Mini Bike

[stevehuckss396]

I have had this project in the back of my head for a long time now. Work has been extremely busy
so every once in a while I get out to the garage and make a piece or two. I'm going to build a
1970 Ruttman Wild Goose mini bike.

　
When I was a kid we used to ride bikes just like this one. That is what got me going on this thing.
It will be in it's original chrysler code FC7 Plum Crazy purple color. I'm still in the stages of gathering
information to get as original as possible.
　
I have enough information to start on the frame. To build the frame I will need 4 fixtures. One fixture will be
a bending jig to bend up the frame and handle bars. The second will be a simple thing to help get the rear
axle bracket in the correct place. The third will be used to hold the frame together for assembly. The last
one will hold the triple tree together for assembly.
The bending fixture has taken over 2 months just on it's own. It has 4 setups. 2 to bend the frame and 2
to bend the handel bars and forks.

[LouF]

Nice that will be a good build I had one that sears sold looked just like the one in the picture..


Lou

[stevehuckss396]

I spent a couple hours making some of the parts for the frame.
Somehow I screwed up the front fender mount bracket but all the other pieces look good.








Here are some of the pieces on the half finished frame fixture.

[stevehuckss396]

Nice that will be a good build I had one that sears sold looked just like the one in the picture..

Lou

The sears front end is like this one but the frame is nicer.

[LouF]

Oh it's been so long ago mine gave me hours of fun the good old days..



Lou

[LouF]

Looks good looking forward to your progress great pictures..



Lou

[stevehuckss396]

This is the fixture for getting the rear axle gusset aligned correctly. It seems like alot to go thru
to get the gusset installed. I feel it was worth the extra trouble because the hole in the gusset
will be used to line up the frame and if they are not correctly installed the frame could end up
skewed out of wack.




The fixture has a #12-28 thread that is used to hold the bracket down. The frame seats in the
groove and held at the correct angle.




The gusset plate is silver soldered to the frame rail. The original plate is a straight strip of steel. I
made mine follow the contour of the frame rail to add a little strength. At the model engine shows
people like to pick things up and look at stuff. I want to be able to let them without worrying about
something getting bent up.








When the frame fixture is complete I will silver solder everything together. You can see in this shot
why it is so important to have these brackets properly located.




That's it for a while. I'm going to keep plugging away at the frame fixture and when its done I'll
get back to give you an update.

[MOTOXDUDE]

Awesome work Steve. I think we all had one of these in some form as a kid. Will you be selling the prints like you did on the v8 engine build? I for one would buy a set. My kids have all grown, but it would make a great project for the grand kids someday.

[stevehuckss396]

Awesome work Steve. I think we all had one of these in some form as a kid. Will you be selling the prints like you did on the v8 engine build? I for one would buy a set. My kids have all grown, but it would make a great project for the grand kids someday.

I doubt i'll ever do the print thing again. It's more work than building the project.

[LouF]

V8 engine?

[RomanLini]

I don't want to sound negative as this is such a really cool build, but personally I would have beefed up those triple tree pieces. Especially since there is no suspension and... a heavy adult may end up riding it!

PS. When I was a kid in the 1970's my friend had one of these and it was great fun, although I only got to ride it once.

[keebler303]

I don't want to sound negative as this is such a really cool build, but personally I would have beefed up those triple tree pieces. Especially since there is no suspension and... a heavy adult may end up riding it!

PS. When I was a kid in the 1970's my friend had one of these and it was great fun, although I only got to ride it once.

Considering this is a scale model, I doubt a heavy adult would attempt to ride it. Notice the size of the frame rails compared to the computer monitor and how the diameter of the rails is about the same as the pencil in the background.



Matt