tuning up gears and brakes

1. With much blood, swears and beers, I moved the sprocket back out to where the plans say it should be, on the end of the pedal shaft. It actually grooves the shaft as you twist and pull it along the shaft. (and poke your finger on a sharp sprocket point. A perfect poke for a blood test of some sort)
2. I pounded in the PVC joints holding the wheels on and secured them with screws. I'm thinking you may need to pull those joints apart to get the wheel off to change flat tires. I plastic tied the end of the inside metal strip to the frame. You could use screws, but I didn't know if the metal pole support bar inside the frame came back that far and would get in the way. It may end just before the screw hole on the metal strip.
3. I then adjusted the brakes, something you wish you had four hands for. The little screw on the side of the spring end should be tightened to stop any sideways motion. The brake pad and stem should be loosened and the pad placed on the wheel, then pulled back one half of a minutia. Tighten down. That's the theory anyway. It's tough to hold in place through the spokes while you tighten with a ten inch extension on a ratchet wrench, laying on your back underneath the bike up on a large plant pot and old drawer.
4. I was able to ride around the parking lots, going from first gear to third, but alas, could not get it to go back to first. It's just not lined up right. Under the bike on the pot and drawer lift, I was able to get the derailer gear closer to the first gear on the sprocket, but not close enough, I don't think. Still, it's very close. I may take a ride down to the bike shop this week and have them adjust everything professionally.
I'm starting to think about the body pimping again, it's so close. I may cut the matallic silver shelf liner paper for the front grill!
No camera today. It went out to the desert for Mother's Day. Photos later.
Cheers!

Derailer (deraillieur) adjustment

I found a very helpful article and video on how to adjust the deraillieur. VERY helpful! You can find it here:



http://bicycletutor.com/adjust-rear-derailleur/



Also a nice illustration, better than any photo I could take.

Now I can go out to the garage and try it.