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Round Door Kitten Restoration

RRose

Active member
SUPER Site Supporter
I’m trying to figure out if this skid plate frame/support, or any part of it in this circled area, on this 54/55 kitten is original. It is roughly cut out with a torch and only welded to the frame from above. If anyone can shed some light on this or provide a picture of something similar, I’d really appreciate it. If it’s not original I’m cutting it off.
 

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Snowy Rivers

Well-known member
Looks like the same crew that worked on my 2100 got loose on your kitten.

There is no way that a hack job like that could have been factory......
 

sledhead Ed

Member
GOLD Site Supporter
If no one post any pic's remind me towards the end of next week I'll take pic's of mine it's on a lift in the shop. headed out to maine tomorrow with the my twins for a few days with the rzr s4 after their confirmation tomorrow. Otherwise I'd do it tomorrow for you.
 

luvthemvws

Active member
Looks like the same crew that worked on my 2100 got loose on your kitten.

There is no way that a hack job like that could have been factory......

Well dare I say it, but a certain Blackfoot Tucker might agree that workmanship like that is very much like what Tucker would do. :thumbup:
 

Pontoon Princess

Cattitute
GOLD Site Supporter
it is not original

I see lots of work to do, good luck, do you have the correct pontoons
 
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RRose

Active member
SUPER Site Supporter
it is not original

I see lots of work to do, good luck, do you have the correct pontoons

I do - I’ve got everything but a carb, a distributor and one of the outer pontoon bearing holders with the ratcheting looking back on it. I’m bummed about that, but at least I have one to have it replicated from.
 

Snowy Rivers

Well-known member
In the early days Tucker may have had some less than stellar stuff go out the door, but a frame with the rough dill berries from the torch cut would not have made it.

It would have taken only a very short time with a grinder to have smoothed up the edges and generally policed up that frame ......


I have had a bit of contact with an early tucker....(Back in the mid/late 70's) and they were built well and the craftsmanship was good.

The designs on some stuff may have been a little less than Swiss Watch class, but they worked well.

There is a big difference between RUGGED LOOKING and crude.


So much of the modifications and repairs on many cats is just plain crude hack jobs.

Some times it is because of a lack of proper tools to work with, and other times it is a lack of skill......hard to say.

Many repairs are done in a hurry to "Patch it up" get it running.

But from the pics....it looks like that area can be cleaned up nicely and a good clean restoration made.


Good luck with the Kitten....:smile:
 

GYPSY

Member
I tried to upload 2 pictures of my 1959 Kitten but couldn't do to some security token. Your skid plate looks nothing like mine.
 

RRose

Active member
SUPER Site Supporter
Decision is made - I’m cutting it off. I appreciate all the input everyone.

I’m probably gonna start a build thread for my kitten - it’s a hell of a project and I’m gonna have a ton of questions. But, I really excited about it!

I was also kinda thinking about a kitten registry - maybe chime in with a picture of your kitten and a picture of the tag - thought it might be interesting to see how many we can account for and who to talk to them about. Thoughts?
 

vintagebike

Well-known member
Sign me up. Does yours have the original Anglia 100e engine? Lots of Aquaplane hop up parts are available across the pond from
Small Ford Spares.
B0E0CC92-FB83-43B1-81C1-4BE20F3B760A.jpg
 

sledhead Ed

Member
GOLD Site Supporter
Pic's of front skid plate
 

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Pontoon Princess

Cattitute
GOLD Site Supporter
fyi, no kitten from the factory came with skid plates, leaving oil pans exposed to tree stumps and other dangers, I have seen countless shop/home made skid plates that were well built. brave little kittens
 

Pontoon Princess

Cattitute
GOLD Site Supporter
Decision is made - I’m cutting it off. I appreciate all the input everyone.

I’m probably gonna start a build thread for my kitten - it’s a hell of a project and I’m gonna have a ton of questions. But, I really excited about it!

I was also kinda thinking about a kitten registry - maybe chime in with a picture of your kitten and a picture of the tag - thought it might be interesting to see how many we can account for and who to talk to them about. Thoughts?

to the best of my knowledge, I believe there are about somewhere give or take a few, 71 kittens still around in one shape or another out of the original 110 built and none were ever shipped to Russia.
 

RRose

Active member
SUPER Site Supporter
How about this overhead bar and shelf. I can’t decide if it’s original or not either. The use of round tubing makes me think it’s not. The sheet metal screws are a little larger than the others as well. But the paint seems like it could be original. I might need to pull it out and see if there is paint behind it or not. Anyone have something similar?
 

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Jim_S

Gone But Not Forgotten
GOLD Site Supporter
I tried to upload 2 pictures of my 1959 Kitten but couldn't do to some security token. Your skid plate looks nothing like mine.

It might be the file size of the pictures is to large. Try reducing them and trying again. If that doesn’t work pm me and I’ll help.

Jim
 

RRose

Active member
SUPER Site Supporter
Got the hack job skid plate cut off the kitten finally.
 

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230 Pilot

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I have a similar bar without the shelf. It is mounted on the roof frame above the windshield. It’s helpful climbing in and out.
 

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RRose

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SUPER Site Supporter
Changed the name of this thread since it’s already kinda following this restoration. This isn’t gonna be a quick turn around - Im gonna work on this project when I can. That being said, I’ve been cranking on it this week.

The grill was really messed up. Bent in every direction. I’ve got it pretty close now. I’ll weld the new bars in when I finalize the frame.
 

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RRose

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SUPER Site Supporter
Built a Kitten Kart for it - so now I can get to it a lot easier.
 

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RRose

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SUPER Site Supporter
Pulled the fuel tank out and It was obvious there was a ton of stuff in it so I did my best to dump it out. it was shocking what came out. I did find the fuel float in there. Anyone know what they used for the fuel level sending unit in these? I’m gonna have to cut the tank open to clean it out enough to reuse it.
 

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RRose

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The radiator, starter and generator are out getting refurbished. I will post pics when they are done. But here’s how they started
 

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RRose

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I’m taking the body off the frame. Gonna get the frame sand blasted then have the body soda blasted. It was only a couple extra hours of work to take it this much further apart. I think it will pay off in the end
 

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