Bike builders that have machine tools/shops

[EZL]

Yep here ya. Maybe a better deal will come along..............Curt

Yepper, I hope! The bike is costing me with the extra goodies I've had to put on it just to get it running. I need to get another
sprocket for it the 36-tooth is too low and I found that the engine is idling just a shade higher than I want and had the bike out
this afternoon and found that the engine could pull the bike 10 mph just idling and it wouldn't drop much in a mile on a slight
hill. The engine doesn't pull down much si that means there's tons of torque with it. I am going to back the idle down a little
even though when the bike just sits idling it's not wanting to engage the CVT. Once the CVT gets engaged it has enough
torque to keep it turning which makes it a good coaster. Well, I got to get out of here TTUL...
Dennis

 

[curtisfox]

One ole timer in a small town 5 miles from here use to ride his tractor up town to the tavern even though he lost his license
and lived about 6 blocks from the tavern. The cops really frowned on that probably because he would get wasted on beer
at the tavern and drive the tractor home. His son lost his license later on and tried to do the same thing but he never
parked his lawn tractor at the tavern he walked and used the tractor and trailer with push mowers around town to mow
yards but he also went to the Casey's General Store to get a case of beer on the tractor pulling the trailer and mowers
around. The cops never bothered him after his dad got warned about using a tractor for transportation to the tavern.
Darn cops are getting real bad and it's easier for them to harass the citizens than to catch real criminals!
Dennis

Been a couple guys that got DUI tickets on tractors here, country roads, but had there share of warnings.........Curt

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

You guys have done a journeyman's job of keeping this thread together. Home early because I missed packing my glaucoma drops.
Being in Minneapolis and near the Nicollet Ave. restaurant district got us back to back suppers at
https://www.quang-restaurant.com/
I go for the Pho/soup their style and their Spring Rolls never disappoint. Minneapolis is so it is said home of the Juicy Lucy. Two years ago we went to Matt's Bar and Grill
http://www.mattsbar.com/menu.php which claims originality. It was good and offered sautéed onions. So Sunday We tried the other contender the 5-8 Club close to the airport.
https://www.5-8club.com/
My nod goes the 5-8 Club.
We are home again and I finally get some quality time in the machine shop
Tom

 

[indian22]

Welcome back Tom, safe and well fed.

Though I'm quite fond of Chinese cuisine and, oddly enough, we have some really good ones close at hand here in Indian Territory; the two grills could be a toss. The juicy Lucy...so tempting but the speak easy theme leads me to think your choice of the club a good one...taste should determine any ties between excellent setting and service.

The thread continued tis true. As do threads that live and the forums that survive do so on the back of building community & all that implies; along with a bit of work and common interests. We are all more than just about motor bicycling or at least we should be.

Acknowledgement of posts with likes shows courtesy. Giving our opinions, offering help, and encouragement is vital to the health of any community and shows involvement and our interests in others, not just a specific hobby. In all exercising courtesy, humor and joy along the way.

We get out of life what we put into it.

Rick C.

 

[curtisfox]

I have had 3 glaucoma surgery's, so be careful with it. First one failed in left eye, ( just something that happens, the new procedure is perment.) had it redone a year ago. The new procedure is a piece of cake compared to the old, only took about 15 min. The blessing is no more drops, after all the years of drops. Will be 78 in a month, and no glasses, but eyes not the best, no drive at night ( not far anyway ). Sunglasses a must.

I live in Brainerd and it is vacation land for most, plus the international race track, so seems on every corner is a restaurant. Plus all the resorts, night clubs. But we don't go out much, just a home body i guess, did years ago some.

 

[EZL]

I have had 3 glaucoma surgery's, so be careful with it. First one failed in left eye, ( just something that happens, the new procedure is perment.) had it redone a year ago. The new procedure is a piece of cake compared to the old, only took about 15 min. The blessing is no more drops, after all the years of drops. Will be 78 in a month, and no glasses, but eyes not the best, no drive at night ( not far anyway ). Sunglasses a must.

I live in Brainerd and it is vacation land for most, plus the international race track, so seems on every corner is a restaurant. Plus all the resorts, night clubs. But we don't go out much, just a home body i guess, did years ago some.

Sorry to hear your having problems with your eyes a friend of mine in his late 70s has glaucoma too and he is just about blind the
doctors can't do anything for him. He drove his golfcart the other day and a seed corn dealer was checking his field and the ole
fella didn't even see him when he went by until the dealer yelled at him. He told him he could see a little movement otherwise he
wouldn't see him until he moved. Another friend of mine about 6 years younger than me had cataracts and they got so bad he
couldn't see if it was dusk or if there was a lot of sunshine. He finally got them removed and now he can see except for one
eye which isn't as good as the other one. The doctor told him he made it worse by not getting the eyes taken care of sooner.
All I can say is, it's **** to get old and have a good day.
Dennis

 

[curtisfox]

I also had the cataract done in both eyes, i can see good as far as detail, but got a piece of steel in my left eye years ago. That one is blurry, its just the bright lights, and glare at night, even my shop lights can be bothersome. Sad part got to have them to see good, LOL never ends.......When it comes to eyes don't put the off, you only got 2...........Curt

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

Back in the shop today, it has been a week. Minneapolis is a great place.

