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Full list coming
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what you need - just email me and we will figure
it out.
| August
30, 2010. For José in Portugal who asked about 1928 101 crank cases.
My email reply to you came back with the message that your inbox is full.
Anyway, I only have these cases (together
with the rest of the 1928 101 project). |
Last updated September 2, 2010
Engine,
Frame & Other Parts, Guidance, Sponsorship - and Long Distance Tech
Support :-)
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The
Salt Cracker went to Bonneville for the 2010
Speed
Week and BUB
racing meets. Not really ready, but it was sort of now-or-never, so the
plan was to get the bike to Bonneville and then take things from there.
While not everything went perfectly with the untested bike, it got to race
on the salt and now has an official AMA timing slip to prove it.
Salt
Cracker. |
Salt
Cracker. |
All
packed up. Ready or not. |
|
While
we wait for news from Bonneville, here is a short video of the first start
up of the engine not so long ago back in Copenhagen ->
August
17, 2010 |
 |
Salt
Cracker in the pits at Speed Week. Lars hopes to get the bike assembled
today and through tech inspection. No internet on the salt, so updates
when possible ->
August
17, 2010 |
 |
Then
one morning you wake up, discovering that you are really there. In a van
with an Indian in the back.
August
19, 2010. First email update with photos made it through! |
The
Indian hits the salt after a 8000 Km journey. Getting the bike through
customs was much less of a problem than had been feared. |
Lars'
pit host George had hand-hammered this fantasic aluminum Indian relief
and brought it as a gift. |
Salt
Cracker pits, all supplied by George and the Tri-Mac Speedsters team. The
nicest people on the planet! |
Lars
doing his "rookie run" on the Tri-Mac Speedsters #476B supercharged, intercooled
100 cc Yamaha two-stroke.
There
are classes for ANYTHING at Bonneville. |
Ready
for tech inspection.
Even
with all the rule reading and consultation back home, there were still
things that had to be corrected before the bike could pass tech/safety
inspection. |
At
tech inspection. Salt Cracker passed with flying colors, and the inspectors
called it a work of art.
Now
to get ready for the first run...
August
19, 2010. |
There
are still problems to be solved with the untried engine (only time to run
it briefly before packing it up), but Lars and helpers are working on it.
It didn't get to run at Speed Week but BUB is just a week away! |
Lars'
(mobile!) workshop outside his motel room in Wendover - the little town
next to Bonneville, and the only inhabited place for miles in any direction. |
Main
jobs on the list, to be done before BUB starts Saturday, is checking for
leaks in the intake system and finding out exactly what current ignition
timing is. |
Improvised
leak
testing setup. "Cowboy tricks" rule when you have to work on your engine
in the middle of a desert. |
And
leaks were found! One huge one, that must be the main reason the engine
wouldn't run right + several smaller ones. Ignition timing was also way
off. |
Drew
Gatewood of GEARS
kindly brought this selection of pilot jets for the Keihin CV (Lars has
a drill set for the main jets), so now there should be a good chance of
getting in a run or two at BUB.
August
28, 2010. |
Finally!
Salt Cracker on its first real test ride at BUB (and the first time Lars,
or anyone, has actually ridden the bike).
August
30, 2010
There
are more details/additional info on the Update
History page. |
"I
am an idiot", wrote Lars. Well... It turned out he had set the electronic
ignition
on the wrong cylinder, even after all our ignition talk. So, with ignition
and air leaks fixed, it's RUNNING! If all goes well the first timed run
will be today. Latest update: Water has cleared from the short course (it
was flooded earlier today, and racing postponed), and bikes have started
running. No news of the Salt Cracker yet, but stay tuned! |
Salt
Cracker is not the only Indian at BUB.
 |
August
31, 2010.
Weather
is better today, and lots of bikes running on both courses. After a minor
mishap that stopped the Salt Cracker's second test ride (see pic to the
right), there should be a good chance to get in a timed run today, Tuesday. |
Broken
gear lever was quickly brazed up again, thanks to the many helpers. But
it meant no second test run yesterday. |
For
BUB, Lars is sharing pits with Kurt from Reno, Nevada (originally Denmark)
and his fabulous Vincent Black Lightning. |
Lessons
(so far) from Lars' Bonneville adventure:
1.
Don't ever bring an unfinished and untested bike to Bonneville. It is a
total waste of time.
2.
Disregard the above. Bonneville is the best place on Earth to waste your
time! |
September
1, 2010.
More
problems Tuesday. The mounting threads in the bottom of the cast aluminum
tank stripped, and Helicoils had to be found. Luckily the local auto store
in Wendover had the right size, even if it was an odd metric one. After
that was fixed, the gear lever broke again... |
There
is now a "MK2" gear shift lever in place! :-)
Click
to watch video -> |
But
the engine runs good and strong now! So everything should be in place for
a timed run today, Wednesday. |
September
1, 2010
Update
earlier today:
Lars
had a timed run this morning (Bonneville is 8 hours behind Europe), but
I don't have the time for his run yet. Eye witness report: "It sounded
good and looked strong". |
September
1, 2010
Update
earlier today:
Got
a text message from Lars: "Engine ran good and fast - blew a head gasket
in the timed mile" (they time the middle mile of the 5 mile course). So
not clear if there was an official time. I have later heard that it was
the front gasket during this first run. I packed a couple of extra head
gaskets in the spares kit I made up for him, so there should be enough
for a few more runs, even if this problem persists. |
2010
BUB course layout.
Event
Schedule/racing times.
Last
updated
September 2, 2010 |
<-
Map of this year's race courses, and event schedule. There is wind today,
and they are not running the really fast bikes (streamliners etc), so the
long "International" course has been shortened to 5 miles, with both courses
being used for the slower bikes (lines are long from the last days' weather
delays). Lars ran on the shortened "International". After racing ends tonight,
there is only half a day tomorrow... |
September
1, 2010
Second
run: Lars' official speed over the timed mile was 88.198 mph (141,91
km/h) - losing power from another blown gasket (the rear this time). Actually
I think this is an OK speed, no matter what, for what is essentially an
untested, undeveloped stock 741 engine with a blower bolted on and guesswork
gearing (and keeping in mind Bonneville's altitude of 4300 ft/1300m with
resulting thinner air), but let's see what it will do if he gets a perfect
run. |
September
1, 2010. Final update(?): It looks like racing is
over for the Salt Cracker for this year. When Lars got the cylinder heads
off the second time, the flame from the blown gasket had burnt a groove
in one cylinder head. But, hey! He DID it! No matter how bleak things looked
(and, believe me, they have looked pretty bleak at times), he kept the
faith and soldiered on. Now we are much wiser as to what needs changing
for next time. I think I can safely speak for Lars here, in sending a big
and heartfelt THANKYOU! to all the wonderful, kind and generous people
who believed in him and went out of their way to help him make his dream
come true.
So,
2009 became 2010, but the Salt Cracker actually made it to Bonneville! |
Burnt
gasket and head. |
Tired
but happy! |
With
a little help from... :-) |
When Lars
gets home, and has digested the huge number of impressions and inputs this
trip must have given him, I hope he will find the strength to carry on
the building story where circumstances put
a halt to it, and keep up regular updates so his many - old and new - friends
all over the world can follow the progress of his preparations for next
time. |
|
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 |
IPE
is Proud to Sponsor Grizzy's
"DiXiE"
Vintage Sprinting Chout!
Click
here
to follow the building story.
Last
updated (with Part 3) May 29, 2010
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New
101 Rolling Chassis
(Click to view full size) |
|
Scout 101 Kit Coming Up for Sale
Soon!
New rolling chassis
+ the major parts to build a 750cc/45" stroker 101 engine and transmission
(just about everything else is available new). I've got to make a list
of all that is included, find the last parts and take some more photos
to post here soon (and decide on a price), but feel free to email me now
if you are interested.
This was to have been my
own 101, but I am not sure when/if I will get around to it so maybe it
is time to find it a new home. Note that there are a few "Burt
Munro" style holes in some parts, so maybe more suitable for a cool
period
bobber/racer than a catalog "restoration" (although, apart from the
holes, everything is as original - detail pix of frame and forks on the
101
page). Stock 101s are nice but I figured it would be fun to do it a little
differently.
|
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Stroker
101 Engine Kit
(Click to view full size) |
|
IPE routinely makes
engine bearing housings in oversizes to measure. I will try to post
some pictures and more info soon. For the most common applications (Scout
and Chief rod races, pinion- and drive housings, including strokers
and the Nose Fix), half-finished oversize
parts are usually in stock just needing grinding to final size. Parts like
cam follower pivot pins for Chief and Scout are almost always ground to
measure, based on the cleaned-up hole size of your followers. Pushrods
are usually in stock in most oversizes. For more oddball stuff like Powerplus
bearing housings and such, or overlength shafts/pins for sunken flywheel
tapers, we might have to wait for a batch of production parts to go to
heat treatment for your request to be economical but, with a little patience,
most things are possible. I will be making a list but it is probably going
to take a while. So feel free to ask if you need anything along these lines. |
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