Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Build Diaries => Topic started by: octane on August 21, 2013, 03:07:09 PM
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"The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated"
My contender for 2014. "Odins Fury"
750 APS-VBF
..NIMBUS , type C, engine
..home-brewn frame
..other parts: a hosh-posh of what I happened to have laying around
Here it is in its present state of mock-up
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/1-31.jpg)
NIMBUS: http://nimbusclubusa.com/nimbus/index.php
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good to have you back, Lars.
the bike looks fast sitting there.
not sure what a nimbus is.
franey
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Lars, welcome back, great looking project. :cheers:
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"The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated"
Lars,
Boy are we glad to see you back. This looks like another fun project. Hope you are doing OK.
Tom G.
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Wow, don't know what it is but it makes me feel funny down low! :-D
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Good to hear from you Lars..............Love the Nimbus.....I had one I used to ride in the old country (Netherlands)............
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Lars,
It sure looks beautiful! Can't wait to see what you have done the engine.
Rex
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Great to see another build from you Lars, I´ve been lurking around in your old build thread for some time and if this one is as interesting as the old one we are in for a ride! :-)
Btw, I almost wet myself when I saw the thread name, I immediately thought you were talking about the Rolls Royce Nimbus turboshaft engine which produces 968hp in its latest version. That would be a bike to remember!
Cheers!
/Anders
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Btw, I almost wet myself when I saw the thread name, I immediately thought you were talking about the Rolls Royce Nimbus turboshaft engine which produces 968hp in its latest version. That would be a bike to remember!
Cheers!
/Anders
That what I was thinking as well
Lars, I think you're going to need a bigger box for this one
G
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Great lookn bike! and nice to see some thing so unique.
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I don't think that bike has to be fast because it is soo beautiful! That machine is piece of rolling art! WAY COOL!! :cheers:
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saw the link the second time around.
that's quite some motorcycle.
it would be nice to have another build thread from you, Lars.
will you be building some salt covers for the rockers, springs and valve stems?
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The Nimbus I considered buying ten years ago had exposed rocker arms as alluded to. It was the most spectacular style with a two-tone finish I'd ever seen on a motorcycle -- until this one. I'm still lusting over that bike, but had too many toys already. Hoping to see this one someday in Utah.
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Its GREAT to hear from you. A pair of Nimbi made it around the world a few years ago! Now for the fastest Nimbus Ouy :cheers:
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"The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated"
My contender for 2014. "Odins Fury"
Hi Lars,
Glad to have you back in land of the living. George mentioned what you were up to. We missed having you on The Salt for Speed Week this year. I'm happy to see you are still building great bikes and I look forward to seeing the bike in person in 2014. In the meantime, I shall enjoy keeping and eye on progress via the build thread.
Cheers,
Jim
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Lars! It is good to hear from you. That looks like a nice bike and a great excuse to spend some time over here in the US.
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Hi Lars
Owner of a 1951 Nimbus Type 'C'. I've had a look too and there's definitely potential in that motor, the only bugbear seems to be shaft drive and gearing. Have you had new gears made up? I know there is/was an upgrade available from 3 speed to 4 speed.
Best of luck with it Lars, I really cannot wait to see it fly!
Regards
Peter
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Hi Lars, we missed you...
Welcome back from GB...
Tell us a bit more on this blown nimbus...
Patrick
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THANK YOU ! ..Franey, Glen, Tom G., TMan, Grumm, Fast Lammy, LSRJunkie, Stan Back, Old Scrambler, Bo, Patrick
for your kind words.
Ohh, it's good to be back here ! Thanks!
Hopefully this will be the beginning of an old dream...
(http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx343/WorldsFastestNimbus/droem_mellem-Kopi_zpsd82d4ce5.jpg)
...of racing a Nimbus, coming through.
Its GREAT to hear from you. A pair of Nimbi made it around the world a few years ago!
Yes, they certainly did;
The 'Contempt For Death trip, The Dumb Way Around'.
Those Norwegian guys are absofreakinglutely amazing and their trip...
(http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx343/WorldsFastestNimbus/Unavngivet_zpse50e5def.jpg)
..is a testament to the sturdiness and durability of these old Danish motorcycles.
