Riding in the hood.

deacon · #**131** (**permalink**) 03-12-2008, 02:51 PM

I noticed something on my ride today. Oh by the way, I was going to get a rattle can of flat black paint. I ran out working on my new Transylvania style chopper. Anyway, after the bike started I noticed small bubble in the gas line. Air was working its way up into the gas tank. I made a note to ask about that till a block later I ran slap out of gas. I tried several times to start the bike to no avail. I was about to curse and kick it again, when I realized the gas line was turned off. It started right up and off I went to the store.

Now I know what the little bubbles were lol. Air replacing the gas as it drained from the line of course. Duh..

By the way, the bike is excellent for running errands. I mean it was fun to go to the store. What a novelty.

I have the new bike out back the paint is curing in the sun. At least I hope so.

deacon · #**132** (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 01:19 PM

I woke up and it was 41 degrees. I had some coffee touched up the paint on my new Echopper, Then took my T'ville chopper on an errand run. Okay I had to dream up the errands but I still did things I would have driven my car to do before.

I bought a gas inline filter.. There are available at advance auto parts for two bucks. They also have the gas line there, but I have to warn you, only a few of the clerks actually know what they are doing. I took in a piece of my gas line and he knew what I wanted. If you say lawnmower time gas line most of the clerks tune right out. They have out line and the trimmer gas line as well.

The car out there are maddening. They pull out in front of me all the time and today one almost ran over me. I was going to make a left turn on a back street so I move over to the middle of the road. When I got ready to make the turn I looked back just a little and damn there was a guy going around me on the left.

I have got to buy some turn signals. I don't know that it will help, these people can't stand to wait a few seconds.

**Ilikeabikea** · #**133** (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 01:32 PM

It seems like I have more problems with traffic on my Motorcycle than I do on my motorized bicycle. Or it could just be my imagination................

Pablo · #**134** (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 01:33 PM

DITTO - I have a bright red bike - I wear a funky bright blue jacket with a white-blue-black help....and the bike has an engine. People RARELY see me....always watch THEM.

deacon · #**135** (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 03:12 PM

Well I took off on my new electro po boy chopper just now. It was fun but not as much fun as the t'ville chopper. I need some exercise so the po boy chopper will be good for the bike trail. There is enough power to get me there and to cruise but still enough energy expended to make it worthwhile as exercise. It is much much more stable with the trailer instead of the batteries on the bike. It seems to do about eight to ten miles per hour on the flat. downhill coasting at about 15 mph. Got those batteries pushing it. Does about five to six uphill with me pedaling like heck.

there is a big hill between me and the trail. The others are pretty easy to navigate I just run out of breath. I did two miles on the batteries and they were still almost full charge. The four miles should be easy for them. I am using the 350 watt motor so it performs pretty darn good, but uses more energy. One of the 250 watts would do almost as well and use less energy but I'm not too worried about it at the moment.

I need another errand so I can crank the t'ville up.

deacon · #**136** (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 11:29 AM

Took the Echopper on the walking/bike trail today. I took it along with an old trailer with two lawn tractor batteries.

The total ride is about five miles and I came limping home. I have to build a trailer with bike tires. those lawn spreader wheels aren't doing it too much drag. that will be my tomorrow project. I have added a new twist to my pvc trailer plans.

To mount the bike tires just drill a hole in the end cap pieces you can buy at the hardware store. I think that will do it. Anyway the gas bicycle is calling me so I guess I will go prep it and ride baby ride

deacon · #**137** (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 04:01 PM

I rode the T'ville Gasoline poboy chopper twice today. The first time I was so worn out from lack of sleep and exhausted from the ride though the trail, that I was a danger so I came home. I took it back out.

when I rode this morning the bike had a lot of play in the throttle cable so I tightened it. When i started it this afternoon it raced. Every time I loosened it, it would race again. Finally it just wouldn't start. I went nuts with the choke the throttle cable everything I could think off.

You guessed it, I had run out of gas. That was part of the racing sound. Not all but part. I was exhausted again when I figure it out. I did remember that in my travel basket, I had a plastic bottle with 12oz of premix. I put it in and the bike started.

I was glad not to have to push the bike a block. I went home and put another quart of gas in the tank and replished my emergency bottle. Then of course it began to rain, so i took all that as a sign to get a good night sleep and try again tomorrow.

If nothing else I have a trailer to build tomorrow.

deacon · #**138** (**permalink**) 03-16-2008, 11:28 AM

I swore I was going to let this thread die, but I rode the 'Delivery Chopper' to the home depot today. This is the worst trip I think I will have to make on it. At least it is as far as I can tell.

The real problem is making a left turn from a four lane (Two in each direction) road. I have to go from the legal right lane across a faster left lane and into a turn lane. Then I have to deal with the cars that have backed up behind me while I waited for the complicated light to get to my turn to go.

The other option is to forsake the back streets and go all heavy traffic roads so that I can make all right turns instead of a left. I expect that is the way to do it. I mention this only because it takes real planning to ride one of these safely in city traffic. Not so much for what you are going to do, but what the cars are going to do to you. It is my opinion that I should minimize the number of times I have to turn left or to get out of the right hand comfort zone lane.

deacon · #**139** (**permalink**) 03-23-2008, 09:44 AM

speaks for itself.

Pablo · #**140** (**permalink**) 03-23-2008, 09:55 AM

Nice

......weather was so nice yesterday and my POS won't run.

not raining on your fun....

Hopefully one tweak or the new carb solves the issue....