When I installed the catch can I didn't take note of how I went about it and the tool box top mount was fighting me today and I had already tightened the pair of seat tube clamps. Classic do it twice to do it right once but this being as I have not been chasing a completion date with due diligence I reap what I sow.

Also because I saw a chain line misalignment of the Shimano sprocket and the pedal sprocket which appeared to need a little more inward movement. Today the pedal sprocket got counter sunk mounting holes to accept ¼ 28 Torx flat head screws, replacing the hex head ¼-28 bolts.

I have been going nuts with Torx flat head screws but they are superior fasteners.

Started to re-hang the rear wheel but the primary bolt to mount the coaster brake arm is too long, as.I was spinning the rear wheel and getting a dragging sound, it was that bolt. The primary bolt as I call it ties the brake arm strap to the brake arm.

Pat warned me of the brake arm mounting strap not keeping the brake arm stabile and after the strap and brake arm both were distorted in a heavy braking event The cause was I am sure mine, but that is what I have changed. The primary still keeps the brake arm stationary but a secondary clamp 3x.5mm bolt will be used to draw the brake arm mounting strap fast to the chain stay.

Friday is my last official vacation day and the Missus expects a well mowed lawn.

I want to get all three chains hung. I am expecting lash in some of the chain.

Old photos show bikes with a half inch of sag static and my drive side chains have been ran so we will see upon the morrow.

Tom

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

I am noticing cataract effects, enough that the DMV insists I wear corrective glasses which have little affect but there wearing while driving makes me legal. Mona has cataracts that cause her not to want to drive at night. The ophthalmologist says I have them too but night driving I do not have the visual symptoms. But at work I need amplified assistance I want Mona to get fixed first to maintain her mobility in our semi rural setting.
Tom

 

[indian22]

Hey Tom all of us apparently vision impaired.

Check out my solution to coaster lever bands on a Sportsman frame. Works great.

Chain sag and whip I can't tolerate and with as many as three chains to deal with on some builds I use multiple tension/idler setups and spring loaded most of the time on both motor and pedal side. Some must like constant chain adjustment, but I don't and won't...now that I don't have to. I ride year round on several bikes & can't justify time wasted on problems that have a simple fix & that actually improves ones riding experience.

Rick C.

.

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

Well today I will find out if plan B is in order. The coaster brake arm has a 75 degree offset to clear the drive sprocket which is as close to the seat stay, as per Pat to get a straight chain line to the reduction drive sprocket.
The drive sprocket may not need to be that close to the stay as I made a 13T drive sprocket that is offset .220" toward the bottom bracket and still have .030" chain clearance at the bottom bracket.
But if needs be I can machine up a custom brake arm hanger.
I have had that in my mind for some time. I am always reluctant to mess with a perfected design though Pat thought a custom brake arm would be the way to go like a tube with an internal spline and an arm welded to it. The tube would have to have the spline profile wire EDM'd to get the geometry right as the spline roots and crowns have a radius.
Tom

 

[EZL]

Hey Tom all of us apparently vision impaired.

Check out my solution to coaster lever bands on a Sportsman frame. Works great.

Chain sag and whip I can't tolerate and with as many as three chains to deal with on some builds I use multiple tension/idler setups and spring loaded most of the time on both motor and pedal side. Some must like constant chain adjustment, but I don't and won't...now that I don't have to. I ride year round on several bikes & can't justify time wasted on problems that have a simple fix & that actually improves ones riding experience.

Rick C.

. View attachment 102032

Last year, I had the coaster brake arm come detached and it happened when I was coming to a stop at a intersection on
a country road. Luckily it turn around and lodged on a bolt that holds the rack mount. Since I have switched back to the
41 chain I haven't had any chain stretch even with the 212. I don't know if I can raise the motor enough this winter to
put a pedal sprocket on the bike not much room and to pedal that much weight would be a chore. Getting the pedal
sprocket/chain aligned along with the drive/sprocket chain is a pain. I have used two chain tensioners on the 49cc
which worked fairly good.

I see that you brazed the rear mount and I have seen a fella on YouTube that builds his own frames and brazes them.
I was wondering if it was as good as mig/tig welding as far as strength?

Dennis

 

[indian22]

This frame started life as a Sportsman Flyer built by Pat D. and he lugs and brazes as in the early years, very beautiful work it is and quite strong when done correctly. Good as? Plenty good enough & his tig welds are things of beauty as well so I'm confident that his work will hold up...however he determines to meld metal.

Rick C.

