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Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: FuNMoNsTeR on October 22, 2006, 02:24 PM
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I would like some opinions on this frame please. I know Dirt Bros bought up Skyway frame and fork sets in the early 90s and rebadged them... The frame number is T4A2327.
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/d79/funmonster/DSCF5182.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/d79/funmonster/DSCF5183.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/d79/funmonster/DSCF5184.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/d79/funmonster/DSCF5185.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/d79/funmonster/DSCF5186.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/d79/funmonster/DSCF5187.jpg)
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Well it differs slightly from a normal T/A, the rear dropouts are missing the cutout, and the brake bridge is straight instead of curved, which is the sign of an early T/A . The serial number on a Skyway T/A doesn`t have any letters in it either, apart from that it looks fine :daumenhoch:
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I think those little holes in the chainstays are closer to the dropouts as well
But that looks a fine frame :daumenhoch:
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Thanks Billy... :daumenhoch:
The tubing and weld quality looks identical to a early/mid 80s Ta... I know Skyway had probs with the straight brake stays with crushing so they changed to the curved design. The brake stay on this frame is very slightly crushed.
I wondered if Skyway sold their frame tube stock to Dirt Bros and then Dirt Bros had them welded up by Tange? Just a theory ::)
I had the Dirt Bros thrash test in an old ride or BMX Now magazine(1990 or 91) but i cant for the life of me find it. >:(
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I was watching this on ebay and was very tempted to go for it.
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I thought it was a steal at the price m8.... ;)
The magazine the Dirt Bros test is in is Ride Issue 9 Feb/Mar 1984... i have part of the mag but the test section is missing >:(
Does anyone have the complete magazine? Here is a shot of the cover:
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/d79/funmonster/Ride.jpg)
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You've got it the wrong way round, the curved bridge came first.
I have to say though that frame is a bit of an enigma. It has the vent holes down the rear stays like the japanese model but has a straight bridge. Skyway have said they made the odd change over time for different riders for strength testing this could be something like that. It's one of a kind though. Can you do a decent picture of the s/n on the bottom bracket FUN?
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There's somebody riding one in Agroman or ride on if anyone has that and somebody on VBMX did one a few years back in dark green. I'm not sure if Dirt bros went with the TA forks either but i don't think they did.
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I thought they were straight first, then when they realised that there was a problem with the brake bridge crushing it was changed to the curved type. Why would they have changed from a curved brake bridge which was ok to a straight one that was faulty, it makes more sence the other way round ???
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Just looked at the Skyway serial numbers thread and you`re right Bob :crazy2:
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Either money or the fact that the welded washer made it more difficult to set up brakes with those concave washers. TBH i expect it was more to do with cost though. I think we've just established though that they did go back to the curved bridge sometime in 85/6.
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Thanks for the info guys :)
The serial is on the BB shell and is not too clear through the powdercoat.... :(
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/d79/funmonster/DSCF5208.jpg)
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Real enigma Fun. does it have the knurling and skyway stamped into the drop-outs?
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Either money or the fact that the welded washer made it more difficult to set up brakes with those concave washers. TBH i expect it was more to do with cost though. I think we've just established though that they did go back to the curved bridge sometime in 85/6.
Yup, your right. I've got an 86 with a curved bridge :daumenhoch:
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I cant see any knurling on the dropouts without sanding some of the powdercoat off. They look smooth. The toptube is approx 18 3/4 inches centre to centre and the frame weighs approx 4 1/2 Lbs. Top tube is teardropped and downtube is oval... seat tube is teardropped too.
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Didn't Dirt Bros put Redline forks on their TA's?
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That serial number is completly different from a Skyway one, a Skyway one goes from front to back of the bb instead of across like that one Andy, I`ve tryed to take some pics of mine to show you, but the powder coating is too thick and it wont show up. but I`ve took some pics of the rear drop out that shows the difference between mine and yours :
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v472/billstup/Skywaytapics007.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v472/billstup/Skywaytapics006.jpg)
You can see where the holes and cutout on the dropouts differ from yours.
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Kool m8 thanks :daumenhoch:
I had a Ta and remember the serial layout... mine had skyway engraved on the BB shell too BITD
Maybe the movement of the holes and the solid stays ties up with Bobs info on Skyway strength testing ?
