anyone ever though of using a OUTBOARD motor?

Ilike the idea of re-purposing an outboard motor for an old style motorcyle build.

A steering gear won't work for a power transfer gearcase though, they are limited to about 90 degrees of travel on the output shaft.

The lower unit gearbox from the outboard might work though. There's some reduction built in. Just hafta figure out how to mount it short, add a clutch and sprocket.

Funny , i was searching for old motors and all these outboards came up , and i had the same thought ...BUT how bout this .. just get a small 5 hp and mount it the way it is on a boat , over the back of the rear wheel .... with the prop running , and just drive it downtown like that ... through puddles .

I'm thinking the Tanaka Bike Bug engine started out as a Tanaka outboard engine.

only outboard that I know of that has been made in the last 20 years that is not WATER cooled is the 5hp briggs and stratton. Outboards are also vertical shafted. Price a used outboard and you will quickly learn its better to sell the outboard and buy the right motor

Johnson made one many years ago..in fact I still have it today.

The small Honda 2hp outboard is air cooled.

Other for thought:

Also I have seen another way to go from vertical to horizontal drive with a v-belt and pulley half twisting. A 7 hp lawn mower engine vertical was geared down before or after the belt not sure which, then it drove the rear wheels of an art car wagon.

I pulled from the trash a motor like this and low and behold the self propelled front wheel drive with gearing down box was driven by a half twist belt drive right above the spinning blade on the shaft. Holding in on the pull handle tightened the slack in the belt to act as a safety clutch to stop the mower if it got away.

Looking at some of how many of these other than motor bikes are built can give good ideas to use on the motor bikes.

I though found it easier, or at least thinking I'm saving in cost by getting fixer-uppers at the flea markets for side shaft engines. I think it was 15 dollars and got two Briggs side shaft engines and knew that I had enough spare parts to get them running. I bought new gaskets and cut both the valve and seat angles by taking them to a machine shop $40. The compression so much better on both engines.

A junk yard for bike parts or whole used bikes I found at Faber’s Cyclery in San Jose, CA. Just opened on Saturday is what I hear. Best to call and find out.

Faber's Cyclery - San Jose, CA

Handle bars I picked up there were really good without the chrome gone and cost way less than new. A lot of rusty stuff as it sits outside, but just as long as it is only on the surface, many people on this site paint old sytle frames.

Measure Twice

You'll need to sort out the cooling system first...getting the coolant into the engine isn't really a big deal, but most of these things have the water exiting the engine and cooling the exhaust...you would have to find a way to pipe it back toward the radiator, but with a little head scratching, you ought to be able to surmount that problem...and then there's the exhaust itself. How about two or three or four small four stroke engines coupled closely together and mounted vertically in-line? I need another beer.

I'll track down the pic I got of outboard powered bikes...
both are rack mount, al roller in place of the prop... fd against tire.

rc

I had already started the Cyclone chain drive bike, but on a road trip to Rhinebeck last year we bumped into a fellow who had built himself a belt drive bike from those plans. He gave us the site name and we checked it out after we were back in N.S. and decided to use the plans to stitch together the red bicycle for Herm. It works pretty good, but is a little under powered. I almost changed my mind, but eventually carried on with my own chain drive ideas with the cyclone and BSA.
Anyhow, the outboard project you referred to could very well steer you in the right direction with the outboard motor...you'll have to see what you have to do to make it work with the engine you have...what kind of horsepower is this thing?

Sad news, very sad, another window into the past closed. My sincere condolences; sounds like he was someone to be very proud of...tell your kids and grand kids all about him, he will live on in memory.

I posted this one elsewhere
rc

My condolences also. I lost my Dad 16 January this year. He was also a Veteran of the Pacific, a rear seat gunner in the Dauntless dive bomber. Not only are we loosing a generation of great men but also of Fathers, Grandfathers, Uncles, and friends.