostalgia

[tortron]

I'm sure you are familiar with these trikes

Here I am, with my brother on the back, this bike was even still in the garden at the old house up to a few years ago, with plants growing in the tray and the wheels rusted off

 

Made in waihi, the Akrad flyer, (the Mr akrad of pye radio fame) 300,000 units were produced from 1945 to 1984, the aluminium seats being cast from army surplus

 

 

I picked up a fairly crusty, but complete one a year or so ago, and it's been sitting dangerously close to my scrap pile ever since 

 

[tortron]

There's not that much to strip down, but I did that and out everything not aluminium in the hot tank to strip the probably lead paint off

 

 

[tortron]

 

I actually have the frame sitting in a big one as well, there's 2 spots that are brazed which won't like it, but il just tickle them with the mig welder later

 

The tray is savable, but for the time and effort to strip all thr paint, cut and weld patches I decided not to bother. The frame has a hole in one section, so that but will get repaires

 

[tortron]

So I made a new one

 

[tortron]

 

Needs tacking together, but you get the idea, will be much nicer to paint. 

Yes I made the back bit level so it's not a perfect reproduction. 

I'm going to put rivnuts in the frame so it bolts on rather that hold it on with 2 tack welds at thr back and 2 at the front of that saddle thing

 

The rear tyres are penny farthing style with the wire that runs through them, front is one piece plastic. 

One of the rear wheels has been given new spokes. Every spoke is deadly loose. 

Not sure how much I can dismantle the front wheel assembly, the bearing holders/fork mounts are riveted together. Might see what I can do without drilling those out. 

 

Oh I have just noticed I don't have the front fender. I do, but it's "somewhere" 

[RUNAMUCK]

My tricycle was an Empire. I know nothing about them. I do remember undoing the screws which held the rear mud guard support on. And it flopped around quite badly after that. 

Also I remember that plinking one foot in the tray, and trying to ride it like a scooter resulted in me doing a face plant and grazing my chin.  42 years ago and I still remember it.

Pain the best teacher. 

[tortron]

Found the fender

 

[sheepers]

I had one like that,  or one similar.

That's all I have to report

[tortron]

It's just a kids trike, let's not get too crazy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wait, no not like that

 

 

These are the headset "bearings" if my memory of 30 years ago is correct, there should be an oil soaked felt washer between them. 

The bottom one was nickel plated, the other two, hard to say, very rough surface so I don't think they were. However they will all now be nickel plated 

I will also replate the bars, and probably do the wheels

 

[tortron]

Started nickel plating

Really I should set up a bubbler and add some surfactant to get a nicer finish. Goes like that cos the tiny bubbles cling to the surface so you get little craters. 

It's fine tho

[tortron]

With any luck ip put the final coat of primer on the frame tomorrow and put the colour on later this week

 

[tortron]

Candy apple red and snowflake pearl white.

 

White didn't come out great, but il probably leave it and hide it under a lot of clearcoat. 

Have used about 12 mixing cups for all the basecoats, pearls, and candy's lol. If it rains right now I will be upset

[tortron]

Decent for outside under a tree tho tbh. Just got a little bit of leaf in the inside of the tray. Which I painted white as well. Obviously in use that won't stay white for 2 mins

[tortron]

I can't get my camera to focus on it. But with clear on it. It glows in the sun. Heaps of fine flake under the candy

This sort of gives you an idea

 

Clear done, it's gona rain soon, good timing 

[tortron]

Recovered the seat with some leather like it would have had originally 

 

Can't get the one rear wheel apart without breaking the spokes, so will paint them white rather than plating the hub and painting the rim. 

Same with the front, that will be white, polish the bearing retainers up and send it

[tortron]

 Wheels painted

I panel glue urethaned the old tyres back on and ran a screw through the join. Will see how that goes

 

Tried my hand at some gold leaf lettering, boy that shit sticks to everything. 

And added an Indian coin for a head badge. 

 

Anna's birthday in a couple weeks, just got to plate the bars and it's done. 

 

Supposed to have hubcaps on the rear wheels, but I only have one, will think about pewter casting another if I get time

[tortron]

Have some badge rivets on the way. Urethaned on for now

[tortron]

[GuyWithAviators]

39 minutes ago, tortron said:

Looks lovely. Will that motor fit in the tray? Might handle better than an ATC70 

[tortron]

13 minutes ago, GuyWithAviators said:

Looks lovely. Will that motor fit in the tray? Might handle better than an ATC70 

I have a weed eater motor ready to go on, power one wheel at low speed.