I was there, at the Copenhagen Nimbus shop , the day they returned from the trip :
(http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx343/WorldsFastestNimbus/1_zps492fa0b5.jpg)
Now will ya' look at those machines !...boy'o'boy, had they taken a beating ?!:
(http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx343/WorldsFastestNimbus/2_zps70d599ea.jpg)
Look at the head-light...ha ha ...it's a tiny flashlight:
(http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx343/WorldsFastestNimbus/6_zps9be1b66c.jpg)
Rim-inforcement Ukrania-style:
(http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx343/WorldsFastestNimbus/5riminforcementmadeinUkrania_zpse5adb827.jpg)
The frame broke and was "repaired" on every single continent they rolled over.
The last repair was just south of the border from Germany passing into Denmark.
The problem is that the frame is made from ( I think you call it ) spring-steel
which just about no-one knows how to weld properly...and it IS close to impossible
(http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx343/WorldsFastestNimbus/3_zpsdf2e1319.jpg)
...but HEEEY! There's always something one can do to stay on the road:
(http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx343/WorldsFastestNimbus/4_zps0652d301.jpg)
Those guys are freaking brass-balled heroes.
I've had the pleasure of them visiting my workshop before their trip.
Here's Tormod checking the Indian:
(http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx343/WorldsFastestNimbus/AroundtheWorld-Tormodvisiting_zps996ff4fa.jpg)
The had a blog running throughout their journey. The way the described their massive insane troubles
was absolutely hilarious. Loads and loads of humor .
If you're in the need of a good laugh, please read this:
When we reach Mininia ( in Egypt ) it is a different story. We have to stop for the night,
park at square in the center and ask for a hotel. Within 5 minutes it is 2-300 civilians around us,
demanding to see our passports. Of course you don’t show your passport to strangers so I say no.
The crowd get more and more aggressive, and accuse us for being spies from Mossad.
Everybody knows the Mossad normally drives Nazi-style sidecar motorcycles from the thirties
on their operations, but not Danish ones for God’s sake.
When they understand they will not get to see the passports they threaten to call the police,
so I tell them to go ahead. First a uniformed officer shows up on motorcycle, and he is calm and ok.
Then a plain-cloth officer come and demand to see passport. I ask for his ID, which he hasn’t.
Needless to say, no passport flashing. As the crowd get more and more “intense” I suggest
that we take refuge at the police station, which the undercover cop think is a good idea.
So off we go, with 2-300 nuclear researchers, a fair amount of neurologists, some brain surgeons,
a few rocket scientists and a minority of camel f**kers running after us,
shouting and hoping for the Israeli spies to get hanged at the spot.
At the police station they are polite, and serve us tea and cigarettes.
However, their actions and questioning don’t impress in a positive way:
What are you doing for work?
Where do you come from and what is your nationality (while “reading” the passport)?
Do you carry a lot of gold and diamonds?
They write down the information from the passports and when it is done they
ask our names are again. Then they start to argue about who should have the
paper where they have written down the information.
After quite some time a bright mind recalls they have a Xerox machine so
each one of they can have a copy, even of the passport’s front page.
We are stunned by their ability to reason out this brilliant idea to take
photocopies and just has to congratulate them.
After four hours of phone calls (but never to the Norwegian embassy which would
be the easiset way to check us out from Mossad's payrolls) and clever cross-examination
they take us to a hotel, where it is a tourist police that checked our bags.
Just as well, we might have equipment and a desire to blow up the towns most ran down hotel,
especially as we’re the only guests. Then they fetch us with a police car with flashing lights
and siren to a restaurant, and back to the hotel and placed a guard for the night,
in addition to the tourist police officer.
The next morning they escort us out of town, and could proudly look back at another intricate case closed.
http://kccd.no/blog_en.html
Lars,
It sure looks beautiful!
Thanks Rex.
Can't wait to see what you have done the engine.
Nor can I
.-)
..as I don't have any yet. What you see on the picture is a collection
of junk-parts that I have borrowed from the Nimbus shop and from a friend
Good to hear from you Lars..............Love the Nimbus.....I had one I used to ride in the old country (Netherlands)............
Thanks Bak ! I'm amazed that in this thread alone I've meet one former and one present Nimbus owner.
Never thought that would happen.
Great to see another build from you Lars, I´ve been lurking around in your old build thread for some time and if this one is as interesting as the old one we are in for a ride! :-)..."
Tack så mycket Anders !
In company with Anders I feel like a retarded caveman banging away with his flint-ax
while looking at this brilliant Swedish guy quietly going about his business building a rocket-ship.
Your build in mind-boggling Anders ! I can only stand in awe.
saw the link the second time around.
that's quite some motorcycle.
it would be nice to have another build thread from you, Lars.
will you be building some salt covers for the rockers, springs and valve stems?