I am off to track down a copy of that magazine... Biaggio must have a copy of it ;)
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Here you go FuNMoNsTeR -
(http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/6029/dirtbros1rl6.th.jpg) (http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/6029/dirtbros1rl6.jpg) (http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/3099/dirtbros2ha9.th.jpg) (http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/3099/dirtbros2ha9.jpg)
Bling.
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Even the one in that artical has the teardrop cut outs in the dropouts. There were some T/A forks that never had the cut outs in the dropouts either, I think Jazzchimp has a set :daumenhoch:
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Cheers for the pics Bling...you are a star ;)
There are forks with solid dropouts too ??? I will have to contact him and see if he has a piccy :daumenhoch:
Thanks again all :)
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thats a nice Frame & forks :coolsmiley:
i'd be more than happy to have that in with my Kuwies :angel:
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the early K serial number TA's are stamped laterally across the BB also as opposed to the usual dated ones that are around the circumference
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The fact that is doesn't have the flash cut-out is not what is perplexing me, we've seen loads of that. it's the T serial and the early vent holes with the straight bridge. The proverbial spanner in the works for me, i've been looking into this stuff a good four years now and this is a new one to me.
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Perhaps Dirt Bothers got the frames without a serial number on and added their own ???
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I have what is supposed to be a Dirt Bros 20"...
Curved bridge with washer and K serial number, holes on the inside.
Maybe, once Skyway started to sell the US T/A they boxed up all the imports and stuck 'em in a corner ???
Could that be what Dirt Bros used?
Bren :)
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Should be a date on the BB too.
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Even the one in that artical has the teardrop cut outs in the dropouts. There were some T/A forks that never had the cut outs in the dropouts either, I think Jazzchimp has a set :daumenhoch:
Yes I do, and Skyway also said that they did a short run of TA frames the same. This was to see if the dropouts were stronger although they finally settled on heat treated dropouts with cut outs
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v636/Jazzchimp/Skywayforks.jpg)
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Perhaps Dirt Bothers got the frames without a serial number on and added their own ???
maybe, but that would count Brens one out if it has a k number. All the old stock skyway ones had numbers already stamped on the bb though, even the unmade tube stock. Maybe DB filled and re-stamped them.
I have what is supposed to be a Dirt Bros 20"...
Curved bridge with washer and K serial number, holes on the inside.
Maybe, once Skyway started to sell the US T/A they boxed up all the imports and stuck 'em in a corner ???
Could that be what Dirt Bros used?
Bren :)
Could be and some they restamped some they didn't....
Should be a date on the BB too.
no dates on the K serial ones Laz.
We still have one with the K vent holes but with a straight bridge though. Fun, does the bridge welds look ok? colud it have been replaced aftersale? i know it's a long shot....i love it though :)
on a foot note Skyway seem to have no idea the k ones exist.
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I dont think the brake bridge has been replaced. The welds look really tight. You guys may know so here are some pics:
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/d79/funmonster/DSCF5213.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/d79/funmonster/DSCF5217.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/d79/funmonster/DSCF5218.jpg)
I have had a really close look at the serial number and the T could be a dash... it would seem strange just to have a dash at the top though and not in line with the middle of the other numbers like this - 4A2327.
Maybe the punch didnt get all the letter when forming the T......but then all the other letters are fully formed which means the first letter/symbol must have been added later and on its own unless it is a dash. ??? It also looks deeper and thicker than the other numbers and letter A which look quite fine.
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/d79/funmonster/DSCF5219.jpg)
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Bridge looks proper, have you got the forks fun?
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I wish ;D
I was going to get some ARX's and make some cardboard solid dropouts for them... :D
standard ones are tough enough to find as it is.
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Get the right forks for it....
These...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OLD-SCHOOL-BMX-REDLINE-PROLINE-FORKS-GT-HARO-SKYWAY_W0QQitemZ220037634793QQihZ012QQcategoryZ22677QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OLD-SCHOOL-BMX-REDLINE-PROLINE-FORKS-GT-HARO-SKYWAY_W0QQitemZ220037634793QQihZ012QQcategoryZ22677QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
They come up about as often as TA forks.
Love to know how many DBs are now TAs ???
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Could your serial number be a post code Andy, it might be that it was added by the owner ???
The only way to make sure would be to strip the powder off the bb and see what is stamped on the bare metal, I know mine is barley ledgable with the amount of powder thats over it :daumenhoch: