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duganc1717 · RSS feed for topic

Like the title states I'm about to undertake my first bike build and have a bunch questions. And before anyone asks I have not set aside a budget for the build or a purpose (Show, rider, etc)
The current plan is to break the bike down this week and ship the frame to C4 to have the seat post tube repaired, dropouts cleaned up and Powder coat it.

I'm going to be using the 83' PK ripper frame in the pics below, the only part I will definitely be using from the pics is the 1985 Landing gear.

How do I find out what colors were available from SE racing in 1983 for the PK ripper?

So the first problem is I cannot decide on a color. My thoughts so far are a white frame with light blue (unsure of the proper name of SE light blue) stickers and the chrome fork with same light blue stickers.
Or black frame with silver stickers, chrome fork w/blk stickers? Chip also offered to LMK if he found any traces of what color the frame was originally.
So I'm looking for suggestions on colors?

Second issue, I have not bought any parts other than a re-chromed set of 2nd gen Landing gear with the vertical stamp. So I'm also looking for some suggestions on what parts to use on the build, mainly the wheel set and cranks....
Also I do have a set of chrome Race inc bars I may use and a set of Hutch hubs that could possibly be used.
Again suggestions are welcome?

The only part I have decided on is the stem, either a Tuf neck or Pro neck.

Last edited by duganc1717 (2012-11-05 12:12pm)

changachump · 2012-10-28 5:26pm

Check out the PKs in the museum to help with color;

http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/se_racing/?y … 6&pg=5

You can't go wrong with white though. Are those the hubs off the
Boss mini? Were they 36h?

duganc1717 · 2012-10-28 5:43pm

Trust me I have been going through the museum nightly, but I have had a hard time figuring what colors were original colors in 83'. Thinking it would be nice to stick with original color scheme.

Yes & yes....

Last edited by duganc1717 (2012-10-28 5:46pm)

vintage chromoly · 2012-10-28 5:48pm

racer boy blue is the name of the se light blue.

is that yellow the original finish? if so, it's rare as heck and i would not touch it! i like the bike as it sits with the selection of gear on it presently.

vintage chromoly · 2012-10-28 5:50pm

on second thought, i'd change a few things.

duganc1717 · 2012-10-28 5:53pm

vintage chromoly wrote:
racer boy blue is the name of the se light blue.

is that yellow the original finish? if so, it's rare as heck and i would not touch it! i like the bike as it sits with the selection of gear on it presently.

It was spray bombed a few owners ago.

ridingdirty42 · 2012-10-28 5:53pm

I would do it baby blue. I have a black '82 and a dark blue '79, both OG paint. Any stock color is a good option in my opinion.

itsdug · 2012-10-28 5:55pm

Have it ball burnished.

duganc1717 · 2012-10-28 5:58pm

The fork to be used.

Raceface · 2012-10-28 6:08pm

Baby blue......

duganc1717 · 2012-11-03 2:52pm

So I decided to break my PK Ripper down today and as always with this bike it has been a upward struggle.
I started pulling the parts off which should have been a minor project, but the rear wheel had been overtightened so much a washer on the inside of the right side dropout was crushed into the axle slot....

When I finally pulled the rear rim the frame sounded like a damn tuning fork....... Someone had spaced the rim so much I guess to prevent the chain from rubbing and the dropouts looks alot worse than what I hoped for.

Then against my better judgement I decided to strip the paint before sending the frame to C4. Part of the reason I wanted to strip the frame before sending out to C4 was because when I removed the BB I could not find any traces of the original color of the frame and was hoping to find a spot with the original finish. I stopped CAP auto parts grabbed some air craft stripper, which I had great results using it to strip a gas tank from a 1994 Honda CBR 900rr a few years back. I sprayed the frame and let it sit outside about 30 minutes and went to check on it and was amazed the paint was barely lifting.
At this point I sprayed another coat of air craft stripper and left it for 15 minutes longer. Then used a flexible body filler scraper to scrape some of the paint and let me just say I have never seen paint sooo thick on anything in my life.
When I used Aircraft stripper on my Fireblade's gas tank it lifted all the paint within 20 minutes, this PK ripper frame is a goddamn mess. I still can't get the paint off and the only thing I can think of that is preventing the paint stripper from working is the outside temp is only around 47F degrees and the instructions recommend 65F-90F degrees.

Now my biggest concern is the few spots that have little to no paint feel very rough? Almost like the tubing is etched.... Mybe someone else that has stripped the finish on a earlier PK Ripper can chime in?... Please...

allsorts · 2012-11-03 3:05pm

they sure didn't want that rear wheel to work loose

LIFE BEHIND BARS · 2012-11-03 3:22pm

looks like it was sandblasted at one point with much too course a medium.

Johnnny · 2012-11-03 3:26pm

I'd get it powdered.

duganc1717 · 2012-11-03 3:32pm

LIFE BEHIND BARS wrote:
looks like it was sandblasted at one point with much too course a medium.

That was mine thought, maybe PO brought somewhere to have it media blated and they did not realize the frame was aluminum.... And maybe the super thick paint is it to hide the fact the tubing is rough?....

This is turning out to be disaster of a project, thank god know one bought this when I had it for sale.

duganc1717 · 2012-11-03 3:33pm

Johnnny wrote:
I'd get it powdered.

Your messing with me, right?...

RoadRunner · 2012-11-03 5:28pm

duganc1717 wrote:
Johnnny wrote:
I'd get it powdered.
Your messing with me, right?...

Why not?

That's going to be a nice ride when you are done

duganc1717 · 2012-11-03 5:44pm

If you read the thread I had already talked to C4 about sending him my frame for repairs and powder.

Last edited by duganc1717 (2012-11-03 6:06pm)

vintage chromoly · 2012-11-03 9:40pm

either it was sand blasted like already submitted or it was chemically stripped and the chemicals etched it.

either way, it's just a paint job or powder coat away from being finished (['d paint it myself as that's what is "correct" for that year pk. )

squirrelsmith · 2012-11-03 9:48pm

consider anodize

duganc1717 · 2012-11-04 4:01am

I'm pretty sure you cannot anodize something with a finish this rough.

oldskoolkel · 2012-11-04 6:08am

Cool bike. I hope it all turns out good for you.

MrOlive · 2012-11-04 6:40am

Someone did the same to my 79. Take it to a stripper shop and have it dipped for about 15 bucks. They hang it in mega stripper that's heated, works like a champ, it'll get all the paint out of the deep . Unfortunately someone sand blasted it. They probly used regular sand, but the metals old and weak. I sanded mine with like 400 to 800 grit to remove it all. I went with just a bare aluminum, it looks sick. RIPPERS HAVE TO BE SODA BLASTED!! That was for everyone about to sandblast. Old schwinns have to have it too, their joints are soddered. You could try soda blast or water blasting too. They both remove rust and paint without removing any more material.