BGF Hongdu/Solex
- Thread starter cannonball2
- Start date
@ rusticoray : i'm sorry to read from your great disaster, but i feared something like this happened. I still have some parts from a old french solex, that you can have, but when I see your pictures, I'm afraid that the parts do not fit to the hongdu.....the good old french qualitiy is gone, it's a shame !
i helped ray put it all together last night and most of the engine parts look exactly the same as a regular solex im sure the covers and stuff will fit and a lot of the quality is not that bad at all i have seen a lot worse on geely and qingqi scooters
well i contacted BGF and he said he never blocked me must be a technical glitch in the system so i bought an engine set up directly from him
after looking at rays kit one thing i dont like is the mount to clamp it on the bike so i think il make a different one
well i contacted BGF and he said he never blocked me must be a technical glitch in the system so i bought an engine set up directly from him
after looking at rays kit one thing i dont like is the mount to clamp it on the bike so i think il make a different one
at least the ignition-side looks different...It seems to be an electronic ignition at the hongdu and the old solex's is a breakpoint 
But beautiful that you help each other, i got no help here, because the motorized bike fans are only a few in germany....
But beautiful that you help each other, i got no help here, because the motorized bike fans are only a few in germany....
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the electronic ignition is a huge plus and another thing is the keyed flywheel so no setting the timing every time you take off the flywheel like the old 2200 i had
besides solex points are expensive
besides solex points are expensive
zuendappman thanks for your offer of you spare parts, I fixed the cover tonite. I put a thin metal bracket behind the cover and drilled a couple of bolts thru. Should be fine nothing is hitting the flywheel for now. Ran it for a couple of slow trips around town. Got a few thumbs up and a couple of looks like what the **** is that thing.
his doesnt seem to be idling low enough so the clutch is trying to grab all the time
ray has a seized solex bottom end we are gonna take apart to see what the clutch looks like and see if the grinding stone spindle will fit the china one cause the china engine has a steel roller with lines cut in it so it doesnt grab half as goos as the old grinding stone one
ray has a seized solex bottom end we are gonna take apart to see what the clutch looks like and see if the grinding stone spindle will fit the china one cause the china engine has a steel roller with lines cut in it so it doesnt grab half as goos as the old grinding stone one
Yeah there is a fine line that has to be found between idling too low or high. I believe my clutch shoes are breaking in beacuse the disengagment is smoother now. My drive roller grabs like crazy, enough that I can kill the engine with the brake if I want to. Also seems easy on the tire as I am seeing very little wear. Looking at the Velo shop manual the clutches look identical, so they should swap. Still think I like the very low idle so I can ride at a walk if I need/want to. I got pretty good at finding the clutch idle speed with the throttle, so I could idle if I wanted to, probably gonna change it back.
ray is running a stock solex front wheel and tire and it slips a bit but works even today soaking wet it did go but slipped
so i think a 24'' wheel on front with a better tire would work great
so i think a 24'' wheel on front with a better tire would work great
i just got mine going and i love it. i'm glad i decided to go with this kit for my first MB build as it was relatively simple. and i have to thank cannonball2 most of all for all the helpful info. if this thread had not been started, i'd probably still be trying to decide what kind of MB to build instead of having fun on one. or may have gotten the solex kit but never figured out how to install it. BGF ought to give you a big discount on future transactions, as i am sure you were responsible for more than a few sales of these.
now some details about mine...i was able to keep the front brakes by mounting the caliper on the other side of the forks and using a spacer. i also want to note that if anyone wants to use a telescopic fork, it will take quite a bit of fabricating. there was no way the stock bracket would have fit on the one i have and was originally planning to use. if you want to keep it simple, go with a rigid fork.
