Harley Davidson Flat Track Special.

[nickyt]

Thanks Ron for nice sentiment---having finally given up on 3 of the 4 sportster based projects I have been obsessed with,if you or any other cub member were interested--I could make research info available for you on these projects.
I think however, you do yourself a disservice--as Clint Eastwood said in Dirty Harry--and I agree-- "a man has got to know his limitations"....this has certainly been my mantra,for the tricky bits, but I am sure you could do the same as me(ie: find someone suitably skilled for other bits) Apart from simple fabrication ie: engine &/exhaust brackets /wiring/wheel building etc. that I did myself........everything specialised was done locally.(except Stu hand making copies of his XR swing arm /engine mount for goliath in his shed in Bedlington, and the grinding of cams by Phil Joy in Essex)
Therefore, whenever my bikes have come under scrutiny ,again to quote Allan Girdler--" every good thing you see on the bike --was not done by me"...sums it up.

list of projects are as follows:
1.Baja sportster (Larry Berquist version--Bornhurst R/R version) circa. 1971-73
2.Turnip Eater(Leo Payne--also 1/4 horse variant) 1965--1968
3.Lawwill lightweight TT factory bike(also KR R/R) 1964 -1971
4.Jim Belland Goliath(Brelesford TT factory bike,then a commuting bike ,before being amateur raced by Vance Breeze)1967-1988 aprox.
Finally despite Patricks concerns I think it is worth taking a gamble-I modded this aftermarket (with thick crown),AE piston(given to me by Richard stringer) as the original 1957 7:1 are not available and the iron XR tuning guide for Larry,s bike as well as Mert / Jim approach to TT tuning required a low profile piston-so far so good but 1/4" was certainly a lot to take off!
Also because pistons for early type 900-- large recess was machined for 115/16" intakes.(main benefit ,full burn & ,I can kick start sitting in saddle!)
I would suggest a separate thread for each project should anyone out there be interested.

 

[Ron]

I feel I am much more of a reader than a doer. Playing with standard stuff is more my level. Currently I'm putting new swinging arm bearings in my Sportster. I've got it all apart and now need to clean it all up. It's amazing how much dirt has collected in the 38 years since I last had my fingers in this area. Does anybody want to buy some genuine vintage road dirt for that real, authentic retro look.

My aim was to have a go at actually building up a bike myself along the lines of a light weight 45 for when the Duo and Sportster get too heavy to manage with perhaps a old English box with a left foot shift cobbled on to it, telly forks, Norton or similar wheels and light weight guards. Alas the price of even very scruffy 45's has gone through the roof and the people with parts are keen to hold on to them so it may be too late and now that the energy prices are heading for the stars it may come to a choice between a new toy or freezing and I know which way my Bev is leaning.

My thoughts do turn sometimes to a early XLCH style bike because they look so right but it would need (Patrick look away now) a detuned engine to make it old git suitable, none of this 9:1 fixed 45 degree advance stuff. I can still kick the Duo over ok but that's a big softie and the kicker was designed for a big lump whereas the Sportster's kicker was made for a 750cc side valve. I already have a duff left leg and do not need a dose of Sportster knee in the other one.

Still tomorrow's another day and who can tell what it will bring so I'll keep on with my arkeological dig in the rear of the Sporty and see if any of those lost nuts turn up.

Ron.

 

[nickyt]

I get where you are coming from Ron ,but still reckon building a special has got to be complicated --as I mentioned I had an original 62 Mk.3 Rickman Mettisse with a pre unit bonnie lump and people confuse these bikes as having mainly triumph components...in fact, engine was only bit ---gearbox RRt2 gold star, norton clutch, rear wheel/ brake BSA, front forks and wheel ceriani.

Yet, I have to admit, prior to my building my lightweight sporties....... that bike set the bar for me, in terms of weight, grunt and handling.I think the go- to guy for what you are after is Neil Paterson.