Nope. This baby can cope with it, and who'd want to hide away this magnificent sight:
http://youtu.be/OuMHdFsQeTU?t=25s (http://youtu.be/OuMHdFsQeTU?t=25s)
"The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated"
My contender for 2014. "Odins Fury"
Hi Lars,
Glad to have you back in land of the living.
Thanks Jim ! Glad to be back !
George mentioned what you were up to. We missed having you on The Salt for Speed Week this year
I SO missed being there. I did follow as closely as I could:
SCTA web-radio ( mmmmm, that was a somewhat , shall we say; mixed pleasure)
SCTA run and result lists
and constant updates from quite a few FaceBook pages,
George's friends Lee and Steve's among others.
Hi Lars
Owner of a 1951 Nimbus Type 'C'. I've had a look too and there's definitely potential in that motor, the only bugbear seems to be shaft drive and gearing. Have you had new gears made up? I know there is/was an upgrade available from 3 speed to 4 speed.
Best of luck with it Lars, I really cannot wait to see it fly!
Regards
Peter
Thanks Peter, a fellow Nimbus guy , no less !
I do have plans for the gearing ( more later ) , but as I see it the real problem
with the engine is the engine...ha ha !
It only has 2 main-bearing, though they look like something taken from a steam-train, or something
( these is NOT my photos, but they show what I'm on about )
(http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx343/WorldsFastestNimbus/CrankNimbus_zpsd8c4e225.jpg)
(http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx343/WorldsFastestNimbus/CrankNimbus3_zpsfb4d102f.jpg)
(http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx343/WorldsFastestNimbus/CrankNimbus4_zps9dfa3e99.jpg)
(http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx343/WorldsFastestNimbus/CrankNimbus2_zpsc51ebee7.jpg)
...so I'm in need of a lot of good advise on how to handle that slight problem.,
and prevent it from jump-rope'ing' and ( Auuurgh !) breaking.
Lighten the (Clutch)-flywheel ? / dynamic balancing the crank ? / weight-balance the individual con-rod-pistons ?
Best of luck with it Lars, I really cannot wait to see it fly!
Thanks. Nor can I
(http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx343/WorldsFastestNimbus/sport_mellem-Kopi_zpsd5e8da81.jpg)
OK: time for turning this into a real build-thread.
I have a whole'lotta' pics , descriptions and questions to ask.
Any help is truly appreciated.
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Well, well -- looks who's shown up. Good to see your writing again, Lars. As I look through this and see your next project - my question is if you're hankering for a spot on the next Salt Talks t-shirt. I'm confident that you'd be the only Nimbus on the shirt.
Welcome back to the Forum.
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Welcome back Lars. :cheers:
this looks like it's going to be an interesting build.
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If only we lived a bit closer Lars, then I would invite myself to a cup of coffee and some landracing chitchat. :-)
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Come ooooooon Anders, you do not need to invite yourself:
https://maps.google.dk/maps?saddr=%C3%96stersund,+Sverige&daddr=K%C3%B8benhavn+S,+K%C3%B8benhavn&hl=da&ie=UTF8&sll=56.23008,11.5425&sspn=3.352893,8.712158&geocode=Fev_wwMdJFTfACmRMPnURrhvRjHe3M8zPcLeSg%3BFTsqUQMdlT_AAClRQwhdWlNSRjHIPZtxc_LiLw&oq=k%C3%B8benh&mra=ls&t=m&z=5
You are SO welcome, anytime !!!
..................
Thanks Larry !
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Lars,
take a look at http://www.uncommonengineering.com/index.html (http://www.uncommonengineering.com/index.html) about 2/3rds of the way down the page the "Three Billet Steel Main Bearing Webs Added to 4 Main Bearing Block" *might* be something you could do to add additional main bearing(s)
roy
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Thank you Lars, I live up north in Östersund so it is quite a drive to Copenhagen but if I happen to be in the neighborhood I´ll send you a mail!
Sorry for the off topic talk by the way. :-)
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Welcome back Lars ,
You only need to adapt one of these .
http://muzzys.com/HayabusaCranks/index.html
Easy, like Bonneville records,,,,, :wink:
Oh, another thing too, a winning lottery ticket might help.
Tiny
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Lars,
After looking at the crank on the NIMBUS what is the rated max rpm? I can't imagine that it could be reliable at over 3000 rpm if that! Are the rod bearings lubed by "splash and clatter"? or do they have some pressurized oil fed to them? The large ball main bearings look very substantial but certainly will have a very limited rpm ability. It does look like you could add a center bearing to the existing crank with a little ingenuity which I know you have plenty of. What a project!!!!
