Author Topic: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country  (Read 3760 times)

DustyGold

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Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« on: February 26, 2019, 05:30:43 PM »
Do ya'll know where I might buy a manual or a book, or something pertaining to a 1956 or 57 Servi-cycle? I just found one close by a few weeks ago & brought the old gal home. She's pretty enough to ride to a barn dance. I can't find any information on the web concerning this bike, or servi-cycles in general for that matter. The engine number is M23083B. If I remember correctly, the frame number is 15004. Thanks for any information.

kartjockey

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Re: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2019, 04:08:03 AM »
Welcome to the site!  I went to the registry here and your bike is already posted.  Says it came from an Ebay listing a few years back.  Posted as a possible 1956.  But we being MEN we need pictures!  So post when you can.  Go to the Manuals section and view the 1960 manual.  Should help you out.

pd

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Re: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2019, 07:29:58 AM »
Welcome . :)

If she's that pretty , you should be a good way down the road .
Definitely post a few pics .
And , don't be afraid to post any questions . ;)

Pete . :)
Goes around , Comes around . :)

DustyGold

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Re: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2019, 05:38:38 PM »
I will try to post some pictures. I've never done it before so I don't know if I will be capable.

kartjockey

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Re: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2019, 06:17:07 PM »
Thanks for the pics.  Be sure to read through the literature posts.  Lots there.

pd

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Re: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2019, 07:00:57 AM »
Someone seems to have done a nice paint job on the tins .
You have a good start for your 'project' .

The M manual will likely be your best friend , at least for a while . ;)
http://www.simplexservi-cycle.com/index.php?topic=430.0

Pete . :)
Goes around , Comes around . :)

DustyGold

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Re: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2019, 05:07:49 PM »
Someone seems to have done a nice paint job on the tins .
You have a good start for your 'project' .

The M manual will likely be your best friend , at least for a while . ;)
http://www.simplexservi-cycle.com/index.php?topic=430.0

Pete . :)

So can you tell from the photos alone, this is NOT the original paint job. I have been wondering about that.  I really think the wheel rims have NOT been painted, EVER!! The paint on the rims is rough. As for the blue paint, I  think it looks too nice to be original. The gas tank only has one (1) servicycle logo on one side of the tank. Is that correct?  I would think each side would have a decal when the bike was new.

pd

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Re: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« Reply #7 on: February 28, 2019, 05:31:21 PM »
Agreed . That blue is way too nice for original .
The decal is wrong for the year of your bike . It was used on the 1952 model ONLY .
I believe the decals for your year should be , one each side of the tank , see the image below .

In 1955 there was a special anniversary tank decal used on some models . I suppose it's possible that if your bike is a very early '56 , it 'might' have had those . I don't think I've ever seen that special '55 decal .

By the condition , I think the wheels are original paint .

Pete . :)
« Last Edit: October 06, 2019, 09:16:01 AM by pd »
Goes around , Comes around . :)

Ricks

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Re: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« Reply #8 on: February 28, 2019, 05:49:09 PM »
Post a closer picture of the idler  pulley.  It looks like an incorrect spring on it.  The spring should be the same as the transmission hanger spring.
Rick

pd

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Re: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« Reply #9 on: February 28, 2019, 06:03:01 PM »
Rick is right .
That Idler spring is definitely wrong . See how the belt is nothing close to tight .
See the pic below for how the belt should be .


Pete . :)

« Last Edit: October 06, 2019, 09:09:56 AM by pd »
Goes around , Comes around . :)

Ricks

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Re: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« Reply #10 on: February 28, 2019, 06:05:40 PM »
Agreed . That blue is way too nice for original .
The decal is wrong for the year of your bike . It was used on the 1952 model ONLY .
I believe the decals for your year , one each side of the tank , should be :


In 1955 there was a special anniversary tank decal used on some models . I suppose it's possible that if your bike is a very early '56 , it 'might' have had those . I don't think I've ever seen that special '55 decal .

By the condition , I think the wheels are original paint .

Pete . :)

That bike is a very late 1956, no way it is an anniversary year bike.  

I've never seen an anniversary Tank decal, but I have a rear fender with the anniversary decal that Tom is working on getting reproduced.  If anyone has a tank with the decal, please take a couple of high quality pictures and send it to me.

Rick

kartjockey

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Re: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« Reply #11 on: March 01, 2019, 12:24:40 PM »
I didn't see a special tank decal for tje anniversary model either.

DustyGold

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Re: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« Reply #12 on: March 01, 2019, 04:13:15 PM »
Welcome to the site!  I went to the registry here and your bike is already posted.  Says it came from an Ebay listing a few years back.  Posted as a possible 1956.  But we being MEN we need pictures!  So post when you can.  Go to the Manuals section and view the 1960 manual.  Should help you out.

Can you provide me any more information on this bike from "the registry?" The reason I ask is because that doesn't jive with the story the guy told me about the history of the bike. He told me the story AFTER I had already bought & paid for the bike. He told me he had inherited the bike 10 or more years ago from  an old employer. The employer had been sitting on the bike for years according to this guy's story. There is a license plate on the rear fender showing (giving the impression) this servicycle was last registered in 1973. The seller didn't have any reason to lie to me because I didn't ask anything (or really care) & I had already bought the cycle when he told me the tale. Thanks for any additional information. I'm just curious about it's history.

Ricks

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Re: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« Reply #13 on: March 01, 2019, 04:51:27 PM »
I didn't see a special tank decal for tje anniversary model either.

Tom, in Wollard's book, bottom of right, page 16.  I think that is an anniversary tank sticker.  What say you?
Rick

kartjockey

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Re: Howdy from the Texas Hill Country
« Reply #14 on: March 01, 2019, 05:06:47 PM »
Certainly looks like it.  I used a big magnifying lens.  But it doesn't have the fender decals.  Strange!