My winter project: El Cheapo tall bike
12-28-10, 02:30 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 54
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My winter project: El Cheapo tall bike
Hey all,
I figured this should go in the Alt Bike section since I'm not really building a frame from scratch, but if this is supposed to be in Framebuilders mods please feel free to relocate it.
I started working on this project yesterday (December 27th), so I'll make a few posts just to make sure it's current.
Also, I apologize if my terminology is off. If I say the wrong things please correct me! This is a learning process for me.
Here we go!
I figured this should go in the Alt Bike section since I'm not really building a frame from scratch, but if this is supposed to be in Framebuilders mods please feel free to relocate it.
I started working on this project yesterday (December 27th), so I'll make a few posts just to make sure it's current.
Also, I apologize if my terminology is off. If I say the wrong things please correct me! This is a learning process for me.
Here we go!
Last edited by Taiden; 12-28-10 at 02:35 PM.
12-28-10, 02:32 PM
#2
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 54
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I picked these bicycles up at the local dump. You gotta love free!
I'm aiming for a five foot seat height when I'm done.
Also, I'm the joking type, and since tone is lost on the internet I'll put a
if I'm just kidding around
I call this Project Assplant, stolen from another member on here
Two frames and components off the other!
Frames stripped
Rear triangle removed (Sawzall action)
Top rear triangle removed
Measuring bearing races
Frame alignment tool
I'm aiming for a five foot seat height when I'm done.
Also, I'm the joking type, and since tone is lost on the internet I'll put a
if I'm just kidding aroundI call this Project Assplant, stolen from another member on here
Two frames and components off the other!
Frames stripped
Rear triangle removed (Sawzall action)
Top rear triangle removed
Measuring bearing races
Frame alignment tool
12-28-10, 02:32 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 54
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A quickie update
Here's the REAL frame alignment tool ($17 at the local hardware store, who knew they carried these things?)
I didn't want to drop money on tapered bushings, so I went this route instead. The headtube bearing races have radiused corners and the fit is very good (well, not to a machinist!) so this should work out for my first attempt. It's 5/8" steel threaded rod, grade 8 washers, and grade cheap (2?) nuts.
I may go buy some more nuts so I can lock them down before I start the welding, which wont be for a while!
Here's the REAL frame alignment tool ($17 at the local hardware store, who knew they carried these things?
)I didn't want to drop money on tapered bushings, so I went this route instead. The headtube bearing races have radiused corners and the fit is very good (well, not to a machinist!) so this should work out for my first attempt. It's 5/8" steel threaded rod, grade 8 washers, and grade cheap (2?) nuts.
I may go buy some more nuts so I can lock them down before I start the welding, which wont be for a while!
12-28-10, 02:33 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 54
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Finally got fitup on the lower frame seat post pretty good. It was kind of tricky because the top bikes downtube has an octagonal cross section. 
Here's a pic of fitup. Gap is constant all the way around, but not to a machinist!
Here's a pic of the mitering. I appreciate files and hacksaws more now.
An overview of what this accomplishes
Here's a pic of fitup. Gap is constant all the way around, but not to a machinist!
Here's a pic of the mitering. I appreciate files and hacksaws more now.
An overview of what this accomplishes
12-29-10, 10:15 AM
#5
coasterbrakelockup
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: parts unknown
Posts: 824
Bikes: surly steamroller w/coaster brake, electra single speed cruiser, specialized rockhopper commuter, no-name single speed folder, 700c ultimate wheel, 24" unicycle, specialized bmx lsd, single seat single speed huffy tandem, pink upsidedown parade bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Are you going to weld the seat post of the bottom bike in place or just tighten the bolt?
12-31-10, 11:13 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: the original jersey
Posts: 285
Bikes: lowracer, highracer, moving bottom bracket, 2 tall bikesl
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
wanna see more...dont leave us hangin' bro !
had mine three yrs now, thinking of stripping it and really cleaning it up !
yet another project !
good luck !
had mine three yrs now, thinking of stripping it and really cleaning it up !
yet another project !
good luck !
