Asi understand it, some baby chicks have met their maker before arriving at their new home as well. Some stuff just simply can't be delayed...

The box is back on the move.

The box liner is back in commission with reinforcement and a generally box-like shape. Here's what took so long.

First, I had to cut out the industrial grade rivets that had been used in the construction of the box. Then, disassembly and restoring each surface to relative flatness. After that came the re-riveting - which made a wrong turn at Albequerque at the installation of the 4th rivet.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...000231ef86.jpg
I attempted to free up the rivet head for a couple days, and not being able to find a suitable replacement for less than half the cost of a whole new rivet tool, I grew a bit anguished. You can see the post I made while feeling quite stuck. During our conversations, Mad Honk suggested bolts. M5's seemed a good size to use, but I needed more than I had, and have you priced metric fasteners at a hardware store? Amazon came to the rescue and delivered yesterday. I worked to finish reconstruction on the box with abandon - occasionally finding that I had measured once, and needed to cut twice a couple times. :o

Late last night it all came back together - at least as much as it could under the circumstances. Sadly, the plexiglass top couldn't be salvaged. I cut a piece of cardboard to size and glued it to it, but there is so much stu... er crap in the box that I couldn't get the top flaps to close within an inch of each other with it on the top. I will save it for posterity, and possibly a place of honor when the man cave comes together in a year or so.

Here's the top view of the stronger box liner:


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ba0dc80e72.jpg

and a bit closer look at the erector set inspired joinery.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7b7ea5241a.jpg

If anyone feels the need to add further reinforcement, have at it. Hopefully, if at some point it requires some tweaking, it won't take as long as it took me using my portable drill, hacksaw, #2 phillips head, allen key and 8mm wrench.

That’s the least crappy Box’O’Crap liner I’ve ever seen - nice work!!

USA-Z,
Good on ya for your investment in the BOC! I worked on the race car that contributed the metal for the BOC tonight, and some of the body panels on the car look like the box liner looked like when you received it. I have not been able to post pics lately, so I can't show the carnage to the car. I do hope you signed the liner for posterity and to document your contribution before sending it along. I think that is part of the box liner history that will go forward to other who play the game. Thanks for repairing the liner. Smiles, MH

So Gugie asked for pics of bikes with the sticker from the BOC. In this post they are still with the BOC. Is there any reference to the bag with the stickers that seem to be missing from the reveals shown lately. If you know where the stickers are please let us know. Thanks, MH

There are stickers in the box.

And is this now the boxlike container o' crap?

Tom,
It is a Crappy World we Crapsters live in! Smiles, MH

I took one of the stickers, but unfortunately spilled something on it and ended up throwing it out. :(

I've got a sticker, but forgot to put it in a bike and now don't know where it belongs. :( I'll have to take more crap I guess. :)

Skip,
It can go anywhere as long as it is on the bike. I have seen then near the bb and on the seat tube but it is your preference. Smiles, MH

Thanks. I meant I don't know which bike it belongs on. :)

The BOC landed. Just noticed it by the mailbox. Will hopefully mess with it mañana.

Took nothing, added a couple small bits. Outgoing teaser:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4c5438e4_c.jpg

Will tape it up and get it out tomorrow or Thursday. (Although I still have to figure out where it's going.)

Off it goes to mountaindave , tipping the scales at a svelte 30.5 pounds:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a3e0ff19_c.jpg

I think this might be the heaviest it's left my care.

If only I had a 3-speed hub to pair with those matched “grip shifters”... I worked on a matched pair of Japanese Rosses this summer with exactly those shifters (for a Japanese IGH, not SA).

so excited!!!

30-1/2 pounds might be the heaviest it's ever been!

:eek::eek:

The BOC has landed and there were no dead mailmen on my porch.

Though it would seem to be an existence proof that USPS delivery is currently rather f***ed up. Looking at the tracking history, it took three days to get from Evanston, IL to Billings, MT and another three days just to get to Missoula. In more normal times, I think it would have made it all the way to mountaindave in three days.

Holy crap, you guys still have decals?

I believe that's all the updates.

It's been hard to play games and do things I enjoy in general, what with everything going on. I'm trying to do more things that bring me joy, and staying in communication with this motley crew is definitely one of those things.

May the Crap be with you.

(if I've missed anything please send me a note or tag me in a post) :beer:

@smontanaro, I can imagine they'll give a 30-lb flat-rate box lower priority than most of the rest of the mail. My mail has been working extremely well lately, and I'm in a rural area.

@Chr0m0ly, thanks for the updates in these trying times.

Didn't used to be that way, though obviously letter carriers probably aren't real keen to schlep that box around.

I'm still waiting for some MKS dust caps from Germany. There is a USPS tracking number. USPS still says, "awaiting package." My best guess is US Customs has lowered the priority of stuff coming into the US. Think nice -19 (for you Unix geeks).

Skip, how did you know I would appreciate that joke? ;)