Its alive!!

[SuperHawk]

Well i just heard the sound of my 1971 Rupp Hustler start for the first time in 19 years!! I have done an almost complete restore in the bike!

It now has an HS50 motor and a freshly powder coated frame, gas tank, rear swing arm, front forks, new tires, cables, seat cover, chain, decals, grips, foot pegs, chrome rear fender, almost all of the bolts were replaced during the rebuild. i am sure that I have missed some items, but you get the point!

The 10" rims are going to come back off so that they can be re-chromed! after that it will be complete!

Well that is all as soon as I get the decals on the tank and get it washed and polished I will try and send some pics to Ruppbikes.com so that you all can see it!!

Thanks to everyone who has assisted me in this re-build!!

Super

[Charlie]

Super:
Congrads on your restoration. I am also restoring a Hustler with my son and have a few questions for you.

How did you get the swing arm rubber bushings out and did you replace with new parts or reuse the old bushing set?

Did you powder coat or paint the gas tank? I was told to avoid powder coating because the solder joints for the mounting bracket & fuel shutoff plate would melt from the 400 degree powder coat oven.

Thanks,
Charlie

[SuperHawk]

Hey Charlie,

I used some liquid wrench on the swing arm bushings and a large C-clamp and some sockets and just pressed the bushings out. I got them back in the same way. To get them out I would screw the clamp down as tight as possible and then strike the end with a hammer in the direction that I was pressing. I used new bushings from J&L when I re-assembled the swingarm.

I powder coated the whole thing. I instructed the guy who did my powder coat to keep the oven at the lowest possible temp for the curing and it worked quite well. Be careful when you put the fuel petthingy back in though I broke mine off and had to repair it. I am glad the know one was in the garage when it happened %#$$@#^$&* because that is what came out of my mouth HEHE any way good luck.

If you need any more assistance [e-mail]
Later Dennis