RADBMX.CO.UK

BMX General => BMX Chat => Topic started by: Rombloke on March 11, 2008, 10:24 PM

Title: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: Rombloke on March 11, 2008, 10:24 PM

A  RESTORATION PROJECT

HARO GEN 1 FREESTYLER…Serial No TSS 1235F

Legend has it that  this resto project started its life on eBay  approx 2 yrs ago.
I was outbid on the auction by Dan Harris, who won the bike and left it as a survivor ride, and consequently  got 3rd place in the survivor class at mk06.

Life over the woods wasn’t so bad for the haro in the 80’s being jumped through the bomb holes, and abused, as all good freestylers should be.
Here in some of these pics being thrashed by  Dave Curry.

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/tri3a.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/tri2a.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/tri1a.jpg)

Heres the original reciept from faze 7...
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/haroreciept.jpg)
£179:95.…yeah…I wish

So after Dans initial clean up of the bike it was just left in its survivor state. Like this…

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/bmx15e-3.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/bmx12e.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/colour059-1.jpg)

I personally kept looking at this bike thinking, that one day I will do it the honour of  cloaking it in some new bling and restoring its parts.

Soon the bike changed hands once  again, not long after the ruler put it through its flatland paces at mk07, the bike was sold on in another auction on rad to raise money for 80’s freestyle legend, stuart ‘pepi’ winder’s funeral.

Rhys ‘lazy chubs’ Maskell was the new owner. But after hearing the pressures of fellow old schoolers not  to restore it he sold it on…..
Heres where my part in the story began.



Straight away, as soon as the bike was in the workshop, she was stripped, all the parts were boxed, awaiting a clean/resto
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/DSCF0021-1.jpg)

Then  work on the frame was started….at some point in its life the poor ol’ thing had been bubblegum welded, badly…I had to put this right…


(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/DSCF0020.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/bubblegum.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/bubblegumII.jpg)

So, the files, dremmel, grinder and varios hacking tools came out, I ground most of the birds crap welds away, then made a template from cardboard, using one of my other gen 1’s as  a guide of the head tube gusset.

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/DSCF0024-1.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/harogusset.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/gus1.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/gus2.jpg)

The frame now got sent away to have the  fabrication/welding work done on it… I left the frame in mark fuzzy nods hands, he would be taking it to oxford to a funny car/drag race car manufacturer called Andy Robinson Race Cars….these guys are mustard…the work took a while, but I gave mark the work at their busiest time….but the work is quality…

I initially only wanted the head tube gusset replaced, but andy suggested I had the seat tube gusset replaced also, as a hairline crack was present, a common fault in haros.

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/e022.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/e020.jpg)

A  week or so later and the frame was back at HQ…so I went to work with the polishing, preparing for the chrome plate.
So after 4 hrs and a hand from Steve vinoah, it had had the life polished out of it, getting into all the awkward areas.

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/fnfpolished.jpg)

Now the bit I had been waiting for since first seeing the bike on eBay…I took the frame up to Lee pkradmans house, and he took it to his chrome guy for me…well, after 12hrs at the platers shop we got the call….it was done…wtf….

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/018.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/0031.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/004.jpg)


In between all the comings and goings of tss1235f I had plenty of work on my hands just in general cleaning, replacing, and restoring the parts removed from the bike.

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/tech3s.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/restoredpro-1.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/pado.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/mx1000s.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/hitforsale009.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/DSCF0002-11.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/DSCF0011-5.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/DSCF0009-6.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/DSCF0008-3.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/deco.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/clampflex.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/bluerounds.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/DSCF0005-6.jpg)

Now to today….11/3/08, picked up freshly chromed frame and fork set , and banged all the decals and parts on it….
Not brilliant pictures, I will eventually get some good ones in the sunshine, but these will do for now.

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/newsideon.jpg)

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/x13.jpg)

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/x12.jpg)

Sorry if this has upset any survivor bike lovers, but hey, if you wanted it to stay as a survivor, you should have bought it, I couldn’t see it staying as it was, and  hopefully ive done this old gen 1 justice.

Thanks for reading.

Dave

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: baldbmxer on March 11, 2008, 10:35 PM

I think you have done it justice even though I loved that rat bike as it was.  :daumenhoch:

In your pics you had tech 3 levers, why the not so nice tech 4's on the completed build?

Good work Dave  :4_17_5:

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: jackel on March 11, 2008, 10:36 PM

serious amount of work and time gone into that one mate and it show because its stunning :4_17_5: :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: dct on March 11, 2008, 10:38 PM

fookin mate dave   :4_17_5: :4_17_5: :4_17_5: :4_17_5: :4_17_5: :4_17_5: :4_17_5: :4_17_5: :4_17_5:


danny

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: Rombloke on March 11, 2008, 10:44 PM

lever question jj....erm...i dont really know...the tech threes are in the workshop, but wasnt as spangly looking.

thanks for the comments guys

Dave

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: MartyC on March 11, 2008, 10:54 PM

Romblerk, that looks fooking stunning  :smitten:

I remember first seeing it at Rom I think and then at MK06 or it might have been the other way round  :LolLolLolLol:, it now looks a million times better; a worthy and justifiable restoration  :daumenhoch:.

If ever you want to sell it, let me know - got my annual bonus coming soon and my migration fund I can dip into  ;)

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: superbikedan on March 11, 2008, 11:05 PM

fook me dave,  seen that bike in the flesh,  amazing :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: Zippy on March 11, 2008, 11:12 PM

Credit where credit is due, that's a great job and a good little story board there as well. Top Notch.

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: Swivel on March 12, 2008, 08:06 AM

Dave, truly amazing thread!  :shocked: I was outbid on that bike also!!! I think what you've done to it is superb and it looks beautiful  :smitten:

I think this thread should be made as a sticky for sure  :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: WARDY on March 12, 2008, 08:15 AM

Gobsmacked , thats all i have to say on this matter :4_17_5: :4_17_5: :4_17_5: :4_17_5: :4_17_5: :4_17_5:

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: Stodgy on March 12, 2008, 08:19 AM

Nice ROM sticker Dave.

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: double chevron on March 12, 2008, 08:44 AM

Restore, not restore.....
The doubts vanish when seeing your amazing work Dave.
Thanks for sharing the whole process  :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: bmxmatt1974 on March 12, 2008, 09:09 AM

good work there dave  :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: andrewthomas197 on March 12, 2008, 09:21 AM

Superb......

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: Mattdub on March 12, 2008, 09:49 AM

Loved the old Survivor Dave but that looks good  ;)

New Series 1B plate arm colours ?? .

Lovin' that seatclamp ( such a cool mod ) & those forks  :smitten:

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: Bananaman on March 12, 2008, 10:07 AM

Class mate, these are more satisfying than just buyin NOS :smitten:

Coaster and rear brake ???

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: JT71 on March 12, 2008, 11:15 AM

that's a great build. awesome work.

I love these Haro's but never had one or knew anyone that had one back  in the day.


now, put it back as it was...it was a piece of history.  :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol:

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: magna13 on March 12, 2008, 03:38 PM

 :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: pickle on March 12, 2008, 03:42 PM

can't see any of the pictures at work......but reet looking forward to seeing this when i get home!  :D

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: pkradman on March 12, 2008, 07:27 PM

lookin good sir david !!  :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: meticulous on March 12, 2008, 08:05 PM

you dead right you done justice, from a crusty piece of crap to wow, well done, in 1984 i had my gen 1 shot blasted and powdered white, all because i saw bob haro with a white one on telly, probably get hung for that now, wonder were it went! :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: A HARO RESTORATION
Post by: keep it lit! on March 12, 2008, 08:12 PM

................ respect sir :Great_Britain:




ade :crazy2: