Hi again,
Just finished the cyclone project (Oct 01)...it's been in my head for a very long time and the build was started almost a year ago. Picking away between 'real' jobs, I started with a 40's era Sunshine bicycle, added a 5hp Briggs engine, centrifugal clutch and chain drive. The fuel tank is really a fiberglass cover that conceals the actual fuel tank underneath (Its made out of a couple of sections of large diameter copper tubing). Two sets of caliper brakes on the rear wheel to make it stop (unlike the real deal, this one has a clutch AND brakes). This chain drive affair works a lot better than the belt drive one I finished a couple of months ago, much more power gets to the rear wheel. More 'user friendly' and the thing will climb up the side of a house...I haven't seen a hill yet where it can't pull away from a dead stop and accelerate on the way up. With the current gearing, the top speed is about 55kph, If the drive ratio were raised, I'm sure it could pull 80kph, but self preservation prevents me from wanting to go that fast on a bicycle...I'm going to leave well enough alone.
Just finished the cyclone project (Oct 01)...it's been in my head for a very long time and the build was started almost a year ago. Picking away between 'real' jobs, I started with a 40's era Sunshine bicycle, added a 5hp Briggs engine, centrifugal clutch and chain drive. The fuel tank is really a fiberglass cover that conceals the actual fuel tank underneath (Its made out of a couple of sections of large diameter copper tubing). Two sets of caliper brakes on the rear wheel to make it stop (unlike the real deal, this one has a clutch AND brakes). This chain drive affair works a lot better than the belt drive one I finished a couple of months ago, much more power gets to the rear wheel. More 'user friendly' and the thing will climb up the side of a house...I haven't seen a hill yet where it can't pull away from a dead stop and accelerate on the way up. With the current gearing, the top speed is about 55kph, If the drive ratio were raised, I'm sure it could pull 80kph, but self preservation prevents me from wanting to go that fast on a bicycle...I'm going to leave well enough alone.
