Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ROOSTER RACING. Page.3.
This very strange object is the front exhaust bend!!! fabricated from two flat pieces of 20 gauge butt welded sheet steel, and with water inlet and outlet fittings brazed at the ends. I am attempting to expand the tube with high pressure water, with the objective of making a pretty darn tight bend, minus the usual large amount of welds needed to achieve this by cutting methods. Just back from machinist is the ready to go head complete with squish band!! But horror of horrors, I used a different engineering shop for the head and have found that the stud holes are not on the correct centres..... I will not use them again!! It can be corrected with a minor bodge. (more time wasting.) and take a look at the new livery!! No sponsor names as yet!! (hint hint) cycle parts are almost race worthy and should be totally finished in next two weeks. Must push on with the motor....
Above left is the expanded front pipe still with a few creases to iron out , but Hey the system works!! I will move on to bigger things after a bit of calculation...Clutch plates on parade! with the all steel clutchs in use on the modern formula Bantam I have followed instructions given by a number of other members of the racing fraternity. The slitting was done with a grinderette and thin wheel. Hopefully the clutch will work OK. Crankcase work and cylinder work to come soon... Note the exhaust just placed as I am looking for a route through the frame (always difficult!!).
A different view also showing the transponder bracket fitted. Notice the top of all the pages now sports the Fast heat logo. They have kindly assisted with limited sponsorship which will help with the completion of the project in return for advertising, if you have any connection or need with heating of any kind then visit their web site for assistance at www.fastheatuk.com more on this later! logo also on the bike! middle pic and I am well advanced with the line of the exhaust, bit wiggly!! Still no silencer...
Looking down at the barrel head and crankcases (no crank yet) shows head nuts that are made from 16mm Allan head bolts, and exhaust retention springs. Inlet is underway being fabricated from mild steel and lots of braze. Second pic with lower fairing removed. Exhaust is high level to cure grounding problems on corners and no silencer as yet. My leather clad legs will need some sort of protection from the heat, so I will search for a nice looking shield. Crankcase is an empty shell at the moment while crank problems are being sorted. Still it looks well though!! Silencer bits to come soon... and I hope, a complete crank assembly, that means some pics of the engine internals to come as well!
Just through the post, a shiny new piston kit, and a degree disc for porting work plus front sprockets and chain, to drive the beast to the front of the pack!! Picture on right shows some of the silencer parts, and the carb, may need a bigger carb but time will tell!
More on the silencer showing the arrangement of the parts. Inside will be a tube with lots of holes which is to wrapped and packed with "rock wool" to provide a measure of silencing as per ACU regs, this will be bolted onto the exhaust as can be seen, end cap and main body of silencer is neatly held by captured 3 * 6mm nuts on inside of each end cap.
This is the end result clearly showing the difficult exhaust line to miss my delicate right leg!! This was achieved by careful use of my grinderette and plenty of patience. Must repaint the exhaust after the wadding goes in....... On the famous table! magnets with holes for bolting into the chain case, and into the bottom of the gearbox, catches all the metallic bits that may just break away from the clutch plates. A picture further on will show that, and to far right......... the completed infamous crank shaft completed.......
On the carpet with cat hair optional! the completed crank yet again, RD400 conrod to get a little extra length is a reasonably cheap but reliable option. I am still not happy with some of the tolerances on the setup but version two will benefit from the experience. The engine progresses! with new main bearings fit and freeness of spinning is checked out in the crankcases. plus check of rotor position...... All seems well.
Gearbox in, crank in, barrel on, now I am able to sort squish clearances and mark up for BDC and port positions, being careful of the piston pegs. time is well ready for me to get some seals in whilst I am doing this job. New page soon! and some pics of me at Elvington riding the Mike Powell spare bike.( Just for the practice... of course!)
And finally for this page, view of the fitted clutch, drive sprocket with its woodruff key and nut, sharp eyes will note that the top plate of the clutch is missing the screws, well I am just checking it out.
