Topic: Third Time Lucky - 750 Digger Chopper - this time I'll get it done

[spotty]

I originally bought this frame over 30 years ago, along with the oil tank and seat.
After many years of looking at it and dreaming about what I was going to need, I realised I had neither the tools or skills to do any of it, so I sold it to a mate who had the same dreams and skill set, eventually he gave it back.
Move forward a few years and I sold it again to another mate who had the same plans, move forward another 15 years and it's mine again 👍
I swapped a pair of Abe wheels, full Dunstall body kit, Rickman fairing and some other stuff so he can commit to a less ambitious project with his sohc750.
Got it yesterday so today is mock-up and assess what needs doing and buying, and of course it's stinking hot ( about 100F in the measurements of the dead ) but I am a happy boy.
It'll get the 6" over swingarm I bought recently, Terry has an engine and crossover drag pipes that I can get off him.
The prism tank is on backwards, looks and fits better, it'll have the filler cap blanked off and a flush mounted mini one put in up the front, fuel tap hole will go to the back
The forks are hopefully going to be girders but by fxuk they're going to be long, about 1100mm from top triple to axle.
Seat will probably be cut down to a single and a recess at the front to access the oil tank
A while ago I got a pair of alloy rim wheels off Terry and now that I don't have the Abe's I'll use them
Bars will maybe be tiller style to get the pullback but still have a flat profile side to side.
I scored a digger back guard but I'll need something to fill the gap behind the seat
Got forward controls which I'll use to make templates for some heavy duty alloy ones.
I was going to lower the back end and use struts but that'll just make the front end longer and higher so it'll be alloy body Koni's or Fournales air shocks which don't have an external spring
Headlight will be mounted in the front of the frame to make it disappear, nice clean forks that way
Paint job will be 70's inspired in ( probably red/yellow/green)
Depending on what the frame looks like when it's stripped for weld assessment it could well be nickel plated
More later

[Dime]

This is going to be sick! Looking good. I like the way you have the tank mounted, very different.

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[BenelliSEI]

Looks like fun!

[MauiK3]

Should be an interesting ride!

[Gurp]

Updates?

[spotty]

Updates?

been trying for a week to load pictures and stuff off my phone, won't let me, i hate technology

there has been progress, but not for the poor little red frame, last weekend i caught up with a mate of terrys who sold me another frame, invader wheels, seat, reverse rocket tank and some other bits. the frame is a GME (general motorcycle engineering ) from the 70's. Made in california i believe

the XR forks i bought that were too short for the red frame but are just right for the new one. Terry is going to build me a motor for it, need to find some drag pipes or maybe use F2 headers as the have a higher flat profile under the engine, need as much clearance as possible cos its a very low frame

i'll keep trying to upload pics of it

[CycleRanger]

This is going to be sick! Looking good. I like the way you have the tank mounted, very different.

And difficult to fill with more than a gallon when mounted that way.

[spotty]

If this works then this is the new frame

those tyres will be goin and replaced with something a little more modern

[Gurp]

I've been having trouble uploading pic on the website as well. I use taptalk to load photos makes it a lot easier.
Those GME frames are cool!
Love the vaders!!!!!

[Medyo Bastos]

I don’t remember gme making gooseneck frames. That might be a santee softail, or a machine shop frame.

Maybe check -> http://www.hondachopper.com/gallery_misc/frame_ads/frame_ads.html


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[spotty]

I don’t remember gme making gooseneck frames. That might be a santee softail, or a machine shop frame.

Maybe check -> http://www.hondachopper.com/gallery_misc/frame_ads/frame_ads.html


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this is what made me think GME, looks the same including the oil tank and the plunger/soft tail parts, most others seem to have a centre pin that takes a nut on both ends, the GME has a large cap on the top that locks into the top of the plunger tube and a nut on the bottom

https://forum.chopcult.com/forum/nbsp/main-forum/19443-gme-general-motorcycle-engineering-co-frames

[Medyo Bastos]

Those plunger pieces were used by other companies too including jammer on their velvet ride


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[spotty]

Those plunger pieces were used by other companies too including jammer on their velvet ride


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cheers, i might find out for sure as i get it pulled apart

also as far as the registration authorities are concerned, its a stock honda frame.....

[spotty]

Going to do the twin carb thing on this, Terry kindly donated the manifolds to the project, got the adaptors yesterday, made sure they fitted and ordered carbs and bellmouths last night

[spotty]

And here are the fuel delivery devices, take them home and see if they fit now

[Gurp]

I wonder how tuning those are compared to stock carbs.

[spotty]

I wonder how tuning those are compared to stock carbs.

i just started a thread asking for advice on base line jetting and such

[spotty]

Carbs turned up yesterday, the tube thing in front is the throttle cable splitter ( off a BMW I think but don't tell anyone )

[spotty]

Now have manifolds ( from Terry ), carbs, new mixture screws that can be turned by hand instead of trying to get a screwdriver to the inaccessible one, clear float bowls and very unrestrictive bellmouths that will get filter foam inside. Much happy. Just got to set the jets and such

[spotty]

Billet points cover also turned up, $120 delivered, fecking bargain. Might get another on for the dirtbike

[spotty]

And one of these which may well go on the dirt bike and then I'll get another one for the chopper

[scottly]

very unrestrictive bellmouths that will get filter foam inside.

If you put filter foam inside those stacks it will restrict the hell out of them! You might as well stuff them with shop rags.

[Dime]

Some cool pieces going on this build. Gonna be cool


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[MauiK3]

It will be interesting to see how the 1-2, 3-4 carb pairing goes. I wonder if there will be any spit back.

[Medyo Bastos]

Good luck with them! Im a creature of habit and will stick to 1 carb per cylinder


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[spotty]

had the horrible Firestone copy tyres taken off on saturday, then took them round to Rex Wolfenden's shop to trial fit a Ducati 320mm disc, and as advised it will need a plate making for underneath to lift it up to where a stock disc would fit and to fill in the 3mm gap in the centre hole. Rex is a great bloke who has been involved in the classic race scene here for years with his immaculately prepared 750/4's. his shop is just packed with eye candy, not just 4's but cbx's, kawasaki's

terry is very kindly offered to make the disc plate for me so thats sorted, when thats done i'll put the front end together and make the mounts for a GSXr 750 4 pot caliper

also going to put new bearings through both wheels after they get powder coated, having trouble getting them out of the back wheel, there just isn't enough of a lip to get a rod down the guts of the wheel to knock them out. i shall persevere. i've made tools in the past for undoing the bearing retainers so i happily didn't damage anything there

got all the other bits of back wheel cleaned ready for coating after giving my parts washer a drain, clean and refill with new degreaser. also found, at my local big box hardware shop, a 12 pack of big cans of foaming degreaser for $36, work really well on melting hardened grease, even dissolved ancient chain lube. i've been giving stuff a spray with the foam, leave it to work then rinse in the wash tank

[spotty]

320mm disc with adapter plate made by Terry, ready for the Invader wheel after powder coating