A rider ...

[pd]

Mike , the sleeve on your bike is red also ? Could you post a good pic of that sleeve , please ?

[Mike Sal]

I'll shoot a picture of it tomorrow & post.  Yes, it's red.  I originally thought somebody put it on the bike, but after I saw a couple of pictures (like the one I mentioned), I figured it must have came that way from the factory.
Mike Sal 

[oil-lamp]

Pd, that's a great color and any paint shop should be able to match the color. Just compound a small spot to get the best match on the color.

[admin]

Mike, very interesting and great eye!! 

Does anyone have a 1958 Owners Manual?  That, I believe, was the last manual that Simplex printed for the Powercycles.  Maybe the cover is referenced in there?

[pd]

Pd, that's a great color and any paint shop should be able to match the color. Just compound a small spot to get the best match on the color.

I have thought about that route . Thanks .

I'm not positive , but it's possible that my tank :



came form the factory looking like this tank :



I really like that blue . That ^ pic is from the 1957 mailer that Simplex sent out .
 The front brake , speedometer and leather seat were extras that my bike does not have .

[oil-lamp]

Well my next bike will be a darker blue or maroon something dark with a matching frame. Front brakes are not hard to add easy step. Step one call Wayne  done. I am still looking for a velvet tape that was on one of my frames that padded the tank from rubbing on the frame. I can find felt but not velvet and about 1/2inch wide so if anybody has a source for it give a shout. I would say I'm still trying to get this bike running before center sets in but hey i'm in Texas winters last 3 days here. I've got plenty of time to get it running. Lol

[pd]

Rather than velvet , you might consider something like :

http://www.mcmaster.com/#cloth-tape/=keqnrp

The semiconductive might work nicely .

[pd]

That or you might try cutting some of this into strips and applying fabric cement .

http://www.syfabrics.com/View.aspx/Plush-Triple-Velvet/Black-Plush-Triple-Velvet/681/264

[admin]

Mike Sal suggested painting on the plastic dip that they sell to coat the handles of tools.  I think this would work nicely, and be unobtrusive.

[kartjockey]

In the manual section there is a 1960 manual posted that shows the exploded view of the kickstarter.  It references the pedal cover(#1968) but does not show it in the illustration.  Take a look.

[Ricks]

In the manual section there is a 1960 manual posted that shows the exploded view of the kickstarter.  It references the pedal cover(#1968) but does not show it in the illustration.  Take a look.

Tom, I just went and looked in some of my other manuals, and that cover, part # 1968, is listed as far back as the Simplex 125 manual, dated August 1, 1953.

Great catch to both Mike Sal and Tom!

Mike, where is that picture?

[Mike Sal]

Spent all weekend working on the garage doors on the new garage & didn't get any time to play on the toys......

But here's a couple shots of the plastic sleeve on the kicker.  It looks a lot like garden hose type material, but has a pattern of ribbs & spaces on the outer surface.  Some of mine are worn off.  You may also notice there is some green (I think.....I'm color blind) color on the sleeve also, but it appears to be a coating & the base material is red.
Mike Sal

[admin]

Thanks Mike!  I wonder if Wayne has those available?

[Mike Sal]

What I didn't show was the back side of the sleeve, which would have revealed the scratches from where the kicker has hit the ground at the bottom of the stroke over the years.
Mike Sal

[pd]

Interesting enough . Thanks Mike and Tom .

Now all we have to do is find some heavy walled red ribbed garden hose .