Old Guys Simplex moto-peddle bike

[indian22]

Silverbear that 1946 Chevy PU is taking all our spare shop time at the moment trying to get it ready so a certain young man and his lady can drive it to Senior Prom night, though time is quickly running out & they might get stuck with the 1934 Plymouth coupe instead.

Rich Phillips should have my custom 'gator skin saddle here next week along with the mounting set...going with "hair pin torsion chrome springs coupled to the spring steel Simplex front strap spring should give a nice ride.

I had planned to finish the Simplex Cajun Gator by months end but now just hope to get started on the frame by first of May. The shop has had a series of Peterbilts sitting in the way but that... as they say, pays the freight so we can build our toys! It's a busy time of year for us.

I will post photos when we get to work on the frame as Dodger and I are in agreement about the general dimensions to come up up with a 53" wheelbase (stock is 47.5") that will allow an inside the frame, 3 piece, 36 tooth sprocket wide pedal, bracket shell mounted behind the engine cases. Looks as though every thing will clear, well, everything! Kind of scary, but I'll bet something won't line up, resists fitting or just look plain hinky along the way. I'll deal with it then & not worry about it.

Been watching your progress & sounds like you guys are kickin' butt & having fun. Rick C.

 

[silverbear]

I guess the 46 Chevy and making a living are good excuses. Personally, I would not at all complain about being stuck in a 34 Plymouth!

Once Show&Tell comes I'll be sitting in the front row...
SB

 

[indian22]

Plymouth fan I hope you are & enjoy Silverbear. This here one is the '34 with a tri-deuced 231 baby hemi...old school all the way and it's an old build. The kids will probably just have to deal with it Prom night if the '46 bowtie isn't ready...3 guys worked most of the night on the Chevy & there were 4 working on it when I left for lunch ( I'm not sure all are even employed at the shop)... just like wrenchin' I suppose! Rick C.

 

[silverbear]

Isn't that sweet! As a kid I always bought Hotrod & Custom magazines and devoured them.
And of course I loved the old Fords.
SB

 

[Intrepid Wheelwoman]

Oh my, what a sweet old classic rod Your Plymouth is a thing of beauty indeed.

 

[indian22]

Thanks I'm liking your Rudge as well! The Plymouth was built a few years back & flames & speed vendor decals were popular as a retro look then, perhaps not so much in vogue now...but I'll keep them as I'm not much of a trend follower, at least not until it's been around for a few decades.

Received my new saddle from Rich Phillips today & it pleases me. 13"x10" and gel filled on a custom steel pan. It's alligator pattern, but bad news for haters no gators died in the process, just used the wrappers from your beef steak...most adults know that steak doesn't really come packaged in plastic wrap. Don't they?This saddle is the exact same size and pattern of the one he built for my Indian Navaho GT2 & it's a very comfortable seat.He does nice top quality work and ships quickly. Good weekend to all & Silverbear you know I love the Fords as well, but the '34 Plymouths got "suicide doors" & a Hemi... you know that's cool! Rick C.

 

[Ludwig II]

I've got a hemi and I'm seeing my doctor about it on Monday.

Nice cars though. I have a couple of friends who are really into old Americana. I think the one's still got his 50th anniversary Ford pickup.

 

[indian22]

More parts for the Cajun Gator Simplex. Rick C.

 

[silverbear]

That's a really nice saddle!
SB

 

[indian22]

I recieved a pair of three inch chrome barrel springs which I might use on the "alligator" saddle instead of the chrome "hair pins" shown in the previous post but will mock both up on the frame before deciding. Like Silverbears "creative staring" method of design.

I'm also giving the Siverbear method credit for another potential change in my "Cajun Gators" design. I stared at SB's copper fuel tank so long I'm wanting one too! Not wanting to copy his fine work I'm shooting for a unique twin torpedo tank featuring side by side tubes Ragin' Cajun style! I'll first do a cardboard mockup & decide if the tank design works with the motor and frame, if so I'll incorporate other copper pieces into the build along with the chrome or I'll just use the copper to build a moonshine still. Rick C.

 

[silverbear]

Thanks for the kind words, Rick. I like copper ("poor man's gold"), too, and think it looks great on a bike. The copper tank you describe sounds interesting, so I'm hopeful you choose to go that direction. The tank of mine you mentioned for the "kindalikeawhizzer" was made by Tinsmith (Dan) and really does make that build. Dan also made the amazing copper tank on my Indian Hiawatha Tri-car. I have fond memories of sharing time with him on winter Saturdays, tinkering on our bikes in the tinsmith shop through the mornings, sharing a great lunch prepared by his wife, Jackie, and in good weather taking a ride through the local countryside in the afternoons. It was the best day of the week, just like when we were kids... Saturday, woohoo!

