AdventureManCO 

We could all do with a little more 833 in our lives.

cudak888 

The Banshee XP-833 quite literally looks like 83.3% of a C3.

Kurt

gugie 

And they call me the Bike Butcher of Portland...

...gotta up my game.

sbarner 

Not sure that was a good move. Guess time will tell. That ridge was clearly intended to distribute the stress that wants to bend the forward tab inward when the pinch bolt is tightened. Without it, the stress is more concentrated at the intersection of the flat and curved surfaces, potentially increasing the possibility of a stress crack starting there. I suggest you keep an eye on it. Of course, as such a valuable and unique art bike, and in anticipation of its ride qualities when completed, this bike is almost certainly destined to be a wall hanger (providing you have a wall strong enough), so that others can appreciate it in all its outstanding glory. Sort of like a gold-plated 50th-Anniversary Colnago. Some things are imbued with such beauty that they belong, unmolested, on a pedestal.

AdventureManCO 

I have about 6-8 hrs of uninterrupted HUFFY TIME starting now. ITS ON

RCMoeur 

(cut to scene of villains and henchfolk in their lair)

"We have to distract him! But... how?"

thorstein

The henchfolk should definitely be ordered to do laps in front of AMCO's garage on Huffy's hung with SunTour components or Colnagos hung with Huffy detritus. Either I think, would cause much distraction!

thorstein

The picture in my head has them wielding pitchforks & other assorted lawn tools

Macguyver909

That sounds strangely dirty...remember to wear protection!



Oh wait, that is strangely dirty.

Hondo6

What's dirty about reminding someone that eye protection is a good idea when doing mechanical work that might involve grinding or polishing?

Hondo6

I understand that's what Keith Richards said after Mick Taylor played the outro solo on this one (starting approx 4:43).

Mad Honk 

I suspect I can help AMCO with his safety issues:

I have a supply of these that might keep him from permanent damage from his exposure.

How many should I send? Smiles, MH

Macguyver909

I was thinking more like this:



You don't want to get any Huffy on you.

AdventureManCO 

OKAY! Well, lots of updates.

And I have one that's as bad as it is hilarious. You will not want to miss this. lol stay tuned

AdventureManCO 

cudak888 

I knew it. When you had your back turned, the Paramount stole all the parts.

-Kurt

droppedandlost 

AdventureManCO 

Ah, it started off a mighty fine day. One of the best, really.

The sun was shining, not a cloud in sight. I innocently thought, 'hey, today will be a great day. I get to work on the Le Grande.' The stuff dreams are made of.

I figured I'd start with the fork and pantograph. We had some fun with this, didn't we. The fun doesn't end! (nothing ever ends with this thing).










Thanks to Drillium Dude's tip about using a toothpick for a paint dabber, I was able to do this one up with nary a problem.

Things were going great, right at the crack of dawn this morning.

AdventureManCO 

A few clouds appeared, but the cool wind was blowing through my non-existant hair, things were just grand. Le Grande, in fact.

I also painted the in-fill of the Jun stem, but no pictures since it is ugly and will look better once I buff the paint off the high points. I guess that never stopped me photographing the whole bike, now did it.


Kurt was right. So, here we go again on the bottom bracket adapter...








By now, this is just boring, ho-hum engine turning. Nothing like doing something completely useless on the bike 3 times.





Blah, blah, blah...engine turning, blah, blah, blah...



Things were going well at the Le Grande HQ, as I was having a crack at beautifying some components.

AdventureManCO 

I don't know why, but the sun started fading. More clouds started appearing. Didn't bother us! We are happy, joyous, and ignorantly going about our day, feeling productive...



FINALLY! Right? Finally. Today was going to be the day. We've had delay after delay after delay. w00t. ****Campy cranks going on, Campy cranks going on...****




Checking fit - feels good, just like the O.M.A.S. adapter did.


I pushed one side on, then inserted the engine turned decorative trim piece...



Now, I didn't want to be Super Dumb with the Super Record stuff, so I figured I'd make sure I had the cups on the right side.


Wow, I'm so smart. Thinking ahead like that.


Hmm, what was that noise outside? The crack of thunder?

AdventureManCO 

The sky turned an ominous gray, and darkened significantly.

I mean, we're okay, right? Just doing our thing, having fun, making good progress, nothing to be worried about, right?

Time for alignment before the final push, then finally, Campy! Yaaaay!



Yep, holes look good!




Giddy, I frolick with the Le Grande out to the garage, grab a couple of wood shims, a rag, and happily proceed to insert into the vise and press the cups into place. Just like I've already done before...twice!


Man, we are so close! Yes, yes, for some reason the floodwaters from the storm are lapping up against the bottom sides of the house, but nothing can slow us down or steal our joy.

The Campy is so close I can taste it. Tastes so good, just like one of my favorite cereals as a kid. What was it called? Oh yeah, Cracklin' Oat Bran.

cudak888 

I'm so glad there's a video that not only fits this reference, but is completely apropos to the notion of putting Nuovo Record on a Huffy.

(Language warning).


-Kurt

albrt 

Wait, this thread starts in the morning? Shouldn't it have been a dark and stormy night?

cudak888 

FIFY.

-Kurt

AdventureManCO 

Here we go! Crack that whip! Let's git 'r done! But the deadline is approaching, and there is so much I have to do! Is my resolve beginning to crack?





Well! My resolve isn't, but something else is...




Whoopseee!


Honestly I feel worse about Kurt getting triggered by even more BB pictures for the foreseeable future than I do about the bike. I mean, I thought that crunchy munchy sound was just the wood shims. Yeah. The wood! That's what it was!



I mean, in good news the alignment was pretty spot on! Those bolts threaded in like nothin!






Sooooooooooo...I thought it was kinda funny. To be honest, I thought something like this was going to, no, bound to happen, so I'm not really that surprised. And truthfully, it is where the BB shell was brazed butted up against itself, and the stout, resolved joint of the chainstay stopped it cold in its tracks. See, this crack actually proves how strong the Huffy is.

Man, those 'Positive Huffy Affermations' tapes that I put on at night while I sleep really do work.

I can't feel bad because there is no way I could have prevented this - I wouldn't have ever thought that this would have been an issue. The other adapter went in fine, I sanded quite a bit of the inside of the shell, and even used grease!

So! Shall we give in, and give up? Call it and move on? Throw in the towel?


No we shall NOT.






Worse case scenario, I have that whole other Huffy frame with a 'just fine' BB and I will literally rip that thing out and replace the Le Grande's if I have to. But, I don't think we'll need to do anything extreme.

Yes, yes, people have thrown out Huffy's WITHOUT cracks in them.

But remember those pictures I shared with scarlson ? What's a little crack when you already have two? Why, third crack's a charm!


Besides, we needed a 3rd act. Less than a month to go. Crack in the frame.


Welcome to the 3rd act. We'll be fine.