Rex
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Great to see you back, Lars. I remember being sent the Nimbus Round The World links, and was really impressed. I`m sure I will be as impressed with your build as well. Have you considered a girdle a-la-Model A/B? That center main idea is a good start, don`t you think?
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Well, well -- looks who's shown up. Good to see your writing again, Lars. As I look through this and see your next project - my question is if you're hankering for a spot on the next Salt Talks t-shirt. I'm confident that you'd be the only Nimbus on the shirt.
Welcome back to the Forum.
Thank you so much Jon !
Sorry ! ; for some reason I had overlooked you post.
A spot on the Salt Talk t-shirt is seriously an ambition worth pursuing,
but I'm absolutely certain others deserve such an honour much more than I do.
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Thank you Roy, Tiny and Kiwi !
Anders: there's PLENTY of room for off-topic's here !
Lars,
After looking at the crank on the NIMBUS what is the rated max rpm? I can't imagine that it could be reliable at over 3000 rpm if that!
Well, in fact it is.
The weird thing about these engines is, that if you look at the specs; ( which are VERY impressive for a 1932 engine )
hemispheric cross-flow combustion chambers , bevel-driven overhead-cam / valves , 4-cylinder in-line 750cc
you go: WOW, that must be one faaaast hi-bph engine
but it's not.....we're talking 23-24 bhp here.
On the other hand; riding this thing does NOT feel like riding a 24bhp bike,
it feels much stronger.
I guess it's in the way it delivers the power,
the way it zooooooooooooms up to around 4500rpm.
The 4500rpm is just where it runs the best in standard trim.
Daredevils have been know to tune them an run them up to 7200rpm (!)
without fatal consequences ( for the engine that is...ha ha )
Turn up sound on your PC, and listen and watch this.
That's a bog-standard Nimbus , (except it has the new (available off the shelve) 4-speed gearbox modification):
http://youtu.be/sdW58J8n5jI
Nice, ei ?....Doesn't sound like a sluggish 23bph thirties bike, now does it?
No wonder everyone knows the Nimbus bike from it's nickname 'The Bumblebee' .
"..Are the rod bearings lubed by "splash and clatter"? or do they have some pressurized oil fed to them?
At first ( the first 250 bikes produced ) they had it, but it turned out 'splash and clatter' worked better.
This is not known to be a problem for these engines.
The large ball main bearings look very substantial but certainly will have a very limited rpm ability.
You are most probably right.
That's why my thinking is: if you want to blow an old engine to smithereens fastlike,
all you have to do is crank up the rpm's.
So what I go for here is along the same lines as on the INDIAN;
more torque / low rev grunt....and a high gearing...and keep the revs reasonable.
After all; the INDIAN was made with some anemic 13-14bph, and it now sports close to 40bph
( running with the hi boost ) on the rear-wheel .. and heeeey; it hasn't exploded .............yet.
I'm not really worried about tuning this engine with a relatively mild boost.
The Aisin AMR300 supercharger will run via a belt from a 'rearward' extension of the cam-shaft.
That's a modification surprisingly easy to do ( more later ).
It should be rather well-suited for a blower:
..low compression 5.4 : 1
..VERY little valve-overlap
These bike are hard to kill. Of the around 12.000 made, around 7500 are still in existence (!).
In Denmark alone 4500 are still road-registered (!).
It does look like you could add a center bearing to the existing crank with a little ingenuity which I know you have plenty of.
Oh, thanks Rex for your all too kind words, but I'm afraid it's way way beyond my capabilities.
There's a problem.
Rex, and others who have suggested the center-bearing solution, please have a look here
at my somewhat 'exaggerated' drawing of the crankshaft:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/CrankNimbus5.jpg)
See the problem ?
My friend George has come up with a solution so way out-of-the-box, that I doubt he ever had any box to begin with.
.-)
but I'm afraid that solution too is just way out out what I can do with my flint-ax.
( More on that later )
What a project!!!
Thanks Rex.
I'm preparing a real build post.
Just need to upload a bunch of pics and stuff.
( I've been too busy making T-Shirts: http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,13058.msg231299.html#new
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/skygge.jpg)
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Lars, I can tell already this build is going to be at least as entertaining as your Indian build was. Maybe you can expand the crate slightly and bring them both over. Just don't mix up the parts during reassembly! :-D :-D :-D
I look forward to seeing the completed bike. From what you've shown us it looks like another WINNER.
Pete
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Lars,
I figured that adding one or more bearings was going to require a billet crank or a LOT of welding and enough RE-machining that it would nearly be as much if not more work than a billet. The billet might not be an economical solution. I can't tell for sure from the pictures, but perhaps there's enough material on the crank between cylinders 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 to add bearings there by machining a journal into the original crank. that would reduce the maximum unsupported section to 2 cylinders. I *think* that adding a counterweight between cylinders 2 and 3 might help, but am not finding my engineering books that might support that & evidently I'm not asking Mr google the right questions. The crankcase might not have enough material to let you support additional bearings, again it's hard to tell from the pictures. I'm sure you'll come up with something. I'm looking forward to the build progress reports.
roy
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The idea of using the same approach as you did with the scout is a good one. Streamlining will give you speed without overstressing the engine.
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An assembled crank, tack welded wouldn't be very expensive to make. What's the bearing size, stroke and bore spacing on a Nimbus? There is a lot of 2 and 3 bearing crankshaft specialists in the classic Fiat and BMC world.
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Thank you Pete and thank you Bo the Walrus !
Lars,
I figured that adding one or more bearings was going to require a billet crank or a LOT of welding and enough RE-machining that it would nearly be as much if not more work than a billet. The billet might not be an economical solution. I can't tell for sure from the pictures, but perhaps there's enough material on the crank between cylinders 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 to add bearings there by machining a journal into the original crank. that would reduce the maximum unsupported section to 2 cylinders. I *think* that adding a counterweight between cylinders 2 and 3 might help, but am not finding my engineering books that might support that & evidently I'm not asking Mr google the right questions. The crankcase might not have enough material to let you support additional bearings, again it's hard to tell from the pictures. I'm sure you'll come up with something. I'm looking forward to the build progress reports.
roy
Roy: thanks for taking an interests in my silly project.
Unfortunately I'm too dumb to quite get it.
Maybe ( .. er ... probably ) I misunderstand things, but again: as I see it there's no way
I can ad extra main-bearings to the existing crank.
Please take a look at this pic of the original crank.
Yellow line = line of rotation
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/foto6-1.jpg)
...or ?
An assembled crank, tack welded wouldn't be very expensive to make. What's the bearing size, stroke and bore spacing on a Nimbus? There is a lot of 2 and 3 bearing crankshaft specialists in the classic Fiat and BMC world.
Thanks Charlie, but again; this is beyond me, and BTW anything outside of 'not expensive' is
beyond my financial capabilities.
I'm afraid ( well, not really ) that I'll have to do with what I've got
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/hap.jpg)
Well: time to get this build-diary started.
I'm not posting all this to tell anyone how to do things. That would be preposterous.
I'm posting all this for two reasons:
One; hoping that all you smarter-than-me guys will give me some good advise along the way
as you , so generously, have done before.
Two: showing them dreamers out there , who haven't dared doing these kind of things,
that if a daft bloke like me can do it...you can do it !
You can move those dreams from the impossible-box to the possible-box.
Now why on earth would anyone want to race a Nimbus .. of all things..at Bonneville ?
It's not exactly the obvious choice, is it ?
No..but let me give you a bit of background;
these machines holds a certain affection in this country. Everyone knows them, even
those who know nothing about motorcycles. There's a kind of national 'pride'
( for lack of better term ) for these machines...like a combined HarleyDavidson/Indian in the USA.
For anyone over a certain age they played a part of daily life and history.
Due to import-restrictions for a long time after the war, it was almost impossible
to import motorcycles , so the Nimbus was used for ... everything.
The military had a huge number of them
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/ns_01_l.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/ns_02_l.jpg)
...which btw is the reason for the relative abundance of spare-parts.
The military had a HUUUUGE stock of parts.
The postal service used them:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/Nimbus_Post_2.jpg)
...so I have fond memories of the Nimbus buzzz as they came twice every day
to empty the mail-box across the road from my childhood home.
The police used them
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Pol1.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/pol2.jpg)
...as I said: they were used for everything, even for freakin' animal-ambulances (!)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/dyreambulance-paa-motorcykel.jpg)
...and I had one as a young man. It was my second bike ever, and the first one I really rebuild.
I've told this before but it's silly enough to be repeated:
that's me on the right ( ... yes, yes yes ; the beard is false .. ha ha),
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/RIMG0189.jpg)
...during a shooting of a TV-movie. We persuaded a cop to chase me down the streets, blaring horns,
flashing light and all in his cruiser. You should have seen the faces of the drivers of the cars passing us..priceless !
Had to sell it. That was thirty years ago. I've missed it ever since.
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...so I decided to build one again, and having a certain
affection
infatuation for Bonneville, why not make a Nimbus Bonneville Racer.
( In fact I could come up with a lot of good reasons not to, but being an unreasonable
person I just disregard those ).
Initially I wanted to take a standard Nimbus, frame and all, and go from there,
so I started making dodgy drafts ( pretending to work )
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/2EvenfasterdraftydraftydraftBLOWERside.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/1Sketchyfastdrafydraft.jpg)
...but it soon became apparent that it wasn't such a good idea for several reasons,
mainly that the frame is made from 'spring-steel' which is kind'of impossible to weld,
( every part of the frame is rivited (!) together, like a frekin' old bridge )
so I was VERY limited when it came to modifications, like if I wanted to alter the
angle of the front-fork.
At this time I had borrowed a clapped-out frame to fool around with
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3133.jpg)
Then I took one good long hard look at the frame
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/stel-noslashgent.jpg)
...and thought to myself ; I have always had a dream of making my own motorcycle-frame,
( and filed it under "Impossible Dreams" )
and even if I have never ever so much as bend a single pipe/tube in my entire life,
and never seriously welded two pieces of steel-tubing together....if I ever should do a frame,
this is IT... a motorcycle-frame doesn't come much simpler that this one.
So back to the drawing board for some more drafts, now with the freedom to
change things around as I bloody well pleased
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/0173_002.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/0173_001.jpg)
...and sure: there's a blower there. If it ain't blown..it sucks. Everybody knows that, ei ?!
Borrowed a few Nimbus engine-parts and stumbled into an old Danish-made fairing for a MZ bike,
and did some mock-ups to get the proportions right
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/3.jpg)
and figuring out how, and where, to mount the blower
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/3Kompressortrukketfraknast-akslen.jpg)
..more drawings ( still pretending to do actual work )
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3102.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3150.jpg)
..decided to ditch the original tank. Didn't fit anymore after I altered the angles of the frame
and besides: it look like one of them things the old folks had under their bed
so they didn't have to go all the way to toilet at night.
Remembered that I had a tank somewhere. Came from an old Danish moped.
Lo and behold : it fitted as if this was meant to be
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3156.jpg)
Heeeeey : I'm on a roll here !
Time to bribe my Mr. Computernerd colleague into making something a lot more
interesting that what he do for actual work.
In fact it didn't take any persuasion AT ALL, so a BIG thank you to Rasmus Hansen !!!
for helping me
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3173.jpg)
Here's Rasmus hard at work
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3169.jpg)
That went surprisingly fast. Maybe due to the fact that he has tree hands and extra joints on his fingers...dunno .
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3174.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/Nimbus-Kopi.jpg)
( For any co-nerds out there : I think he used a combination of Auto-Cad and Rhino .... not sure )
The drawing went up on the wall for some additional contemplation and evaluation
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/2e2fe7c9-9655-4a68-8906-908c6d9fdbdc.jpg)
and after a while we did some modifications and thought on how to put the darn thing together
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/opstalt-Kopi.jpg)
There was just NO way that I was going to bend those tubes myself.
As I said I'd never done it before, and I wasn't going to loose my virginity
doing it for a bike that will rush over the big white dyno at enormous speed
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/a-13.jpg)
( yeah...right )
..so I looked up the nearest place ( didn't know where else to start ) who do CNC tube-bending.
One: it was like five minutes away..Two: they guy who picked up the phone
turned out to be an old-bike nut. Not a bad start !
He was just the nicest and most helpful guy I could ever dream of bumping into.
At this point I had read everything I could possibly find concerning the choice of
tubing for building a motorcycle-frame, including every post on that here on the forum.
I soon realized that asking about it is like asking; "What engine-oil should I use for my XXXwhatever".
NOone seamed to agree on anything, so I listened but in the end I went with what the
CNC-guy recommended:
"..32 mm / 4 mm . ( That's: 1¼ ” / 1/6 ” )
seamless cold drawn hydraulic line pipe according to DIN 2391/C...EN 10305-4...St 37.4 NBK
Carbon steel tubes for machine structural purposes.
Application: motor-car construction, pneumatic and hydraulic operating mechanisms.."
One of several things that persuaded me was the fact that that particular type
is the one that the Swedish authorities accept for home-made motorcycle frames.
