Tripco (Tri
Power Corporation) TeeBirdie
Model
CG 11A
Serial No.
B 2 2860
Year:
???- If anyone knows, let my know!
Purchased
06/25/2008
Before:
As purchased- Suprisingly enough it runs great. I have not yet come up
with much info about it. They were built in Austin, Texas in the
50's (maybe 60's). It is powered by a (8-10 HP?) Kohler Air-Cooled
motor. Single Speed, no reverse (latter models included a
reverse gear). Minor "chopping" has been done (gauges added), wrong
switches, cut-outs for radio, etc. I believe most of the damage
is repairable however. It will be a nice little restoration project for
this coming winter.
Day 2:
Torn apart- Yeah I did that with my toys as a kid too. Found a broke
spring- and as I can't seem to find the Tripco dealer, I modified
it to use Yamaha shocks (just happened to have a couple of spares).
Day 3:
Frame cleaned and painted. Test fit new rear tires.
Day 4:
Make new swing assy mounts (found broken mount) using old Yamaha parts.
Clean up and paint bottom of frame.
Flip back over and re-install swing assy. Cut out and prime new floor
boards.
Day 5:
Doesn't look like much got done today. Mostly wiring, plumbing, brakes,
throttle, etc that doesn't show. Test fitted the front cowl to
check the floorboard fit- I need to trim it down just a hair. I did
start it up to make sure the ignition and starter switches work though.
Day 6:
Patch the "extra" holes and reinforce the weak spots with
fiberglass.The "basket" in the front cowl is missing- once again, the
Tripco dealer
didn't have one, so I cut off the bottom of an old sprinkling can that
I lost to top for and fiberglassed it in. On the body you can see where
I squared off the corner of the old wheel well cut-out in preparation
to changing the cut-out as show below.
Day 7:
Fill holes, cut new holes (tail lights and controls). Test mount
hardware. Still trying to decide if I like the wheel well cutout I've
sketched
(It is to late to change my mind after I cut it).
Day
8 ( As I had to point out to a friend: sometimes day 8 does not
immeadiately follow day 7 (got to work sometime) :
Roughed in the fender flairs (laminated styrofoam, fiberglassed in),
worked on the electrics.
Day 9:
Got the body ready for wet- sanding (looks for flaws), avoided
finishing the flairs (compound curves are a pain- I'll do them
tomorrow). Finished
the electrical, and go the little parts ready. It is a shame, the trim
is all aluminum, but is so beat-up that I went ahead and painted it.
Day 10:
Flairs finished (as finished as they are going to get at any rate).
Day 11 :
Spot-puttied and sealed, ready for paint.
Day 12:
Color:
Ouch! This died, .. Replaced with-
Clear:
Day 13:
Plum Crazy, a "Mystery Color"- In the shade:
Or in the sun-light:
Day 14:
Not much, cleaned the shop after re-routing the brake cable. It
now will put you through the windshield- whoops, no windshield.. Maybe
this winter. Also added a stripe between the kick plate and the wheel well- It looked
kind of silly with a white stripe around the bottom
everyplace else but there. All the electrics worked out well- charges
and everything works.
Day 15:
Done (or as done as it will get this season, turn signals and top are winter projects).
Day 16:
Just because a buddy of mine bitched: front wheel painted and tire cleaned up.
NOW we are done. (Maybe).
Parked at the campground:
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