The drop stand is done with the exception of a couple different length bolts than what I'm using. With the extensions which were inspired by canoe and kayak outriggers it seems to be quite stable. Stylish, maybe not, but obviously this bike is not trying to look like anything in particular beyond motorized bicycle. Function is number one.
Now I can set the engine in place without worrying over it falling off. The engine arrived yesterday afternoon and today I'll attend to it's needs. In looking it over I've decided to leave the muffler alone. Gas tank is fine where it is. I may change the clunky air cleaner to one made from a tuna fish can to give more access room to where the jack shaft will probably be located. The governor needs to be removed and the throttle set up for a twist grip one from a China girl kit. Add oil to the crankcase and the engine can be fired up.
After that, final decisions need to be made on where the jack shaft should be located. Then drill the holes for mounting engine and jack shaft pillow blocks and the mount for the hub drive. After that set up the shift control. I have one from a Shimano hub and a 1960's twist grip type for a Sturmey archer hub which is the one I'll probably use if the cable I have will fit it. I'll need some kind of catch for the drop stand in the elevated position and... whatever else I can't think of right now. Not much, I think. Belts for the pulleys.
No prediction on when it will be ready to ride, but soon I hope as it is that time of year. Buds are swelling up on the maple and birch trees, June berry and choke cherry bushes. Loons and Bald Eagles have returned to the forest along with the first mosquitoes and wood ticks to spoil the fun. After the very real hardships of a long, dark winter spring comes and goes overnight and suddenly the glory of summer in the lake country is here. Fishing opener is a week from today, which in my part of the world is like the super bowl, world series and basketball final showdown all at once. It is a rite of spring to go fishing even if the lakes are still too cold for much anything to bite. And even if it snows or rains, the faithful will gather on the thousands of fresh water lakes to baptize minnows, leaches and night crawlers as offerings to the season and to the spirits of the waters.
Since this is my thread, I give myself permission to tell a little story of sorts. Some years ago I worked for an Indian family who bravely adopted twelve Ojibwa children with disabilities, most of them from fetal alcohol syndrome. I lived with them as a kind of mentor, teaching them things about Indian crafts and how to swim, dive and such. One day we were at a lake to go fishing and I was checking on the bait box to assure myself the night crawlers were alive and well. As I checked, a couple of my little shadows helped look. I don't know what compelled the fib, but I held one up to look at closely and I asked them if they knew why they were called night crawlers. They didn't know. By now there were seven or eight of the kids looking on and listening. "You have to look very closely to see where their eyelids open and close, because they can't stand bright light. It hurts their little eyes, so they only open them at night when it is very dark. And then they can open their eyes and look around to see where they're going. And then their little legs come out. See here? It's hard to see, but they have four little legs that come out so they can crawl around. Can you see where they come out?" By now all 12 kids were interested and holding a night crawler. A couple of them saw the eye slits and tiny leg holes. That made it easier for a couple more to spot them, too. Add one more to the list of life sins... lying to innocent children.
I felt kind of guilty about it and never did set them straight. After all, I was an adult (by all appearances anyway) and they mistakenly trusted me. I'm bad. It still makes me laugh, though.
Now, back to our regular programming.
SB
