Scottessy's Fox Trailbug

Scottessey

Scottessey

Active Member
#1
#1
What's up Fellas? This is my first mini bike. I'm not going for the full original restoration. I just wanted to see if I could make up a nice bike for my kids and I to cruise around on. So, I picked up this frame from CL. I was told it was a Fox doodlebug, but after seeing some brochures I got from a cool OldMiniBikes member, Marlinmate, I am pretty sure it's a Fox Trailbug.



I squeezed into my sandblast cabinet, shot all the crusty paint off of it, and discovered two cracked welds.





After a little tig welding to patch 'em up, I shot 'em with some Duplicolor self-etching primer.





My frame didn't come with foot pegs, so I borrowed one from Marlinmate, a member with a Fox doodlebug. His was in bad shape, but I just wanted to use it as a sample to duplicate and fab my own. I have a CNC punch press at work so I banged out some new ones here...btw, I made extras, so if you need one, shoot me a PM.



Here they are after bending, laying in place by the frame. They'll go into my "to be chromed" box.





Thanks for checking it out...

btw...if anyone has a rear axle for a Fox like this that I can buy, or better yet trade for, or even borrow to copy and return...please lemme know. Thanks! :thumbsup:


Scottessey
 
zeeman

zeeman

Active Member
#3
#3
Hey, you did an awesome job on that. I'm looking forward to the build. If you're like me, it will be hard to Not paint and spruce it all up now.
 
Marlinmate

Marlinmate

Member
#9
#9
No sweat. Keep the "sample". No need for it here. The axle is installed on my FOX, so I haven't had a chance to take it apart.

5/8" (18 thread) diameter by 8.5" long...maybe 8.75"??. Threaded for about 1" on each end.

The original axles have holes drilled through in the ends for cotter pins. A low profile crown nut was used on either side. I did not go this route, but chose to use aircraft locking nuts ?? on each end. So far so good.

Do you have the Fox specific nut that was used to hold the front forks onto the neck bolt? Your pic doesn't show it.
 
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Scottessey

Scottessey

Active Member
#10
#10
Marlinmate said:
No sweat. Keep the "sample". No need for it here. The axle is installed on my FOX, so I haven't had a chance to take it apart.

5/8" (18 thread) diameter by 8.5" long...maybe 8.75"??. Threaded for about 1" on each end.

The original axles have holes drilled through in the ends for cotter pins. A low profile crown nut was used on either side. I did not go this route, but chose to use aircraft locking nuts ?? on each end. So far so good.

Do you have the Fox specific nut that was used to hold the front forks onto the neck bolt? Your pic doesn't show it.
Click to expand...
Cool! Did the axle have any other details?...shoulders etc.?... or was it 5/8 all the way across? Is there a nut that goes on the inside of the frame too? What keeps the frame from "squeezing"? Thanks man, I know it's unlikely you have these details memorized.

The neckbolt! I didn't get one with the bike. Yours was stylin'. I plan to use a standard hex head.
 
Marlinmate

Marlinmate

Member
#11
#11
I don't have any nuts on the inside, but once you add spacers and bearings, all the pressure will be on the bearings and the spacers. I think on that CD i sent you, there is a pic of how the Campus Bike wheel assembly goes.

Not sure what shoulders are, but 5/8" all the way with threads on each end to accomodate an 18 thread nut. Most everything you need, you can get right at OldMiniBikes Warehouse.

With your skills, you could make a head nut like the originals. Just a thought
 
Scottessey

Scottessey

Active Member
#12
#12
Marlinmate said:
I don't have any nuts on the inside, but once you add spacers and bearings, all the pressure will be on the bearings and the spacers. I think on that CD i sent you, there is a pic of how the Campus Bike wheel assembly goes.

Not sure what shoulders are, but 5/8" all the way with threads on each end to accomodate an 18 thread nut. Most everything you need, you can get right at OldMiniBikes Warehouse.

With your skills, you could make a head nut like the originals. Just a thought
Click to expand...
Ok, cool. It's all starting to make sense now. I was looking at the exploded view and parts list you sent me and it looks like the original rear axle was just a 5/8-18x7" bolt. :shrug: If this is the case, it should be simple. That hand knob (headnut) might be the real challenge. :hammer:

Thanks for your help! :thumbsup:
 
Scottessey

Scottessey

Active Member
#13
#13
Marlinmate said:
With your skills, you could make a head nut like the originals. Just a thought
Click to expand...
Hey Marlinmate, it turns out the Trailbug didn't use the head nut, or at least my year didn't. The forks/handle bars are all one piece.

Here are some pics of stuff I've been working on for the Trailbug...

I picked up this Briggs...


Then I got it ready to clean up a bit. I even made some quickie cover plates to keep out any junk.


After some cleaning, I painted it up... Notice the bright orange earplug I used to plug a hole?:thumbsup:


I also picked up some nice original Fox wheels.


I dropped my frame off today. I should have powder coat pics next week! Woot!
 
1stlegendtx

1stlegendtx

Well-Known Member
#14
#14
Scottessey said:
Hey Marlinmate, it turns out the Trailbug didn't use the head nut, or at least my year didn't. The forks/handle bars are all one piece.

Here are some pics of stuff I've been working on for the Trailbug...

I picked up this Briggs...


Then I got it ready to clean up a bit. I even made some quickie cover plates to keep out any junk.


After some cleaning, I painted it up... Notice the bright orange earplug I used to plug a hole?:thumbsup:


I also picked up some nice original Fox wheels.


I dropped my frame off today. I should have powder coat pics next week! Woot!
Click to expand...
:thumbsup::thumbsup:Looks really good.:thumbsup::thumbsup:Also I love the foot pegs you made for me:thumbsup:Thanks
 
Scottessey

Scottessey

Active Member
#17
#17
mmisterbungl said:
engine looks great!
Click to expand...
Thanks! Cleaning and painting an engine is a longer process than I expected. Stoked it's done though.

Marlinmate said:
Where did you find original rims so fast?
Click to expand...
I got them from the Fox Jedi, Ogy-won.


He's been a huge help in getting my bike together and a great guy to talk to. Huge thanks to Ogy!:thumbsup:

Here is a pic of the engine sitting in my frame, and one with a picture of my carb. I had some parts going out for blue anodize this week and threw in the aluminum tube off of my carb just for fun. My bike will be Ford blue so it may be a cool complement. Not sure yet how it look after exposure to gasoline. I'm already dreaming up how I can fab my own muffler and blue anodize it as well. I'll have to decide whether to follow that plan after I start assembling.



 
Marlinmate

Marlinmate

Member
#18
#18
Looks good. The color will be sweet.

On the head/neck bolt. On my Doodlebug, the bolt goes from the bottom up and is welded to the bottom part of the forks. The head bolt is then screwed on from the top. see pics
 
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