Topic: Drag Bike / The Big 4 Express.

[dusterdude]

I'll post a few pics. I started a show me yours I'll show you mine thread.
  I noticed the awful radiator hose and clamps on the turbo manifold when I threw them away. I remembered that Frank coached me on what hose to get to make couplers for my weber carb set.  I have plenty of silicone turbo hose and 8 new proper clamps for it that wrap around so they don't bunch up the rubber.  Thanks Frank.
  The turbo has a Bendix Zenith 38mm carb like on a Sportster. Someday I may swap to a mikuni if it ever runs.

Put a super E on it

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk

[Don R]

 The turbo motor has a stuck #1 exhaust valve, is stuck itself because the cylinders were full of mouse crap. The purchase included a rebuilt ported head and a set of new MTC rods. I'll need a good cylinder and some pistons. This cylinder had 1/4" studs in the 4 holes under the nickel washers. I had to remove the end nuts with a thin 7/16" through the fins.  The crankcase has studs too, I'll get to know them tomorrow.

[Terry in Australia]

That sounds like RC cylinder studs Don, I bought a NOS set for my old 836 engine and it had the skinny ones for the oilways. What does the other ported head look like? Looks like you've made out like a bandit!

[Don R]

 I didn't get a pic of the other head but it has red retainers and new springs on old valves. This guy bought everything RC. so both motors have the studs. I was hoping the bad valve was the extent of it. I also got a sweet cb750 engine stand. It's plenty tall so no bending over.  new head is to the left in the pic.

[Terry in Australia]

That is a magnificent looking stand Don, I really should make one, but I usually just build them on my bench. My electric/hydraulic engine lifter stopped working last Christmas, I must get it fixed.

[Don R]

 This guy (PO) knew a good fab shop owner, he put 750A style frame bars in the drag bike so the bars are there under the tank, yet the head comes off in frame.  He lengthened swing arms, made struts, pretty much whatever the guys were asking for. 
 I have a bender and wonder if I could make A style frame tubes to work with the weld in frame kits.
 
  I just realized I have the O2 gauge and a pyrometer I got as contingency prizes for racing. Those could insure that my pistons survive. Apparently the Bendix/Zenith carb has an adjustable jet. 

[dusterdude]

Stock ones didnt but i believe aftermarket carbs do or if you have a stock carb,you can buy an adjustable main jet kit for it.

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk

[Medyo Bastos]

fyi, k tanks WONT fit if you modify those rails like in an A frame… I modified a F tank to fit an A frame on my F’n-A by switching tunnels


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Terry in Australia]

That’s good to know Angelo.

[Medyo Bastos]

btw, a 350f tank will fit. Sammy put one on his


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Don R]

  Well that might be true in your case but a K tank was on this bike, I just took it off for the ride home, it doesn't have the triangles in it. I'm not sure about stock coils fitting since this one had a mag. What to do with all of this leaves me deciding which are my forever bikes. It's such a shame both of these 836's are stuck.
  I am still building the original drag bike tribute for my late friend Tom. And it will be all black.
 

[Terry in Australia]

Good color for any big bike Don, especially if it’s very fast.

[Don R]

 Hey Terry, why don't you come over Saturday and we'll figure out some of this stuff. If it was only that easy, L0L!

[Terry in Australia]

Well if you’re still scratching your head in 2025 I’ll be tooling along route 66 on an old Harley Dyna Don, so I could drop in then, perhaps?

[Don R]

 I'm not far from rt 66 I'll plan on us meeting up.

[Terry in Australia]

Woohoo!

[Don R]

 Well, close to the north end anyway, it's a long ride end to end.

[Terry in Australia]

Well, close to the north end anyway, it's a long ride end to end.

I haven't decided where I'll start Don, but the Route 66 thing is my retirement adventure, so I won't be in a rush, no more than 500 miles per day, and lots of eating and drinking.

[Don R]

 I'll cultivate a taste for Ginger beer and have some on hand. HA!

[Terry in Australia]

Sweet! And if they don't sell Ginger Joe, some American Whiskey will suffice........

[MauiK3]

Route 66, Interstate 40 through northern New Mexico, US 12 through Idaho into Montana, California 1 down the coast and US 101 on up to Canada, great rides all, not enough time in a lifetime to hit them all.
Oh, and the Sierra Nevada through Sonora Pass as well as Steamboat Springs in Colorado.

[PeWe]

Well, close to the north end anyway, it's a long ride end to end.

I haven't decided where I'll start Don, but the Route 66 thing is my retirement adventure, so I won't be in a rush, no more than 500 miles per day, and lots of eating and drinking.

Watch "World's Greatest Motorcycle Rides" with Henry Cole and get inspiration.
He has done some rides in USA, Route 66 included (season 5).
Highway 1 in California was very nice too (season 1).
Season 4 has some interesting US rides too.

He usually stop at interesting places meeting interesting people.
https://www.discoveryplus.co.uk/show/worlds-greatest-motorcycle-rides

[Don R]

 I parted out the #3 bike from the buy. It was toast from sitting frame down in the barn dirt. I'm hoping to use the guts from the K1 forks to build a set of sandcast ones from a pair of lowers I have. I assembled the rhino horn triple tree and K1 gauges. All of this was missing the nuts and bolts but I had enough nice ones.
 The drag bike will get a newer top triple and a gauge mount for the oil pressure, boost, afr on the handlebars and somewhere a Pyrometer.
  I'm hoping to take two cylinders to the machine shop when I go. I oiled the stuck exhaust valve stem on the old head, warmed it up a little and it snapped closed. I'm hoping that's a good sign. I'll still clean it and take it apart.
  This frame was a 1972 K1. 
 Edit, the rusty lower frame attached to a harbor freight furniture cart makes a nice $10 engine dolly.

[Don R]

 I stopped by the Local independent bike shop to get a key for the red low rider, They have a new coats tire machine, I told them to get practiced up and I'll bring in my new to me Lesters for a set of tires. They spotted the 3.50 DID aluminum rim in a picture.
 Today the PO found the keys for the drag bike and street bike.

[Don R]

 The red low rider's 836 engine unstuck rather easily. Steve had rags in the intake ports. I gave it a shot of PB blaster in the cylinders and ports a couple days ago, today I rolled it out, put it in 4th gear and just pushed it while the engine turned. At the top of the kick lever it binds up a bit, maybe that's what I was feeling when I tried to kick it before.
  It's wired oddly, no kill switch or light controls. No turn signals either. I think he was going for as light as possible, built more for speed than safety. Key on, lights on.
 I put in a battery, the headlight comes on and don't hear a reportedly normal whine from the Gerex ignition box, the plug gap is huge.  I went through my old handlebar switches, they don't provide much to work with.
  It  got a cut down side stand on it so it isn't so tippy when parked, the center stand looks like the brackets are modified for a quick install and removal.  It's had an oil change but not pre-lubed yet.