Rain, rain go away

It's been slow on the rolling and heavy on the poor lately. After a brush with reapplying for unemployment we're still getting by on crutches that will undoubtedly be taken away one day. I'm trying to rebuild my Tomos motor. The story on the Tomos is that I bought it in high school from a co-worker at a tree farm for twenty bucks. Someone decided instead of gaskets to rebuild the motor with RTV silicone. The piston was stuck to the walls and I had to beat it out with hammer. The cylinder and piston are shot. The lower end and transmission seem to be in working order. I've seen people put top ends off of other motors onto mismatched lower ends. I'm hoping I can put a bicycle motor top end onto the Tomos bottom. I'll still need wheels and tires, brakes, and so much more. Part of being poor is working on it yourself, even when you don't know what your doing. Keep on rolling.

Slow is the way

So I finished my second motor bicycle. I used money from the selling of my trike to buy a 80cc (which is really 66 or so cubic centimeters). The frame and the motor met for the first time much like the first bike I built had, in the laundry room. My two girls danced around taking tools and parts just to see me yell. When I was all done I took a step back to take it all in and it was nothing like how I thought it would turn out. Oh well, gas in and let's ride. The thing rides just like I thought, almost exactly like the last one. Speed is about thirty when I'm feeling brave. The max I've gone is thirty five point eight. I've attached an LED headlight and tail light since I only get to ride when it's convient for the whole family. I'm dreaming of a nice summer day ride with a can of throwback Mountain Dew that I'm saving. This motor kit didn't come with a brace for the muffler like the last motor kit. The other thing that's got me worried is I keep having to bend the frame to get things to fit. Oh the things a hammer can fix.

I thought I would try a thirty two tooth sprocket on the bike. this really lowered the rpms at thirty mph but I lost all the power. It turns out you just have to turn a ton of revs to push a dude on a bicycle with a two stroke motor. I know, who would have thought? So we're back to the fourty one tooth sprocket that came with the kit. After putting it all back together I tried taking it out on a long ride. I made it three miles out and a washer snapped in half causing the rear tire to come loose on one side and start rubbing the frame. Of course I had no tools so I had to walk the thing home. I called it a night. The next day while the kids took a nap I straightened it all back out. I went to take a test ride once my wife got home from work. I made it ten feet and ran out of gas. It's funny when you find out no matter what you where going to be walking. I'm learning what the boyscouts taught me all over again, "Be prepared". I have yet to try another long run. While I had the smaller sprocket on I rode out over passed the airport. This is about a ten mile round trip. I had to pedal up the hills though because a lack of power. As of late the weather has turned cold, even freezing. It's going to be a while before I'm back on the road.

On another note the Katana 600cc I picked up for five hundred dallors is running great after a carbarator cleaning and changing out cylinder four's float assembely. The rear tire is starting to wear and I had to tighten the chain. That's just proof that I've been out having fun. I'm starting to hear some valve noise, time for adjustments. More to come. Keep 'em running on a wing and a prayer.