time to start building another

whitey · Nov 6, 2011

Today I got up bright and early and went to the local swap meet. Almost straight away I come across some guy selling 12 old stationary engines. I couldn't resist for the price ($30). I bought an old Tecumseh (I think 3.5 hp)
It fired up first pull and runs without any knocking or worrying sounds. I know that I am still in the middle of building my first boardtracker, but I would like something to do whist waiting for all the parts to arrive.

I have decided to go ahead and build something along the lines of a 1908 Indian boardtracker. It won't look very genuine, but I hope to get the general look.

I will be off to the tip on Tuesday to find an appropriate mountain bike frame

silverbear · Nov 6, 2011

This should be an interesting project and the engine seems appropriate for a tribute Indian build. The price was certainly right. I like seeing different engines used and different approaches in the builds. 3.5 hsp should be plenty enough to make it scoot.
SB

whitey · Nov 6, 2011

I think the decal on the engine means its meant for an Indian. haha

silverbear · Nov 6, 2011

Your Tecumseh Indian was an actual historic figure. From Wikpedia...

"Tecumseh (March 1768 – October 5, 1813), also known as Tecumtha or Tekamthi, was a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy (known as Tecumseh's Confederacy) which opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812. Tecumseh has become an icon and heroic figure in American Indian and Canadian history.
Tecumseh grew up in the Ohio country during the American Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War, where he was constantly exposed to warfare.[1] With Americans continuing to encroach on Indian territory after the British ceded the Ohio Valley to the new United States in 1783, the Shawnee moved further northwest. In 1808, they settled Prophetstown in present-day Indiana. With a vision of establishing an independent American Indian nation east of the Mississippi, Tecumseh worked to recruit additional tribes to the confederacy from the southern United States.[1]
During the War of 1812, Tecumseh's confederacy allied with the British in The Canadas and helped in the capture of Fort Detroit. Tecumseh was killed in the Battle of the Thames, in October 1813."
SB

motorhedfred · Nov 6, 2011

Tecumseh+Indian=BTReplica I love it. That pic of the 1908 made me think an all straight tube, hard tail 700c bike with the fattest tires you can fit would be a great starting point.....even a cheapy department store one. Fab up a tank like the pic and you've have two of the biggest visual cues already sussed.

Good luck with the build Whitey.

MHF

Mr.B. · Nov 6, 2011

I’m with motorhedfred, with a careful eye to proportions there’s no reason you couldn’t build a mighty fine and genuine looking ‘08 Indian BTR out of a older MB or roadie frame.

Last year I snagged a mid 1970’s Raleigh 10 speed frame for a something early looking project just like this ($5 at a garage sale).

It has the right lines and neat little old fashion details like scalloped lugs, and they’re common & inexpensive so you won’t have any vintage bike collectors giving you a hard time for chopping a classic.

Looking forward to see what you do with this!

-Kirk

motorhedfred · Nov 6, 2011

Maybe I should grab up my old Bianchi Boardwalk cross-terrain that my oldest son's ready to throw out.

I've been thinking about ways to use a vertical shaft 4-stroke. Think about it for a moment....they're usually much cheaper, nice big round mounting flange, the oiling "issues" on the Predator horizontal shaft engines mounted at all angles prove don't have to sit the way they were designed, the exhaust would be facing forward, carb to the rear....you could probably straddle the bottom tube or maybe even put the output shaft below it.

Just more daydreaming....don't mind me.

MHF

wheelbender6 · Nov 6, 2011

Thanks for the history, Silverbear. I knew Tecumseh was a Chief, but that was about it. Reminds me a bit of Hannibal, who perplexed the Romans at many times, in many different places and under many different battle standards.

whitey · Nov 6, 2011

wow there is a bit of history behind the Tecumseh name. Thankyou Silverbear. If I don't find a mountain bike with the appropriate dimensions. I already have 4 roadbike frames sitting in the backyard. One is close to the dimensions, but I would like to find a better fit

Robertriley · Nov 6, 2011

Someone did one like this a while back and sold it on EBay. It loked pretty good. It looks to be a tough build. My may be able to find it in completed auctions if you need some ideas.

Good luck and keep us posted.

whitey · Nov 7, 2011

I don't know about it being tough. I chose this design because of how easy I thought it would be.

I am just going to get a piece of really large diameter tube, weld two caps on either end. Then make 2 fake cones for the tank.

axelkloehn · Nov 7, 2011

whitey said:
I don't know about it being tough. I chose this design because of how easy I thought it would be.

I am just going to get a piece of really large diameter tube, weld two caps on either end. Then make 2 fake cones for the tank.

...just an idea, get a little scuba tank which they use as a spare air reservoir while diving, you can simply add 2 cones at the round ends and don't have to deal with welding two caps. I do not know how good you are with welding but sometimes it is not easy with getting it fuel-proof. I did it with my tank and it worked out fine...

whitey · Nov 7, 2011

I like to think that I am a good welder. I can braze quite well and mig. But thats what I am limited to. I wish my school had a tig. I would love to try one out. I like the idea of a scuba tank. I would have never thought of that. I will go to the local diving store and see if they have any old ones laying around. Hopefully the diameter of them will not be too large or small. Thanks for the great idea!

I prefer to weld fuel tanks with fusion welding, that is really easy to clean up and is sort of like brazing so it ensures an air tight weld. But it will depend on the thickness of the metal

axelkloehn · Nov 7, 2011

I bought two scubas from ebay, one was 4 inch diameter and the other about 5 inch. I got them very cheap and used the 4" tank. They are quite heavy and thick material, and while adding the filler cap I realized it was quite rusted inside, but you can deal with that.

Good luck, Axel

whitey · Nov 7, 2011

Everywhere I looked all the tanks are either too big or too expensive. I was not able to find any below $100 and I don't really want to spend anything

axelkloehn · Nov 7, 2011

hmm, might be different in your country. Here in Germany they go for 10€, which is about 13 US $, like this

Pressluftflasche Atemluftflasche 4 Liter | eBay

Anyway, was just an idea

motorhedfred · Nov 7, 2011

Whitey, how about out of service fire extinguishers or propane/mapp gas cylinders ?

whitey · Nov 8, 2011

looks like I'm going to use an out of service fire extinguisher. They are dirt cheap and there are many different sizes available. I went to a recycling place today, but was not able to get one as the only extinguishers had not been completely emptied.

silverbear · Nov 8, 2011

whitey said:
looks like I'm going to use an out of service fire extinguisher. They are dirt cheap and there are many different sizes available. I went to a recycling place today, but was not able to get one as the only extinguishers had not been completely emptied.

There are also old ones made of brass and copper.
SB

Robertriley · Nov 8, 2011

An old brass or copper one would look great. The flywheel cover for my Villiers motor is copper. That would look so cool.

time to start building another

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