i didn't use the hook that came with the kit; it looked like i would have had to lengthen mine too and i didn't feel like bothering with it. i just have an s hook from a rubber hold down hose-clamped to the handlebars...not pretty but it works. i think that other bracket with the big hole and 4 little ones might be to mount on the handlebar stem and route the cables through. i don't know, but the big hole is the size of the handlebar stem. i also don't have any kind of exhaust stay because i have no fender. i tried to use the long bar with the threaded end that came with the kit, but saw no way to apply it. i would get a fender if i knew it wouldn't hinder the front brake caliper. i have to think of something though, because i did notice hanging loose could cause the end of the exhaust to contact the spokes. maybe i can just wire it to the fork.
i left the throttle setup the way it came so it runs at WOT without touching the accelerator. i haven't adjusted the idle yet, and my clutch isn't working; pushing the accelerator all the way will kill the engine. i might get it working, but i don't particularly need it for my purposes.
even with my knobby front tire, the friction drive seems to work fine. maybe it won't last as long, but i'm just going to use it for now as long as it keeps working. i'm more concerned with whether or not i can use my solid tubes, so i will be trying those soon.
i have a rear cargo rack coming in the mail for this bike. i didn't want to steal the one off of my other bike, but after it gets here and i put it on i will consider it complete and i will take some pictures to post.
now some details about mine...i was able to keep the front brakes by mounting the caliper on the other side of the forks and using a spacer. i also want to note that if anyone wants to use a telescopic fork, it will take quite a bit of fabricating. there was no way the stock bracket would have fit on the one i have and was originally planning to use. if you want to keep it simple, go with a rigid fork.
i didn't use the hook that came with the kit; it looked like i would have had to lengthen mine too and i didn't feel like bothering with it. i just have an s hook from a rubber hold down hose-clamped to the handlebars...not pretty but it works. i think that other bracket with the big hole and 4 little ones might be to mount on the handlebar stem and route the cables through. i don't know, but the big hole is the size of the handlebar stem. i also don't have any kind of exhaust stay because i have no fender. i tried to use the long bar with the threaded end that came with the kit, but saw no way to apply it. i would get a fender if i knew it wouldn't hinder the front brake caliper. i have to think of something though, because i did notice hanging loose could cause the end of the exhaust to contact the spokes. maybe i can just wire it to the fork.
i left the throttle setup the way it came so it runs at WOT without touching the accelerator. i haven't adjusted the idle yet, and my clutch isn't working; pushing the accelerator all the way will kill the engine. i might get it working, but i don't particularly need it for my purposes.
even with my knobby front tire, the friction drive seems to work fine. maybe it won't last as long, but i'm just going to use it for now as long as it keeps working. i'm more concerned with whether or not i can use my solid tubes, so i will be trying those soon.
i have a rear cargo rack coming in the mail for this bike. i didn't want to steal the one off of my other bike, but after it gets here and i put it on i will consider it complete and i will take some pictures to post.
Glad you got it going! Seems that even being beat 6 ways to Sunday while being shipped, once you get em mounted, they fire up and run pretty well. Who ever originally designed this thing understood the true way to a motorbike. Make the wheel turn with the least amount of mechanics. More complicated arrangements are really lesser motorcycles, and I have several and love em. But there is really something special about getting the H/Solex out and motoring down the road on the least possible components.
Ok, Mine came in and got installed today.
It arrived in pretty good condoton, nothing broken or dented. Had to replace the fuel return line. it was split fron rubbing on something.
They musta smuggled battery acid in the gas tank, severe rust inside. I rattled some gravel in it, rinsed it and treated it with phosphoric acid to kill the rust.
The headlamp had no socket and there is no lead coming from behind the flywheel to the light switch. The little white plastic tube is there, i wonder
if the light coil is in there behind the flywheel
I hooked it up to run WOT unless I squeeze the lever.
It started right up, but has very little power. I drove it for about 15 munites. It just idles around at about 10mph or less. If I stop, the motor just sits there at a fast idle with the roller not slipping. Definitly no where near 4000 rpm, even wirh the motor lifted.I Sounds like partial throttle, but the throttle is opening and closing fully. I can idle down enough to engage the starting clutch but does not rev at full throttle.
