New here, with a DIY Chainsaw Bike

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Lightning Boy

Member
Apr 19, 2014
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Michigan
Haven't been riding much since the snow started, so I'm dismantling both bikes for a winter checkup and rebuild. When the roads dry out again, I'll be ready.

"Electricity is really just organized lightning." -George Carlin
 

Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
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Moosylvania
LOL @ Mr. Carlin.

Maintenance is a great thing. Learned this the odd way but got board one winter and cleaned all my drive chains. (I am big on building. Not so much on maintenance, snork)

But it added 1 to 2 MPH. Was really surprised. Could lessen the work for the engines that much with a dumb, little thing like that.
 

Lightning Boy

Member
Apr 19, 2014
185
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16
Michigan
Started in with a fine tooth comb last night, and everything looks to be in good order. Still runs fine, and the bracketry has no cracks.
There was one bolt missing from the casing of the saw, which must have been a recent occurrence. Maybe this one screw will be my magic elixir as the drive chain cleaning was for yours, Dan. A couple extra miles an hour wouldn't draw any complaints from me. :)
 

Lightning Boy

Member
Apr 19, 2014
185
0
16
Michigan
Thanks, Tyler. Best of luck!

The plot thickens: There was one stud missing from the block! I have no idea how it kept running after that without damaging the piston, rod, or cylinder. It fired up fine before I tore everything down...
Spotting that missing case bolt may have saved my engine. There are a couple other small two strokes in pieces around the workbench, so hopefully I can salvage a stud and case screws from one of them.
Good thing I'm on holiday vacation. :)
 
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Lightning Boy

Member
Apr 19, 2014
185
0
16
Michigan
I had to step away for a while, to handle some family business. My father's health went downhill pretty quickly. Sadly, he passed away from brain cancer in July. The last ride I took on this bike, he was beside me on his Harley for the first stretch. I'll never forget that.

I never did save that small saw. It was past the point of rescue, so I swapped the Homelite XL from my other DIY build onto the heavier frame. The mounting brackets were leftovers from the pile of parts from both. Haven't ridden it yet, but I did rebuild it. I imagine that will change in the near future. Once I make the successful test run, pics will follow.