Dont know if you have seen his Norton based W/K engined special.
If I get his permission I will post pics and there is an article he sent me on another bsa based WL which looks more like what you are after .

Have to query modifying to left hand gearchange ,reason is -----I went to quite a bit of effort to convert the 85 to right hand change!

In case you wonder why I rated that pre-unit Bonnie ,-----Vance Breeze ,when he tried out Goliath, prior to buying it for classic racing, likened it to riding "a big bonnie"!!--for me same response ,......for several years,i had been recently using a 1970 stock original triumph as my daily driver and only got shot of it when I got my rep. on the road and it ticked all the boxes the triumph did ....plus!
Nick

 

[Ron]

I did have a terrible old dog of a 62 Bonnie long ago, great fun but a warning of the perils of buying motorcycles by torchlight in the dark i.e. don't do it. Mind you it did get me to a Dragon Rally in darkest and snowy Wales and home again with the minor inconvenience of dropping the rear chain on the M6 but I was able to find it and refit it.

In a lifetime playing motorcycles I've never built one up, they've all been runners and in the case of my Sportster brand new and that was a lovely feeling. Not so good three months later when I got made redundant with H.P. on the go, but I got through that Sportster intact. The plan for a light weight 45 is partly to see if I can, as well as to provide a bike for later years. After 42 years with V twins they've got into my system and I'll keep to them as long as I can even though a parallel twin would make more sense, but where's the fun in being sensible when you can make life hard for yourself. Now that I've retired I'm time rich and cash poor and it's very easy to spend most of the day in the conservatory with a book or two so a do it yourself build in the shed would stop me taking root in the chair.

I've not seen Neil's bike but did see the oil tank he had made for it, a very lovely thing indeed. Pictures of it, if Neil's, willing would be good along with the BSA/WL. I did see a BSA with a 45 engine many years ago at a club do at Dicks cider orchard down west, I wonder if it's the same one.

My first ten years riding were done right foot shifting but the next 42 years have been all left foot and one down, three up. I feel that I would be in old dog/new trick area going for a right foot set up now, especially as Bev and I still like to get out in the little country lanes where sometimes we have to dive for the hedge suddenly when delivery vans appear at speed. The ideal box would be a late Commando left footer but perhaps a bit too pricy hence the cobbled together left side foot shifting on a earlier brit box.

Ron.

 

[whryders68]

No problem , hopefully the photos will follow this , built it about 7 years ago, had it running
and run through the gears but carb needs sorting, possibly too large @38mm flat slide,
also been pre-occupied rebuilding my Sportster last two years.
Here,s a spec of the bike .
Norton wideline frame/forks
Triumph gearbox
^ t/l shoe front brake
^ disc rear brake
1942 WL lower end
1952 K Model cyl/heads
cyl,s bored 050
stock flywheels offset bored
for Sportster rods and c/pin
flywheels rebalanced and trued
capacity about 8250cc
heads welded and reshaped
modified pistons for popup
full set of KHK cams
Mini dual valve springs
KR spec valves & spring covers
lightened valve train
Enjoy ?
Neil Paterson

 

[nickyt]

I know you have been busy Neil ,but if just carb issue you could try a 34 mikuni ---they are cheap as chips and I cant say enough about Jim Diamond and his Mikuni tuning for flathead guide.
I have tried more or less same recommended jetting for my sporty as runs on the WL--all that happens is I run leaner on the OHV(more efficient burn) but the jetting recommendations for the 900 stroker WL ,dosnt differ greatly from stock 750(perhaps 3.0 slide instead of 2.5)
I know the 38mmMikuni I tried gives more power on the 900--but I like start and bottom end response from 34mm,agree possibly yours could be on the big side.
let me know if you want copy of guide.
Love the bike, reminds me of pics of Ray racing his with twin concentrics at Brands.
Nick

 

[Ron]

Thanks for posting, that is going to be a whole lot of fun.

Ron.