Re: Thumb/Brake lever Throttles
When I got my Sears Free Spirit motor it wasn't complete. One of the things which were missing was the throttle/kill swithc. I've since fabricated everything else and set it up after going all thru the engine checking the point gap, lubing the cam etc to have it right before mounting it and completing the install.
There's an old bicycle repair shop & novelty shop down the river from me where they have new loose parts in bins for cheap. I purchased a MTB thumb shifter and adapted it for my throttle. I wasn't wanting to cut the original throttle cable (cause some day I may find one of those original throttle kill switches laying around for this motor) so I took a small modelers hack saw and cut thru one side of the cable channel so I could slip the cable into it instead of having to cut the lug off the cable and thread it thru. I then used a very small dremel stone to cut a relief that matched the lug on the end of the cable into the lever and then cut thru the guide that the cable housing fits into so the cable can pass thru it. It works just fine but if I find a left side mate to it I'll make another one just like it. Why ? Cause I increase the engine speed by moving the lever to the right.......and with the left side gear shift the lever would swing to the left there by letting me mount it so I could position it on the inboard side of the right handel grip and press down to accelerate the engine. On letting up I could have the tension adjusted to where the carb spring would close the carb and pull the lever back up. Thus better ergonomics for the right thumb. Then I could have the kill button positioned at the top of that which would be handy as well.
I've probably put more time and study into this crazy little Tanaka motor than I can count. It's amazing the engineering that went into it and the way it goes together. Ya just gotta get each step right from the start as you are bolting parts over parts you just worked on and once it is asembled it's like a stack of pancakes.....and if there is a problem.....it's likely to be a total tear down. Fortunately Tanaka relied on high quality materal and craftmanship.
After getting this thing in the running I won't be afraid to tackle that Grandfather Clock my neighbor gave me when they moved off.
But my engine is a front mounted friction drive unit and is mounted on my reguar riding bike for the time being. If I build the bicycle-pickup truck I'll move it to that and retain my present riding bike just for exercise. The bike
pickup fascinates me and I can see some real applications for it especially with a front mounted friction drive motor or electric motor drive.