Appears to be restricted somewhere. I tried removing the muffler, no change. The throttle plate opens fully. Gonna pull the manifold and check for mismatched gaskets and casting flash in the ports. Do these have transfer ports like a HT?
Anybody got any suggestions?
Wayne Z
It arrived in pretty good condoton, nothing broken or dented. Had to replace the fuel return line. it was split fron rubbing on something.
They musta smuggled battery acid in the gas tank, severe rust inside. I rattled some gravel in it, rinsed it and treated it with phosphoric acid to kill the rust.
The headlamp had no socket and there is no lead coming from behind the flywheel to the light switch. The little white plastic tube is there, i wonder
if the light coil is in there behind the flywheel
I hooked it up to run WOT unless I squeeze the lever.
It started right up, but has very little power. I drove it for about 15 munites. It just idles around at about 10mph or less. If I stop, the motor just sits there at a fast idle with the roller not slipping. Definitly no where near 4000 rpm, even wirh the motor lifted.I Sounds like partial throttle, but the throttle is opening and closing fully. I can idle down enough to engage the starting clutch but does not rev at full throttle.
Appears to be restricted somewhere. I tried removing the muffler, no change. The throttle plate opens fully. Gonna pull the manifold and check for mismatched gaskets and casting flash in the ports. Do these have transfer ports like a HT?
Anybody got any suggestions?
Wayne Z
You are missing the pointed brass post that comes through the white insulator tube? A quick check to see if the coil is there is to remove the first nut on the flywheel and the metal cover, then you can look through the flywheel with out removing it. The white coil is the lighting coil.
On the low power issue, is it 4 stroking? Make sure the choke is opening even if the lever moves to its stop. My shaft had turned in the choke handle from rough handling. Mine wanted to 4 stroke about half the first tank. Using the recommended fuel mix makes mine run like crap. I suffered through a tank of 20:1 then went to 40:1, what a difference it made, changing the plug to an extended tip made a big difference also. I picked up that tip from a Velo website. Another tip I found was to drill a 5.5mm hole at the bottom very bottom of the muffler, supposed to help 4 stroking and breathe a little better. I pulled the int/ext manifold and did in fact have partial obstruction of the exhaust by the gasket, an easy fix. With mine it just got better and better as it broke in also.
On the low power issue, is it 4 stroking? Make sure the choke is opening even if the lever moves to its stop. My shaft had turned in the choke handle from rough handling. Mine wanted to 4 stroke about half the first tank. Using the recommended fuel mix makes mine run like crap. I suffered through a tank of 20:1 then went to 40:1, what a difference it made, changing the plug to an extended tip made a big difference also. I picked up that tip from a Velo website. Another tip I found was to drill a 5.5mm hole at the bottom very bottom of the muffler, supposed to help 4 stroking and breathe a little better. I pulled the int/ext manifold and did in fact have partial obstruction of the exhaust by the gasket, an easy fix. With mine it just got better and better as it broke in also.
Yes the brass post is missing.Thanks for the tip on visualy checking for the coil.
No it's not 4 stroking, it's running like a low throttle setting.
I started with 40-1 mix.
By "extended tip" sparkplug, do you mean just the tip or the threads too.
I did notice that it ran a little better after about 15 munites of running
Thanks , Wayne Z
No it's not 4 stroking, it's running like a low throttle setting.
I started with 40-1 mix.
By "extended tip" sparkplug, do you mean just the tip or the threads too.
I did notice that it ran a little better after about 15 munites of running
Thanks , Wayne Z
Just the tip, a Champion L92YC or a Bosch W8C are some of the more common plugs listed. I am running the Bosch. Also play with the choke while riding, mine has a favorite spot that is about 1/4 on. Also they take at least 5 min to fully warm up, mine runs a little ragged until fully warm. Check the gasket, but you probably just need a little time on it. The plug I highly recommend though!
4000 rpm i doubt it will ever get that high even the original solex engine didnt rev that high
low on power haha welcome to the wonderful world of solex
low on power haha welcome to the wonderful world of solex