 

[EZL]

This frame started life as a Sportsman Flyer built by Pat D. and he lugs and brazes as in the early years, very beautiful work it is and quite strong when done correctly. Good as? Plenty good enough & his tig welds are things of beauty as well so I'm confident that his work will hold up...however he determines to meld metal.

Rick C.

Thanks Rick, I sold my stick welder years ago and it wouldn't be that good on these thin frames and prefer to braze
using Oxy/Acet torch. You can get a real good weld brazing if you are skilled doing it. I've used a Lincoln mig
welder but can't afford one or justify getting one since it wouldn't use one very often. My Oxy tank is out of Oxy
and I need to get both tanks filled. I was brazing when the Oxy ran low and tried Map Pro gas and that stuff is way
overrated. The Oxy make a lot hotter flame.
Dennis

 

[EZL]

This frame started life as a Sportsman Flyer built by Pat D. and he lugs and brazes as in the early years, very beautiful work it is and quite strong when done correctly. Good as? Plenty good enough & his tig welds are things of beauty as well so I'm confident that his work will hold up...however he determines to meld metal.

Rick C.

I see that CarsAndCameras fellas bought a Cut-40 welder to use since they forgot and bought a spool of 35m instead of 30m
wire for their nice Lincoln mig machine. I suspect they locked up the wire in the welding hose? There should be enough to
cut the end off of the wire after the tip is removed and then pull the wire through on the spool end. They might have to get a
new welding cable if they can't get it straightened out. Never a dull moment, I guess! I looked up the Cut-40 on Ebay and
the price is under $200 it shows it is a plasma cutter?
Dennis

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

Hey Tom all of us apparently vision impaired.

Check out my solution to coaster lever bands on a Sportsman frame. Works great.

Chain sag and whip I can't tolerate and with as many as three chains to deal with on some builds I use multiple tension/idler setups and spring loaded most of the time on both motor and pedal side. Some must like constant chain adjustment, but I don't and won't...now that I don't have to. I ride year round on several bikes & can't justify time wasted on problems that have a simple fix & that actually improves ones riding experience.

Rick C.

. View attachment 102032

Clever use of Heim Joints Rick I will keep in mind. I have seen Pat use them to mount his steering dampers.
Tom

 

[indian22]

I see that CarsAndCameras fellas bought a Cut-40 welder to use since they forgot and bought a spool of 35m instead of 30m
wire for their nice Lincoln mig machine. I suspect they locked up the wire in the welding hose? There should be enough to
cut the end off of the wire after the tip is removed and then pull the wire through on the spool end. They might have to get a
new welding cable if they can't get it straightened out. Never a dull moment, I guess! I looked up the Cut-40 on Ebay and
the price is under $200 it shows it is a plasma cutter?
Dennis

Yes the CUT 40 is a Chinese Plasma cutter and they work quite well on thin plate if your air supply is really dry. Water really blow out tips even on the best of cutters.

Those guys on cars & cameras are a hoot to watch. They could break a 250 pound anvil with a 2 pound hammer!

Any tolerance is "good enough"!

Rick C

 

[indian22]

Clever use of Ball and Socket Joints Rick I will keep in mind. I have seen Pat use them to mount his steering dampers.
Tom

Tom I use these Heim joints for a lot of projects not just bikes.

Rick C.

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

Well today before shop time I went to town for the first in a full week

#1 got a Flu and Pneumonia shot, one in each shoulder and I can aready tell the “P” shot is going to be the sore one.

#2 Got the makings I did not have at home mostly spice wise for Vietnamese Pho. Their noodle soup, did all the prep and got the pot simmering by 3PM. Grabbed a barley pop and off to the shop.

First thing was to rediscover what a handy tool a 6” needle nose Vise Grip is. Drew up the strap and arm with the vise grip and kept the holes aligned with a taper align pin. Bolt slid right in, took a measurement of the gathered assembly .300” and the ESNA nut .200”, the depth measurement from the outside surface of the assembly to the near face of the 42T sprocket .780”. So giving myself a healthy fudge factor cut the 5mm bolt .625” or 15.8mm, filed clean and chamfered with the same. I could have dressed the bolt face with my Kalamazoo 1x42 belt sander but I never took a step. Did the clean up and chamfer with a mill file to keep my hand skills tuned.

5mm back in and drew semi tight. Loaded the 41 chain and pinned it together. I added a ½ link to the chain as with a full link alone it was too tight and there is all sorts of room in the drop out slots to add more links. Axel bolts are not drawn up fully but plenty of clearance of the seat stay. I haven’t done a final check of chain line with my Lufkin 24” blade but my test is if the chain feeds freely both forwards and backwards and it does very freely.

Dennis’s comment that #41 does not stretch even when applied to a 212cc drive train is comforting as my 79cc in its present state of tune couldn’t possibly require any adjustment outside what the drop outs have.

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

Tom I use these Heim joints for a lot of projects not just bikes.

Rick C.

My Boston Whaler uses them on the Teleflex connection of helm to engine.
Tom