RESTORING THE PIGEON
GENERAL BASIC INFORMATION
NO N.O.S. PARTS ARE AVALIABLE FOR THE SILVER PIGEON
FOLLOWING ARE SOME BITS OF INFORMATION THAT MAY PROVE HELPFUL,REGARDLESS
OF
YOUR PLANS FOR A RESTORATION OR JUST TO GET IT RUNNING.
More paint information:
All pieces of the engine shroud for models C-73/74/75/76/90 were painted
a medium BROWN color. I have used RUST-OLEUM # 7771 (SAND)
(spray-can) with good results. It is a GOOD match for the original
color. The C-80 engine shroud was GRAY. The Massey Ferguson gray
# 11022 is a good match for the original color.
Following is a list of seat construction for the various models:
C-73..Seat Pan was metal, painted the same color as the frame,
seat padding rubberized-foam.
The Seat cover was rubberized-pebble-grained material colored
gray.
C-74…75…76…80..Seat Pan was metal, painted the same color
as the frame, seat padding was
a horsehair type of material. The Seat cover was a
black vinyl material with white piping.
C-90…Seat base was constructed of 4 pieces of wood approximately
1”x 2” x 9” made of hardwood. This was topped by a piece
of ¼” piece of a plywood material. This
piece of plywood material had a 2” hole cut to allow the spark
plug clearance. The hole was covered by a small piece of metal mesh.
Padding was horsehair, and the covering a vinyl material. I have
found covers in a light brown…..and a…..medium gray color.
Piping was always a darker color of the color used for the cover.
NUTS----BOLTS---ETC……
THEY ARE ALL METRIC
The best course of action is to attempt to salvage what you have.
If they are missing or unuseable then check out your nearest ACE
or TRU-VALUE hardware store. Most of the body fasteners were a
round-headed metric #6. In various lengths. Most frame, engine, wheel
bolts,etc. are usually #8 with a few larger # 10’s. The dash panel
mounting screws were an oval-headed phillips # 5… These are impossible
to find. Salvage yours if at all possible.
RUBBER MATS:
These are usually in poor condition, and shrunk somewhat if they
are still on the scooter. No replacments are avaliable, but
stair-tread rubber cut to the correct size and fastened down with
oval-headed-phillips screws and chrome trim rings are a good
substitute.
TAIL/STOP LIGHT LENS C-73/74/75/76/80
These were originally made of glass or plastic. No replacements
are avaliable. I have made suitable red and amber lens by cutting
out correct sized lens from the small “stick-on” reflectors
avaliable for automotive & truck use. The lower license plate
opening was also glass or plastic, and can be made from a small segment
of clear plastic.
TAIL/STOP LIGHT LENS C-90 These were made of plastic, and a near-original
(look-alike) lens is used on the MUSTANG motor-scooter of the
same time frame as the Pigeon.
TURN SIGNAL LENS C-90 are usually faded out and attempts
to re-color them have not been too successful.