47 Whizzer

Dad signed the title over to me just over a year ago. I've spent a lot of time digging for parts and history and now tearing into the project to complete it for his 80th birthday in February.

Here is my Flickr set


You will see that it's a true barn find. Some things are missing or in need of TLC. something we've probably all encountered.

I am also the Whizzer Motorbikes group curator on Flickr. there are alot of great finds in there if you have time check them out. If you have a Flickr account, feel free to join and share.

Thanks Quenton! should be fun!

Great stuff! Were the rubber sleeves under the motor mounts always an option? Dad mentioned he used old rubber bike tubes, since they didn't come in the box.

He also mentioned he kept blowing a head gasket. Being a farm kid, i think he knew his way around the motor, but he also had a few hills to climb, which i think may be the culprit for the damage. He's put many a motor together with great success. Curious if this was a known syndrome for the H.

thanks again Quenton - I'm really hoping you have started writing the Whizzer bible

I am not set up with the right tools for the motor, so i've been working with a indy motorbike guy who's tackled everything. I'll pass this along. It's greatly appreciated. I cannot wait to share the progress and final pics. (of course, when are they ever 'final'?)

Thanks VOETOM - it's been a joy just digging for any info i can find on them. My wife's already nervous because i'm thinking about the next one, and haven't finished the first one.

Thanks silverbear & jbcruisin

Dad bought the bike in Hays KS in 1947, but didn't register it until a year later, incurring a penalty of $8. the fee was only $5. HA

He grew up on the family farm, and drove this to high school from time to time when he wasn't delivering milk. after he went to college and then into the Navy in the 50s, he mentioned that one of the hired hands back on the family farm got it running again, but that was short lived.

it went from barn to barn. I grew up just down the road from where he grew up. hence the grime. the lens on the speedometer is baked, so it had to have been hot in the summers where ever it was parked.

When dad saw the new Whizzers in the Harley shop window, that got him thinking that it should run again. he dragged it into their shop, where it sat for 10 years. It's not their fault - they expanded from a small family shop to a large facility out by interstate, and just didn't have time. I asked dad if i could fix it up. My brother and i rescued it from their storage shed.

Dad wasn't certain but he had thought he had given them everything, manuals, papers etc. He got a call from the HD dealer who said he had the original license tag and needed to return it. he had kept it in his tool chest so it wouldn't get lifted. as for the manuals, he thought they were in a box of stuff that got traded and was gone.

Until...

i got a call from my Dad while at work. He never calls during the day. i thought someone had died. You woulda thought he had won the lottery, but he said he found the title, registration (with fines recorded) and manual, all original.

i have collected his emails that have described the various quirks.

I'll keep this forum posted as to the progress.

Here we go. Digging into the guts. Tell me what you all think..

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sre...30977&authkey=Gv1sRgCNzBxaLkgZayGw&feat=email

Mason - funny story (insert sarcastic laugh)

I had left my bike w/ a cycle shop owner about a year ago - long story short, he didn't do much, so i finally got it back last week. If you wanna do something right, do it yourself.

With that, i'm tearing down everything myself, including that brake assembly. Someone on the CABE site said he sent two sets to that shop. I haven't heard back yet. I will probably get to that in the next month.

Check out the link again, the motor is further along. All looks to be in good shape, and the piston will be free in a week. Just a slow soak to loosen it.

I will be using this thread to document my progress for the group. I'm very excited to get going again.

Thanks Norm!

I am going to many lengths to ensure quality. Single stage paint will match. ReCAD and chrome plating many original parts. I've missed my original goal of delivering this for his 80th bday. Now I'm aiming for his 81st (feb - '12).

frame is at paint. Motor is disassembled, parts have been purchased, other parts are being readied for plating. winter is approaching. time to hole myself up in the basement.