Crazy tricycle build

[rockford33]

I thought I would do something special for my 2 year old son for Christmas. I originally had the idea to restore a tricycle that had been hanging in my mom's garage for the past 25-30 years until my sister said it was hers (and she was going to let me happily restore it and then wanted it back in a couple of years :wall). So I got this off of craigslist for $15



And ended up with this:



Took about 70-80 hours of work at least and probably cost more than a tricycle should, but it can be cleaned, buffed, etc. just like a car. I used Auto Air colors (black and Gem Ruby for the flames) and Alsa Corp Speed Clear for the clearcoat (still needs another couple of coats).

Enjoy the rest of the album here showing the build:

rockford33/Tricycle Build 2008 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

-Neil

 

[Troy@Protekt]

Very cool.

 

[Beemerboy]

I did the same thing for my son and its still hanging in the garage...I got this one from a day care provider...its was trashed...took it to bare metal got some new parts and so forth...I'll post some pics of it if you don't mind



Yours look great brought back some great memories of the one that I did!

 

[Old Pirate]

Great job on the bike, your son has the baddest tricycle on the block:rockon

 

[rockford33]

I did the same thing for my son and its still hanging in the garage...I got this one from a day care provider...its was trashed...took it to bare metal got some new parts and so forth...I'll post some pics of it if you don't mind



Yours look great brought back some great memories of the one that I did!

Beemer,
Go ahead and post some pics. It'll be good to see what others have done. It literally took me about 2 months just to DECIDE what to do! Then I had about 1-1/2 months to get it done.

Troy,
The wheels aren't chromed, but hand polished. After stripping the paint, started with a 320 grit Dremel sanding sponge, then 800,1500, and 2000 grit sand paper. Finished up with Showman's Polish with a Dremel felt buffing bob. I would still like it a little shinier, but ran out of time.

Zoomzoom,
Thanks for the compliment!

 

[Beemerboy]

Beemer,
Go ahead and post some pics. It'll be good to see what others have done. It literally took me about 2 months just to DECIDE what to do! Then I had about 1-1/2 months to get it done.

Troy,
The wheels aren't chromed, but hand polished. After stripping the paint, started with a 320 grit Dremel sanding sponge, then 800,1500, and 2000 grit sand paper. Finished up with Showman's Polish with a Dremel felt buffing bob. I would still like it a little shinier, but ran out of time.

Zoomzoom,
Thanks for the compliment!

I looked at it today....needs to be S&W for dust...like you..I spent hours taking it apart, stripping and sanding rust and paint off...then..primer...wet sand...paint..wet sand...paint...I didn't do a clear...I stayed single stage :rofl

The new pedals...rubbers for the handle bars...and three times the amount of what I could have got a new one for it was done...and to top it off...he took a nose dive on it...they are way top heavy..he hardly rode it at all

I ended up buying one by Kettler a German company that makes stuff tough as nails...its still in the family..SIL has it for her two...and its still going!