01-01-11, 12:59 AM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 54
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No worries! I got another update for you.
A few words before the pictures. I have so much respect for guys who TIG weld roll cages. I can run a decent (not good) bead flat, but trying to run around a pipe with a hand amptrol only is extremely humbling. Also, people say fitup is critical for TIG and they are not lying. I thought I would get away with a 1/8" gap on some thin tubing, and it didn't work at all. I ended up just blasting it with some 6013 and that didn't make it any better.
Regardless, here are some pictures. And people wonder why I don't weld stuff for them. :LolLolLolLol:
Head tube extension all set up and ready to go.
Fit up on the seat post was terrible so I blew right through it in the middle. Learning experience. I'm going to add a support that will run parallel with it.
Head tube all welded up.
Top head tube extension weld
Bottom head tube extension weld
Fork extension weld #1
Fork extension weld #2
Extended fork
The bike almost done
Me standing next to it (I'm 6'3"). Yes the chain is on the wrong side. Woe is me. :LolLolLolLol:
A few words before the pictures. I have so much respect for guys who TIG weld roll cages. I can run a decent (not good) bead flat, but trying to run around a pipe with a hand amptrol only is extremely humbling. Also, people say fitup is critical for TIG and they are not lying. I thought I would get away with a 1/8" gap on some thin tubing, and it didn't work at all. I ended up just blasting it with some 6013 and that didn't make it any better.
Regardless, here are some pictures. And people wonder why I don't weld stuff for them. :LolLolLolLol:
Head tube extension all set up and ready to go.
Fit up on the seat post was terrible so I blew right through it in the middle. Learning experience. I'm going to add a support that will run parallel with it.
Head tube all welded up.
Top head tube extension weld
Bottom head tube extension weld
Fork extension weld #1
Fork extension weld #2
Extended fork
The bike almost done
Me standing next to it (I'm 6'3"). Yes the chain is on the wrong side. Woe is me. :LolLolLolLol:
01-01-11, 02:16 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 54
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Maiden Voyage! Plus some thoughts on the bike.
I need to add in that extra rear support and fix my chain line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvT2F8spudk
I need to add in that extra rear support and fix my chain line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvT2F8spudk
01-01-11, 04:06 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Costa Mesa CA
Posts: 2,638
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
A big hearty fukkinA dood from Socal. Looks good. Got me a mountain bike frame and am looking for a 2nd frame for my own tall bike.
01-01-11, 05:37 PM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 54
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
haha, I got my chainline worked out I think. I had my first successful ride earlier, but it was at night so no videos. I'll snap a video tomorrow with all the updates. Thanks for the reply, it made me laugh.
01-01-11, 07:13 PM
#12
On a Mission from God
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Thibodaux, LA
Posts: 2,010
Bikes: '10 Surly LHT, Rat-rod Klunker, '82 Peugeot PH12 Centennial
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
3 Posts
Dude, I love tallbikes.... rock it out, man!
01-02-11, 12:34 PM
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 54
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEm_esKCdAw
Last post guys... this has been a fun (albeit short) project. Next one will have more engineering behind it.
Last post guys... this has been a fun (albeit short) project. Next one will have more engineering behind it.
01-02-11, 12:40 PM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 54
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
01-02-11, 08:51 PM
#15
Desert Flatlander
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Buckeye, AZ
Posts: 88
Bikes: 2001 Trek Alpha 1000, Micargi Tahiti NX3 'The Iron Horse', and many other cheap resale and family bikes.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I bet with the seat being just behind the rear axle that thing pulls wheelies really easy. At five feat in the air you probably learn to ride wheelies without falling off.
01-17-11, 08:40 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,463
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Trek Roscoe 6, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 725 Post(s)
Liked 1,663 Times
in
853 Posts
Careful, tallbikes are like gateway drugs. Next you'll be riding a littlebike, chopper or unicycle in public.
They are a blast.
They are a blast.
