83 200x resto-mode from start to finish

[tdup]

I am the one that started the post on 5 to 6 conversio. I will be rebuilding this bike from start to finish. I will post progress on the project and would love any suggestions during the process. I started with a trike in boxes. Every component is apart and I am going though everything as it is going back together. I am trying to do this on as tight of a buget as possible while ending up with a super nice machine. I will try to post all cost as I go and mistake or tricks I find. Here goes the project.

I bought project bike $75.
2 parts bikes $75
Paint est. $30 - I already had the materials from the past.

I took an 83 frame sanded it down(10 hrs)
I used an epoxy automotive primer to start the painting process.
The epoxy prime I used is a dupont product and is nice for frames.
I is a non-sanding primer. I painted the frame with enamel.
I made a new factor model label on my computer for the steering stem. I used lamination to adhere it to the frame with a very small amount of marine clear silcon to seal the edges. Then I clear coated the frame.

http://www.angelfire.com/ar3/tdup/200xframe83.JPG

I am in the process of cleaning up the tripple trees at this time. The best way that I have found to restore the finish is by using a green 3M pad and semichrome paste to remove the old oxidized finish. I have already completed this step but have not clear coated the tree yet. I will buff out the finger prints before coating. Here it is at the curent time. I just fitted it to see how it will look. I still need to clean the clamps. You can see the difference in the finish.

http://www.angelfire.com/ar3/tdup/200xttree83.JPG

More will come later as progress is made.

[mike from long island]

the frame looks good i only say one thing. why did you leave the rear rubber seat bumpers in?? you painted them red too. you should take all the piece off and start with a bare frame just my 2 cents. looking good though

[tdup]

I started to remove them but I was afraid that they were going to tear. They were discolored enought that I thought the red would look better than taping them off. I will probably replace them later into the project.

Thanks for the post and eagle eyes. I like it!

[Xowner]

looks good but i agree with mike my 2 cents to !!


good job tho !

[tdup]

After looking at the red rubber I decided you guys where right. I checked the rubber on my two doner bikes and made a pretty good set. I used a trick I learned several years ago to soften up the rubber. Now they are almost soft as new. You can dip your rubber in Berrymans carb dip. Be very very careful of how long you do this or you wont have any rubber. There is a very fine line of time you have to do this. It goes from hard - soft - swell- gone in about 10min after it begins to get soft. Believe it or not the rubber will stay plyable for a very long time. It may also discolor your old rubber. Practice on some old stuff that you dont like first. The large seat bumbers took about 5 min to get soft. The small stuff about 3 min. We used to dip the carb end of intake boots on GS1100 bikes to fit them with larger carbs. We let them stay till they just started to swell. This allowed the larger carbs to fit nicely. Alway wash your rubber very well after you take it out of the chemical with soap and water. If you dont they will deteriorate rapidly.

http://www.angelfire.com/ar3/tdup/200xrubber.JPG

I chipped the dang paint getting the old rubber out. I should have removed first. BIG MISTAKE.

[tdup]

Here is one of my doaner bikes for the project I'm Working on.

http://www.angelfire.com/ar3/tdup/200x.JPG

[Kilborg]

Moved this to trikesylvania from the open forum.