( Forget about doing such a thing here in Denmark... no way ).
I does not have to be 4 mm , but I went for that, hoping to make it strong enough
so I didn't need the bird-nest of tubing I see on other bike.
( I do understand that a thicker tube does not necessarily compensate for less tubing,
but we'll see how it works out )
It quite beefy:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/3Thisisheavydutytubing-1.jpg)
OK then: I'm building a tractor...ODINs TRACTOR,
but heeey: the weight 'penalty' for going from 3mm ( 1/8 " ) to 4 mm was around 7,5 kg / 15 pound,
and who cares...not me.
So the guy had 12 meters ( 36 feet ) brought over from Sweden ( needed two 'lengths' @ 18 feet ),
CNC bend the whole darn thing for very little more than 300 US$ .. ( including the price of the tubes )
cash .. out the back-door.
There are still nice people out there.
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/2-1.jpg)
-
im just in "awe"...and feel so dang priveledged to bear witness to what you are doing and the story of it "all"...!
THANK YOU immensely for sharing what you are doing....!
Joe Amo :)
side bar: this is a genuine response of love and appreciation, not one of my normal harsh-sarcastic-near derogatory posts..
-
Very cool! Love the story so far! :cheers:
-
I especially appreciate the 'pretend-work' that needs to be done before bending the first piece of steel. Your mock-up pic shows your feet behind the rear axle..........is that OK with the rules? I was told at BUB that the rear axle/chain-adjustment nuts and front axle pinch-nuts need to be safety-wired for next year.
Great start........... 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
-
Lars,
I've made a VERY POOR modification to the drawing of the nimbus crank you provided, in an attempt to clarify what I was talking about. what I'm talking about would be to machine an additional main journal into the crank in the web that connects the throw(s) for cylinders 1 & 2 as well as 3 & 4. In the drawing I've just hacked up one web. The journal would have to be quite narrow to leave enough material to connect the throws. You would also have to make a bearing carrier that would hold the additional main bearing shell and main cap. the carrier would fit in the crankcase between cylinders 1 & 2 as well as 3 & 4 and be attached to the crankcase in some way. There may not be enough material in the crankcase casting at the appropriate location to adequately support the bearing carrier or the shape may not allow the addition of the bearing carrier at all.
-
Hi Lars
Just tuned into your thread, wow that is one neat looking bike
You have the eye for what looks right, if the right engine plan came up do you have the money for a new crank & stronger rods to keep the engine together
What makes me nervous is the way it is the crank could start to flex a bit and get into a harmonic in a long hi gear run on the salt and bang
If you make some new parts the crank could have a thinner rod bearing a make room for the extra mains , and a stronger rod and have the crank drilled for some oil pressure with a pump you could mount in the engine or outside
Is there a crank builder in you neck of the woods you could visit and talk over a game plan, lots of rod builders but need a well thought out crank
You could make a main bearing girdle that bolts to your pan rail and the case to hold the extra mains and space down the pan or notch it to fit the girdle
It looks like it is a do able up grade to your neat salt racer
G Don
-
Thank you VERY much Joe and Tman.
Encouraging and kind words from you guys here,
means a lot to me and are truly appreciated !
... Your mock-up pic shows your feet behind the rear axle..........is that OK with the rules?
Yes. This being an "A" class build ( Special Construction ) , the rules goes like this:
7.G.1 Foot Rests:
Footrests shall be provided and the location is optional.
The rest of the SCTA Special Construction rules were really hard for me to comprehend
so just to be on the safe side I send a photo to Tom Evans ( Head motorcycle tech )
to ask if I was OK:
( Note how the crank-case was kindly lend to me by the 'Danish Con-rod Throwing Champion' )
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/3Ridingpositionseat-baseandfoot-pegs.jpg)
...and I was kindly given the go-ahead.
The AMA/BUB rules are somewhat clearer in that respect.
Great start........... 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
Thank you Old S !
Lars,
I've made a VERY POOR modification to the drawing of the nimbus crank you provided, in an attempt to clarify what I was talking about. what I'm talking about would be to machine an additional main journal into the crank in the web that connects the throw(s) for cylinders 1 & 2 as well as 3 & 4. In the drawing I've just hacked up one web. The journal would have to be quite narrow to leave enough material to connect the throws. You would also have to make a bearing carrier that would hold the additional main bearing shell and main cap. the carrier would fit in the crankcase between cylinders 1 & 2 as well as 3 & 4 and be attached to the crankcase in some way.
