Rat Bike Project

[nomadpete]

I know you aren't really after a trike, but this might stimulate your imagination. Especially the front wheel setup.

[willedoo]

32 minutes ago, nomadpete said:

I know you aren't really after a trike, but this might stimulate your imagination. Especially the front wheel setup.

That's a work of art.

Pete, I don't think the imagination needs stimulating; it's more the work ethic that needs some stimulation.

[willedoo]

It looks a bit like a three wheeled dragster.

[rgmwa]

 

[Marty_d]

Love the nav light on the 'wing'- which is a formed part of the rocker cover.

[Siso]

https://www.rotecaerosport.com/motorcycles

[nomadpete]

1 hour ago, Siso said:

https://www.rotecaerosport.com/motorcycles

Now you are talking. How about another Australian motor - three cylinder radial - 200hp/litre. Presently 2 litre. When fitted to VW / Porsch they claim it doesn't sit closer to ground than the old flat 4. And the note!! 

 

https://www.enginebuildermag.com/2021/06/eotw-radial-motions-three-cylinder-compact-radial-engine/

[nomadpete]

And there is a Aussie 3 cyl radial powered bike under construction - all you need is a sidecar for the farm!

 

https://silodrome.com/radial-engined-motorcycle/

[willedoo]

And not to forget Allan Millyard's five litre Pratt and Whitney v-twin. Also American Al Hackel's custom chopper with a single pot from a Wright R975.

 

[willedoo]

I've often thought of doing something with the R-670 jug that I have. It's in good condition with the valves, rocker gear and rocker covers. I just wish I had two of them, it would make a great three litre v-twin. A nice pot with a lot of character. I've also got a couple of Cyclone 9 pots but they're huge and ugly, much like the Millyard P & W's, so they'll remain as paperweights. Just for a laugh I lined the R-670 pot up in the M-63 Ural frame the other day and it took up most of the available engine space, no room at all for a bottom end.

[willedoo]

Kickstarting Al Hackel's 1700cc Wright thumper:

 

 

[willedoo]

They're handy people in a workshop. Al Hackel built most of the motor himself but I think he might have got somebody else to grind the cams. Allan Millyard delves fairly deep into it; he even makes his own carburettors at times.

 

 

 

[Siso]

 

Bristol Hercules sleeve valve. don't know if he has finished it.

[willedoo]

The old M-63 Ural frame is out of the equation. The high ground clearance frame doesn't allow anywhere near the cradle height to accommodate the engine. From ground to the bottom of the frame is 240mm, and that's with 16" wheels and not the 19" originals. Ok for the original boxer twin engine but hard to fit any other type in it. The Ural frame will hang on the wall waiting for a boxer engine to show up one day.

 

[willedoo]

So it's back to plan A to custom build a frame. A bit of work involved but at least it can be built to requirements instead of trying to adapt an unsuitable frame. I've got an old frame hanging about which might be ok for a couple of donor bits. Chopping the steering head, main spine and front down tubes as one piece and using it is feasible and would save a bit of work.

[nomadpete]

You've got our attention. Love sitting on the sidelines and following the thought processes. Keep us posted! 

[nomadpete]

Corvair is a boxer, right?

[facthunter]

That Bristol sleeve valve thing will never work The Plug head needs a big blast of air to Keep it cool. Fine finning is not appropriate for Low speed cooling air and the heat has to travel through 2 sleeves to get to the Finned part It will also need a much bigger flywheel than could fit in that crankcase. It will only be a static exhibit.. Nev

[facthunter]

The BRADSHAW Oil Boiler was a sleeve Valve Motorcycle. 

[facthunter]

There's heaps of work in these projects. Do you  really have the time to Spare? Nev

[willedoo]

The immediate job in the project is to drop a possible contender engine in the bath for a couple of weeks. It's been in the weather for quite a while so could do with a good soak. While that's happening, it's back to the shed renovations so I can get the workshop better set up. It's got to the point of being barely functional and you probably wouldn't want to go in there without life insurance and a map to find your way back out. 

 

The main shed adjustments are to:  refit a set of steel diagonal braces, and finish replacing some timber wall purlins with steel RHS that I have on hand. Then clean out enough floor space to pull a big heavy steel bench out and away from one wall section. Remove the steel diagonals from that section. Remove the cladding from the timber framed wall behind it. Run cyclone rods in that wall frame (it will be upgraded to a bracing wall to replace the bracing of the steel diagonals. The diagonals need to go to fit shelving flat against the bracing wall). Insulate the wall frame and clad it with bracing ply. Another 6 metre wall section that adjoins another shed section will be cladded in and a doorway blocked off in the process. Build another alternative access to the other shed section. The doorway is already there, I just need to build a ramp leading to it.

 

That would just about finish the construction side of the shed. Then it's just a matter of fitting shelving, making some more benches, setting up the lathe, mill, bench grinders and all the other equipment in their permanent home, sorting out all the tools and bits and pieces and getting it looking like a workshop. Theoretically that should leave all the central shed floorspace free to start this project (and others). It all doesn't make much sense without photos.

[rgmwa]

The engine will have had a good soak by then.

[facthunter]

What are you soaking it In.  Diesel?  Nev

[willedoo]

Not sure if this is an old dodgem car or off a merry go round:

 

 

 

[willedoo]

Random pic from the net. Poor old Chief, it's sad to see, but I certainly wouldn't knock it back if I found it on a scrap heap.