whats ahead?

[Big Red]

Head

Hey happy, Just looked myself and your right. There is a raised ring on the head. Looks like it would make better sense to mill the top of the cylinder instead. But still, I think the better option is the thinner head gasket.
Big Red.

 

[happyjourney]

i will look at milling the top of the cylinder. the sick bike parts gasket says that its thinner. i haven't looked anywhere else yet. i might be putting the whole project on hold if i can control myself so i can save up to get my motorcycle shipped down here from va. i'd hate to get done with this project and have something malfunction. right now my bicycle is my only transportation and i have to ride normally 20+ miles everyday. more later...

 

[Big Red]

Transportation.

Hey happy, Most of us are into M.B's as a hobby or just plain fun. Some use them for everyday tranportation. If you need it everyday I say, If it ain't broke, Don't fix it. A thinner gasket will do the trick in your case just fine. Their are also things you can do to increase power without doing anything to drastic to your engine. A better carb will increase throttle response and a GOOD exaust should get you another 1/2 HP or so. You should also look at cleaning up porting. there are a couple of really good posts on that subject on this site. Just try to K.I.S.S. I've found the more you "improve" something the more their is to go wrong. If an "improved" part fubar's then you might not have another one just laying around for a quick fix. I keep an old engine or two around just for all those little parts I might need. A good used part is better than no part. Just try to keep it as simple as possible, It will make for an easier fix when the occasion arises.
Big Red.

 

[happyjourney]

no doubt. i hear you about that kis thing but i have been in the process of building this bike with whatever moneys i can spare (wage slave) for many months. I had to take the bus for a week while i waited for the bicycle shop to build the bike from parts after i had it taken apart to spray paint the frame. I already ordered a longer muffler and a dellorto carb with some jets. I've been lurking around these forums for a long time now and i've learned alot. it ain't broke but it isn't even together yet. The motorcycle i plan on making my daily driver. then i can focus on putting this thing together further. it's a shame that i'm almost on the road with this thing when i decide to get my motorcycle shipped though. I have been collecting parts and planning for a while now and expect to get turn signals and brake lights as well as headlights fixed up to it and have an industrial laundry basket hooked to the back rack. this will be the bike i go get my grocerys on as i know from experience its hard to fetch even a jug of orange juice on a motorcycle if you haven't got a pack or saddlebag. I already have a big wald 157 basket fixed to the front and i spent a hundred sixty some just buying another one and hinges basket liners and hardware along with it to hopefully fix it up to be a lockbox of sorts so i can keep my laptop locked up in it while i go for a jog along the beach in the morning. I've already got the rear hub on it and my axle is full. the bike itself is a seven speed beach cruiser and already it weighs a ton though. especially with my laptop and toys in the basket up front along with a jug of water or some food and a towel or whatever. i can't wait til i get it all hooked up and done and i can afford a camera to show you guys. I've been searching through the forums looking to put lights on my bicycle and noone seems to finish and fully explain putting a full working lighting system in place. alot of threads to nowhere and empty promises. i'd love to babble more but i'm off to make the money to allow me to do all this junk. toodaloo

 

[Big Red]

Camera

happy, Walmart has a digital camera for $20.00. They had a slot for a $10.00 one but they were out of stock so I got the one for 20.
Their are only two way's to set up lights on a bike. Real cheap or very expensive. Of course the white wire wont work or at least work very well. I've seen some that use an add on coil to produce a new 6v source to run the lights. Of course THEN ya gotta buy the wiring harness, the batteries, a battery box, the voltage regulator, ect,ect,ect. That all can run into real money real quick. I've found that the best "cheap" way to light your bike is with a good bright LED headlight that you can use regular batteries in. Also, I'll include a picture so you can see how I put tail lights, turn signals and brake lights on my recumbent. It's the cheapest way I could find and not have it look homemade. It has a horn button but it blows as a horn for a motorized so you'll have to come up with a way to do a good horn. Other than that, it has worked well for me for over a year. It's the tail light assembly on the fender with the control box on the handlebars. Came from e-bay.
Big Red.

 

[motorpsycho]

no doubt. i hear you about that kis thing but i have been in the process of building this bike with whatever moneys i can spare (wage slave) for many months. I had to take the bus for a week while i waited for the bicycle shop to build the bike from parts after i had it taken apart to spray paint the frame.

wait a minute....
you had to have a bike shop re-assemble your bike?
you couldn't do it yourself?
if you can't build a regular bicycle, how do you plan to maintain a bike with an engine on it?
there's a lot of maintanance involved, including re-packing wheel bearings, and adjusting them along with brake adjustments, engine tuning, chain alignment, chain tension adjustments, etc.
If you can't build a bicycle, you won't be able to maintain a bike with an engine on it.
50% of having a reliable, long running motorized bike depends on maintanance.

so you plan on keeping your laptop on the basket on your bike while you go for a swim?
hmmm, i think that it would be MORE of a reason for someone to steal your bike.
If one person sees you put the laptop in there, your bike will become even more of a target for theives. Locks and chains only stop the "honest" theives.
If a real theif wants it, nothing will stop him from taking it.
good luck.

 

[happyjourney]

I did have to have them take apart certain parts on my bike that i didn't have the tools to do besides not being acquainted with the process. Mainly the headset that i got replaced they have a special tool that was really expensive. i could have gotten a hammer and some blunt metal instrument but that might not have worked out well. i also wasn't acquainted with putting a new bracket in. i had ordered a pedal and crankset that was a three piece and i had a one piece in their originally so i had to get and adapter put in. i am also not familiar with wiring up brakes and i had a unusual setup. I'm familiar with using tools as i was a carpenter before and i did have to modify my sprocket adapter to fit my sprocket and hubs alignment. I'm learning as i go along. If i knew everything about how to do this then i don't think i'd be on here asking questions. as far as somebody breaking into my box to get my laptop or steal my bike it's never gonna be impossible for the most determined person but i can only make it more difficult as a discouragement. on a side note, i won't be going swimming in the ocean here. its a little bit scary as far as germs and things for me. i said jogging.

 

[happyjourney]

i was thinking of going with the 12volt magneto and the 12v charger from wonderful creation and having a 12v motorcycle battery along with a system emulating the wiring on a motorcycle. I don't know anything about voltage regulation but fuses are in the wiring chain of motorcycles. I understand it takes money, as all things do.

 

[motorpsycho]

ok, ok, i appologize.
I kind of sounded like a jerk when i went back and re-read what i wrote.
That wasn't my intention.
I understand that not everyone knows all there is to know about bikes, and you have to learn how to do things sometimes.
the good thing is that you're learning as you go and try8ing to figure out how to do it right...no fault in doing that.
I just get so used to being able to do everything myself, it's hard for me to comprehend how someone has to have someone else do the work for them or they can't figure it out on their own.
I'm one of those people who has grown up in the shadow of a mechanic (my dad). I'm one of those guys that learns by doing and it's very easy for me to figure things out just by taking them apart. I guess it all comes naturally to me because i grew up around a person who can literally fix everything. It's hard to explain, but i think you know what i mean.

 

[happyjourney]

No problem. I never had any of that unfortunately. I won't want to start in on my own sob story so i can have a pity party though. My project isn't as specialized as your recumbent so i don't feel very daunted.