The $50 Cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

Trey · Feb 12, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

Sold it? Can I borrow ten bucks?

Yeah, my only worry is going over bumpy terrain, if the chain should be tensioned... I'll see.
Posted some stuff in Cruiser Bikes

ocho ninja · Feb 12, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

Yea it was a sad day lol
But if the chain is tensioned properly and properly aligned, it wont go anywere. I think its like less 1/2" inch of up and down slack is good

GearNut · Feb 13, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

Try for 1/2 inch exactly. Less than that is too tight, more is too loose.

ocho ninja · Feb 13, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

Thanks for reminding me, I remember 2door saying it was something like 1/2 inch a while back.

Trey · Feb 14, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

I'll do that today, it's 3/4" for sure right now. Rode it about 8mi yesterday to see if it was gonna kill me, but worked good. I don't have a chain tensioner anymore, so I left it slightly looser than maybe I should have.

GearNut · Feb 14, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

So long as it will not jump the sprockets, 3/4 is about as loose as I recommend letting a chain go. Any more than that and the chain will start oscillating, a sort of whipping action, on the lower chain run as you are going down the road. This will accelerate wear on all the drive components. You can also hear a surging sort of sound coming from the engine as the oscillations tighten and loosen rhythmically. A warning that you can hear; that something is amiss.

Trey · Feb 14, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

I've seen that action on a chain drive, of some sort, some where. Can't remember. I intend to keep my chain at 1/2, for the reasons you mentioned. And thanks, I missed your first response somehow...

ocho ninja · Feb 15, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

Sounds like you got your bike running again?

Any updates on it yet? Performance mods ? A new exuast will help it alot, make it louder too lol.
Have you tried Drilling holes in your air filter cover also? Helped mine breathe a little
Might have to increase jet size a little though.

Also a good oil change and Valve adjustment might help. When the valves aren't set right, you lose a lot of power there.

Trey · Feb 15, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

It's running ok. No performance mods yet. Found a cool fuel filter and air filter, yet to order them. Was working on a throttle and brakes. A guys' gonna give me two mountain bikes- parts! It's over 40* here today, so I'm taking my longest ride so far, about 10mi. I'm going to Bird Dog Dist, so maybe the fella there will look it over... If The DUI cruiser don't kill me, I'll report back.

Trey · Feb 15, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

Ok, so when I turned out of BDDist this morning, it was so nice I just rode. Rode it 8mi, then stop and start around town, and at about 12mi, it didn't want to throttle up. When I actuated the throttle, the engine bogged down badly, sometimes stalling. With my old Leatherman, I could make simple adjustments, and pull off the muffler to check for restriction. Limped along with mostly leg power a couple more miles and there was BDDist again. The guy let me borrow a spark plug wrench, the plug was burning nicely. I pedeled another couple miles before the rear drive sprocket started making noise. The gearbox was sometimes dragging as I pedaled due to improper action of the sprocket. So I walked another couple miles until my buddy came and got me.

1) Gasbikes are freakin awsome!!! I drank the cool-aid ladies and gentlemen. I see no reason why I will not have one (or five) of these the rest of my life.
2) I have a clogged carb.
3) I have a loose rear sprocket.
4) I burned $1 of gas, and countless calories.

GearNut · Feb 16, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

1. Welcome to the frey!
2. After you clean the carb install a quality in line fuel filter before turning on the fuel.
3. Reinstall the sprocket bolts with a drop of Loc-Tite blue on the threads of each one.
4. Congratulations!

Trey · Feb 16, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

This is the filter I have now. It has slightly less than 1gal thru it. I intend to install a Briggs and Stratton glass bowl filter (part # 690612).
Can't say why it clogged at that point. I had turned it on and off and rode it around alot.
I can't believe I forgot to Loctite the sprocket bolts! Think I was so full of myself for having put everything back together, it slipped my mind!

GearNut · Feb 16, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

Hmmmm....
Well you certainly have filtering covered.
A sediment bowl is a good idea with the ethanol blend gas we are given to burn these days. Some folks have gotten a surprising amount of water collected in those.

So full of yourself? Naaaa! You have done very good with this rebuild. Just think of those bolts as weeding out the last details... Of course the last details never seem to end with mechanical and cosmetic upgrades typically lingering in your mind.

Trey · Feb 16, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

Picked up the glass bowl today ($16) at a good local small engine shop. It is cool. It is not however, much of a filter. As you can see, I believe in good filtration. I intend to add a short/ small metal canister type filter to the inlet of this one.
Then I can sleep at night... of course there's still the spokes, and the tensioner, and...

curtisfox · Feb 16, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

Thats not realy a filter its a sedelment bulb all the partecials setal in the bottom of the bowel. They have been used for years with good resalts, some of the newer one had eather a brass or fiber filter inside. If you have a store that sells Fram filters you should be able to find a small ellement that would fit inside up against the inlet hole, maybe with a small spring...........Curt

Trey · Feb 17, 2013

Re: The DUI cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

Yes sir, it is. A lawn guy I know says he's had good luck with just these, and no other filter. I intend to be extra safe though.
I'm curious to see what the bowl captures out of pumpgas.

Trey · May 12, 2013

Well, this is what it captured in less than 50 miles. The pic makes it look worse than it is, but it is clearly catching junk. Love this sediment bowl.

GearNut · May 13, 2013

That looks like fine rust particulate. How clean and rust free is the inside of the fuel tank?

Trey · May 13, 2013

I had it off the bike and rinsed it with petrol about 25 miles/ 5 days ago. Only took a cursory glance into the tank, but didn't notice any rust. That stuff sorta reminds me of clay dust... I need to take the bowl off and inspect it.

Greg58 · May 14, 2013

Trey I repaired a bike last month that had been in storage for three years. I removed the tank cleaned it with a solvent with a high flash point and fine gravel, I used about 32 ounces of solvent and a couple of cups of rocks then just put the cap on and shook it around. This has worked on old fuel tanks of cars I have restored, only is easier because it only take one person. The cap may leak a bit so hold the tank away from you.

The $50 Cruiser. Operational after over a year parked next to a barn

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