I've been hoping to take a trip to the east coast to sell a vintage Spartan travel trailer I wintered in for a few years on a mountain property near Camp David. Part of wanting to go was so that I could visit Dan & Jackie and also spend a little time out in the shop making a cylindrical behind the seat copper tank for the 1934 Elgin Velocipede. However, no buyer for the trailer has materialized and thus, no trip to the east coast. I had hoped to make the tank myself this time, with Dan looking over my shoulder as mentor.

Good friend that he is, Dan went ahead and made the tank without me there to screw it up. In spite of aging arthritic hands the old marine toughed it out and punished them some more. He has retired from metal work, but made my tank anyway. What a guy...
He says it looks pretty good, so that means it looks wonderful with brass bung, cap and outlet. It is roughly the size of a juice can and will be held to the rear rack with stainless steel bands.

It will be a special day when the tank is sitting on the bike gleaming golden, ready to hook up a specially made copper fuel filter and feeding gas to the old model 1932 Villiars Midget engine made in 1934, same year as the Elgin. And one step closer to running!

It is a great pleasure to spend time again with neglected builds waiting in the wings to come center stage, sit in the spotlight to be admired and tinkered with. And to be given that long "creative stare" you mentioned in trying to figure what is next. I'm sure that with your bike builds and hot rods you know what I'm talking about.
SB

 

[indian22]

Silverbear your Velocipide is looking great & I can't wait to see that copper tank mounted. Villiers midget is too cool. Your probably aware that Indian made a 2 cycle powered bike in 1916 only year it was made, model K Featherweight, I recall & the motor was a 221cc Villiers.

No progress on the Simplex, but Rat rod is coming along grandkid actually drove it to the prom instead of the Plymouth (Chevy kid). Rick C.

 

[silverbear]

No, I didn't know about the Indian/Villiars connection. Cool!

I love the Chevy pickup. Was just remembering when I bought my 46 chevy pickup from a guy in Embarrass, MN. I needed a truck and this one was cheap, solid and ran well in spite of being a kind of Frankenstein model. The transmission was from something else and was welded to the engine, although in thinking about it now, I don't see how that was possible. Maybe it was the drive shaft welded to the rear axle, else how do you rebuild the clutch? Don't remember and it doesn't matter anyway. It looked good too, from a certain required distance once I had painted it brown and black with a paintbrush. Yours looks mo betta than mine did. Sniff. I liked that truck, a bit of a beast, but a good runner.

I'll be glad when you're free to work on the Simplex... too cool.
SB

 

[Ludwig II]

I'm intrigued about the Villiers Indian, but this page states model N is Powerplus.

http://wildriders.org/threads/indian_serial_numbers.htm

 

[indian22]

Ludwig I "recalled" the wrong letter. It's the Model K. 1916 221cc 2 stroke Villiers engine "Featherweight" one year production only & used the loop frame. The engine was used as a stressed member. Tried a short search for a photo & came up dry.

It was a sweet looking bike that, it seems, developed a bad reputation involving the dependability of the power plant. My guess is owners induced most of these problems with bad mixtures and short, hard break-ins... kinda like many of todays riders dish out & then trash out a paticular marque. If anyone finds a decent photo of the K model please post it on this thread. Rick C.

 

[curtisfox]

Try this i found

https://www.google.com/search?q=Mod....com%2Fauctions%2F18362%2Flot%2F51%2F;640;385

.....................Curt

 

[indian22]

Bingo, Curtis wins the prize! That little Indian, is a great example of the 2 stroker I remember. Ludwig 19,000. pounds plus is a lot of quid isn't it? Any insight into Bonham's auctions? I've heard of them before but that's all.
Anyway thanks for your input guys. Rick C.

 

[Intrepid Wheelwoman]

Oh my word, what a beautiful motor-bicycle!

I love vintage Villiers powered motor-bicycles and seeing this Model K Indian has really made my day.

 

[Intrepid Wheelwoman]

I actually prefer the ones that haven't been restored......

 

[indian22]

Wonderful photos Anne & I too like the unrestored bikes yet I cherish the idea of returning them to their original beauty and capable of useful service though at current values one might say locking them in a vault might be more prudent!
I was aware of your fondness for the Villiers from previous posts & I have a question for you. What is your opinion of the durability of the Villiers motors which you are familiar with? Others feel free to chime in as well. Rick C.