Rick, seeing your work did have some influence in my decision.
And I'm happy about it.Bike builders that have machine tools/shops
- Thread starter Tom from Rubicon
- Start date
And I'm happy about it.
If you ever need to produce another uniform finish and blend tool marks, try a wire wheel.
It produces a uniform burnished finish. Then wash with soap and water.
It produces a uniform burnished finish. Then wash with soap and water.
The lathe is the only machine that can reproduce itself, I think that's awesome
Fog,
When I restored antique furniture I got into polishing metal. Usually brass beds that were popular. A good friend of mine was an engine builder who happened on an old wrecking yard with 5, 392 Hemi's. He started building them and decided they needed to be fitted out with show polished aluminum parts. Some of it was available but not everything and some of the available parts weren't good enough.
It seems he knew just the fella to help him achieve this. The smartest thing you could have done is soda blast the head. Long before you were finished the lure of polished aluminum would have long disappeared.
Steve.
When I restored antique furniture I got into polishing metal. Usually brass beds that were popular. A good friend of mine was an engine builder who happened on an old wrecking yard with 5, 392 Hemi's. He started building them and decided they needed to be fitted out with show polished aluminum parts. Some of it was available but not everything and some of the available parts weren't good enough.
It seems he knew just the fella to help him achieve this. The smartest thing you could have done is soda blast the head. Long before you were finished the lure of polished aluminum would have long disappeared.
Steve.
I'm with Steve. I too speak from experience when it comes to polished aluminium. It's a super cool look - but sure is high maintenance. Buffing-up my Aero Cycle Car's aluminium body panels was a real chore I wished, at times, I'd never got myself into. By the time I got to polishing the car's tail end, the panels up front were already beginning to oxidize. This kit was enormous fun to build, but in the end I ended up spending more time polishing than driving it.
Your sentiments match my own, but still love these cars while extending my condolences for the work load of maintaining them.
I don't do polish!
Rick C.
I don't do polish!
Rick C.
New project. Not being at all impressed with Chinese carburation I put a 14mm Mikuni on one of these motors during my Granson's mini quad days. That was fine on the quad but there's not enough room on my Schwinn to be able to R and R an air cleaner because of the seat post. Here's a pic.
The stock carb was a flange mount so I had to make that bit of dirty aluminum you see in the pic to spigot mount the Mikuni. I think I can save just enough space to get an air leaner off and on by incorporating the spigot right into the reed valve cover. The flange section will go away.
But I've got to add a little bit of length back because I need an insulator. I've never seen a carb with a metal to metal connection that close to a hot motor. Gotta be a reason for that! So the 1st step will be to modify the stock plastic reed cover into an insulator.
The stock carb was a flange mount so I had to make that bit of dirty aluminum you see in the pic to spigot mount the Mikuni. I think I can save just enough space to get an air leaner off and on by incorporating the spigot right into the reed valve cover. The flange section will go away.
But I've got to add a little bit of length back because I need an insulator. I've never seen a carb with a metal to metal connection that close to a hot motor. Gotta be a reason for that! So the 1st step will be to modify the stock plastic reed cover into an insulator.
Got sidetracked for a bit over a new pinion gear. I had a 6T that looked more like what a cowboy would stab a horse with than something you'd wanna put a chain on. The acute angle the chain had to achieve on it's way around it was causing an incredible amount of drag too. No good.
So I found what I thought was an 8T replacement ... but no! It threw my chain alignment off by over an 1/8". But thank goodness I own a lathe
Had to grab the teeth in a 4 jaw chuck but that wasn't a good way to keep it straight, so I brought a center into the other end for support. This makes for some tight and tricky work but I was able to cut it to fit and get my alignment back. Noticeable decrease in drag too so it was worthwhile.
Here's what did the job.
So I found what I thought was an 8T replacement ... but no! It threw my chain alignment off by over an 1/8". But thank goodness I own a lathe
Had to grab the teeth in a 4 jaw chuck but that wasn't a good way to keep it straight, so I brought a center into the other end for support. This makes for some tight and tricky work but I was able to cut it to fit and get my alignment back. Noticeable decrease in drag too so it was worthwhile.
Here's what did the job.
Sounds like me ordering pizza and beer for the guys !
Rick C
!Rick C
Just trying to be funny Rick.Sounds like me ordering pizza and beer for the guys
Rick C
And you were! That's exactly how I pronounced it for many years along with a host of generations past in this area...brought back memories.
Rick C.
Rick C.
I got more pitchers!
This is the stock plastic manifold cut down for an insulator.
There's an intake manifold lurking in that piece of aluminum it's sittin' on. I just gotta find it ...
This is the stock plastic manifold cut down for an insulator.
There's an intake manifold lurking in that piece of aluminum it's sittin' on. I just gotta find it ...
When I saw "pitchers" memories of a gloriously misspent youth flooded my mind.
Steve.
Steve.
Fog,
Looking forward to what you find in that block of aluminum.
Steve.
Looking forward to what you find in that block of aluminum.
Steve.
We have a spigot.
It's a start ...
What's got my brain fizzin' is how to do the 4 angled mounting holes. I'll be taking a 20 degree slice offa the back to keep the carb level. BUT the screws have to be pepindicular to the cases while traveling thru the 20. Can't see it in my brain yet. It's still a fizz.
It's a start ...
What's got my brain fizzin' is how to do the 4 angled mounting holes. I'll be taking a 20 degree slice offa the back to keep the carb level. BUT the screws have to be pepindicular to the cases while traveling thru the 20. Can't see it in my brain yet. It's still a fizz.
Spigot fer? Fer mounting holes perp to block I got one of these.
https://www.kalamazooind.com/products/5c-collet-fixtures/a1-5c-collet-indexing-fixture/
Tom
https://www.kalamazooind.com/products/5c-collet-fixtures/a1-5c-collet-indexing-fixture/
Tom
Pretty handy too Rick, I took it to work for a while to simplify set-ups and keep from having to lift the rotary table.
Got with the opposing center for long work too.
Tom
Got with the opposing center for long work too.
Tom
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Yeah buddy lots of small jobs call for a table setup but the normal commercial tables are overkill. A precision rotary collet is a very nice option and a back saver for old guys.
Rick C.
Rick C.