My build.

[Kestrel Motors Inc.]

So I've been working on this bike for awhile and I'm nearly done with it! It's a 1 1/2 horse Clinton engine on some old 50's bike. The paint job isn't the best because it fell over and messed it up a bit. I still have to connect up the throttle and fix my centrifugal clutch, but then it'll be ready to ride!

 

[Kestrel Motors Inc.]

Pictures continued...

 

[Kestrel Motors Inc.]

More pictures....

 

[Kestrel Motors Inc.]

More pictures.

 

[Kestrel Motors Inc.]

Last set.

 

[JonnyR]

that is a cool project i love the frame and the coke colors

 

[schwinnfan]

cool, never seen one quite like that one before. Very original with neat lines. Looks like fun...

 

[Kestrel Motors Inc.]

I guess they are the Coke colors aren't they? Hmmm, well, the paint can said "Masey Fergesun White" and "International-Farm-all Red"

 

[JonnyR]

i dosent matter whos corporate colors they are it looks awesome
i want to know how she goes down the road?

 

[Kestrel Motors Inc.]

I actually haven't ridden it yet.. My clutch doesn't engage soon enough so I'm gonna have to get some lighter springs.

 

[harry76]

I actually haven't ridden it yet.. My clutch doesn't engage soon enough so I'm gonna have to get some lighter springs.

Isnt that because your gearing is wrong? It looks like you dont have enough reduction. Im no expert but im fairly certain you need different gearing at the jackshaft. I think you need a bigger primary jackshaft sprocket and a smaller jackshaft secondary pulley. That would give you more reduction and your clutch would work, hope that helps.

By the way i digging your bike and love the fuel tank and especially the "Kestrel" end covers. NICE WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kestrel Motors Inc.]

Well, no, it's because the clutch isn't engageing, it engages at about 2800-3000 RPM and my engine only turns at 3200. So I'm getting some lighter springs so I wont have to rap it up almost all the way before the clutch engages. And I take what I said back, I have ridden it, and that's how I figured out I need lighter springs. Thanks, my dad and I made the end caps for the gas tank. The luggage rack/ fuel tank is my favorite part of the bike.

 

[harry76]

Wont you still need to change the gearing? It appears your primary chain drive has 2 sprockets with the same number of teeth, is that right? If so your only reduction is from your secondary belt drive and im not sure that will be enough, it will be geared too high wont it?????????

I learned a similar lesson with my first real build (not chinagirl), i had the same size pulleys on my primary drive because i thought it looked cool but it made my bike unridable, and i have a larger sheave then you (geared lower).....then i put a smaller front pulley on the primary and suddenly my bike was a joy to ride

 

[Kestrel Motors Inc.]

Well, if it is wrong, all I have to do is change out the first gear, all it is a weld on gear I bought at the farm store. I'll just have to see.

 

[cobrafreak]

Is this your second bike? I know you have the WW1 bike that I saw.

 

[Kestrel Motors Inc.]

Well, the WWI bike is my dad's actually, he built the WWI about ten years ago. I built another bike before this one.

 

[Kestrel Motors Inc.]

Well, I changed the springs in my clutch and fixed (or so I thought) my throttle. I went to start the bike and the engine wasn't starting and when I did get it started, it wouldn't run right. I messed with the carb a little and got it to run. But, as events showed, my springs are now TOO light. At an idle speed the bike wants to go and the friction of the belt kills the engine. And on top of that my cable throttle broke (again). Have I mention that I absolutely DESPISE cables? I want to look into another course of action for my throttle, but my dad doesn't want me to. So here I am, I'm gonna have to find different springs again.

 

[Bill in Oregon]

That fuel tank is just gorgeous.

 

[Kestrel Motors Inc.]

Thanks Bill! My dad helped me make the aluminum parts on the side and the tank is just the one that was on the engine when I got it.

 

[Kestrel Motors Inc.]

I ended up having to get a new clutch because the springs for my Series 300 Comet are not available anymore... I did find a Hillard clutch that might work much better. I had to get some replacement springs for that too so that it engages at 1100-1200 instead of 2300. When those come in the mail I'll update this thread some more.