Old Brown

Going to be 80 today. I think 2many went by with his bagger buddies earlier. Makes it so hard to get anything done in the barn. Just want to jump on the crotch rocket and just ride.

Gonzo project update.
Durability test 1.) I inadvertently left the Gonzo box powerer up all night.. Works fine this morning so doesn't share the overheating problems from leaving key on like the Pamco style ignition.
 
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Got my goodie bag from Hoos racing today.. The last set of Kibblewhite titamium valve retainers.

The chain guide looks legit and the retainers brought back memories of sitting in downtown El Cajon in front of Vesco’s shop and thinking dame these things are light.


ti retainers.jpg ti retainer 2  copy.jpg
Complete overkill for the build I’m planning but they sure are cool.
 
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hat is cool! What is that a Kawasaki Bighorn motor? 350? And what frame is that?

Good eye there mailman. I'm pretty sure the bighorn engine mounts are the same.
assuming the thing doesn't try to spit me off at every opportunity the big horn engine is in my sights.

Right now total investment $110
 
I have to admit I look forward to stopping at a light in my little blue cloud of smoke next to a Prius.

Hi TJ,
should the Prius driver complain about the blue cloud you can tell him that as your
fuel's oil content is vegetable-based your bike is enhancing Nature's Carbon cycle.
 
2M and I were looking at the switch gear that came with Muttley that I’m going to use for Old Brown. On the way back to town we stopped at a store and when I looked down to shut off the turn signals a sense of data vu hit me.

I think the controls are from a late 90’s GS500.

The R3 control has a push to pass button on the front. The Suzuki control has a flat in the same spot.

One thing I like on the Suzuki controls is the remote choke.
First Suzuki parts I've ever owned.
The big advantage for me is the wiring to the connectors is long enough to put them under the tank instead of my hopelessly crowded headlight bucket.

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Have finished up translating Suzuki wire colors on the switchgear to Yamaha colors. The cable length to the connector is much longer so the the 2 connectors will reach to the coil area under the tank bypassing the way overcrowded headlight bucket. I think I'm gonna use the Suzuki meter mounting also. The Yamaha gauges look like they will fit.

I have decided to use relays to power the ignition , headlights, starter and the horn. The contacts in motorcycle switchgear seam pretty sketchy.
 
And then there's Muttley.
So far mocked upped with parts from the barn. Have finished up measuring for the engine mounts looks like everything is working out fine. I weighed it today and what you see ia 245 lbs. The main things missing are the oil tank and the exhaust so wet should be south of 300 pounds.4-14-21 mutley 1 .jpg
 
Plan is to fab and weld bottom mounts which will hold it well enough to see if the engine will run on premiix etc. I suspect the front end is shorter than the stock forks. I want to go ride it and see how the rolling chassis performs. I worry about head shakes etc. I don't think getting it stopped will be a problem. These brakes are huge for a 250.
 
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Plan is to fab and weld bottom mounts which will hold it well enough to see if the engine will run on premiix etc. I suspect the front end is shorter than the stock forks. I want to go ride it and see how the rolling chassis performs. I worry about head shakes etc. I don't think getting it stopped will be a problem. These brakes are huge for a 250.

Hi TJ,
my experience with sidecars is that headshakes are fixed by tightening the head races.
I'd suppose that the engine will run OK on premix but it's bottom end will wear out PDQ without it's pumped oil supply.
Back before 2-stroke self mixing oil buddy ran his Scott on Castrol Grand Prix, 100 to 1 mix in the tank and injected into the bottom end by two Pilgrim Pumps.
 
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Hi TJ,
my experience with sidecars is that headshakes are fixed by tightening the head races.
I'd suppose that the engine will run OK on premix but it's bottom end will wear out PDQ without it's pumped oil supply.
Back before 2-stroke self mixing oil buddy ran his Scott on Castrol Grand Prix, 100 to 1 mix in the tank and injected into the bottom end by two Pilgrim Pumps.
I'm curious Fred, is the Kawasaki 2 stroke a different beast? I'd run out of fingers countin' the Yamaha's I ran without the injector pumps. What different about the Kaw design?
 
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