Thank you Roy. The drawing is fine ....NOW I get it...I told you: I'm a bit daft
There may not be enough material in the crankcase casting at the appropriate location to adequately support the bearing carrier or the shape may not allow the addition of the bearing carrier at all.
I'm afraid you're right. Both on the question of there being enough material on the crank to do the modification (there isn't )
and on the subject of mounting support/bearing carrier in the crank-case. There is no room for it,
and neither is it something I can see as doable, as what you (maybe) see as 'the crankcase'.
in fact is the upper part of engine, which is (for lack of better term) a combined 'upper engine block and cylinders'.
It's made of cast iron , and it's not of very substantial thickness.
Also: welding ( a bearing carrier ) onto cast-iron is really not something I'd like to go into.
That would also mean that the carrier would have to be made of cast-iron. ( In order to weld it onto the 'block' )
Thanks again for your input, but I just can not see this happening.
Hi Lars
Just tuned into your thread, wow that is one neat looking bike
You have the eye for what looks right,
Thanks Don !
if the right engine plan came up do you have the money for a new crank & stronger rods to keep the engine together
That's easy to answer: ... no
For a couple of reason:
One; this country is a Third World country when it comes to engine building, tuning, Hot Rod'ding, building bikes
building cars....anything like that , which is part of American culture is just not ( well: almost ) present here.
There is no tradition for that kind of stuff, partly because the rules, regulations and laws here
are prohibitive at a Stalinist level....Really !
( And btw; I do not, by any means have the money for it. This is a low-budget build.
'Low' defined as 'the height of an average freckle' )
As I mentioned: there is NO way one can scratch-build a bike here ( and run it on the streets )
and the rules for any kind of modifications are absurd.
Two; having any kind of crank or rod ( or anything else for that matter ) build here is insanely expensive.
Here's an example: I needed a head-stock for this build.
Instead of having that relatively simple thing made here, it was cheaper for me to buy it from USA,
having it put on a plane and flown over the Atlantic and pay the import-tax on it.
( With a bit of un-luck that happens to hit me once in a while, the darn thing is now on it's way back
over the big pond because the postal-service here f****d up.......auuuuurgh !!!)
What makes me nervous is the way it is the crank could start to flex a bit
and get into a harmonic in a long hi gear run on the salt and bang
I don't like that last word one bit.
.-)
but you may very well be right.
On the other hand: I don't worry too much about it.
When I build the Indian engine I was told that it would never hold up,
taking an ancient 12-13 hp engine and tune it to it's present almost 40 hp ( at the rear-wheel)
what with those con-rods that look like something out of a moped , and all:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/plstaelignger.jpg)
...but heeey: it's still here, in one piece.
Now on the Nimbus they're this small:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/HondaRC166250cc6-Cyl_PistonandRod.jpg)
.
.
.
.
.Naaa....just kidding !
If you make some new parts the crank could have a thinner rod bearing a make room for the extra mains , and a stronger rod and have the crank drilled for some oil pressure with a pump you could mount in the engine or outside
Now the oil-pressure thing had me slightly worried too, but I've contacted someone who makes a modification to
the Nimbus engine, so as to get like double the oil-pressure.
More later on that.
Thanks Don !
-
Now I had a lot of tubing to practice and do tests on.
Basically I wanted to check how it works with TIG-welding a tube this size,
penetration etc. and to test the impact on the strength of the tubing from the welding.
A lot of welding....and cutting up, to check.
The welds were done with stainless steel 'filler', type 316 Lsi.
The pretty welds are not done by me. The dodgy ones are.
I have no experience TIG-welding steel....and it shows.
Therefore the final welding will be done by a highly qualified friend.
Here are some of the tests:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/7Penetration.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/8-1.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/5Penetration.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/9.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/6Penetration.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/3Cuttinguptocheckpenetration.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/1TestingTIGset-up.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/2TestingTIGSet-upToomuchAMPIguess.jpg)
...and send, and showed, the pics to folks with experience on these matters.
One test was to really really really put on a lot of heat and move it slowly
and repeatedly.
That gave a 100% penetration:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/Perfectpenetration-2.jpg)
...but applying that technique to weld two pieces of tubing together
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/1uglywelding.jpg)
...wasn't such a good idea.
I put it in my tube-bender ( more on that later ) but without the
'mandrel' ( or whatever it's called ) to concentrate the pressure at one point
and gave it the full 12 ton workout
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/2break-test.jpg)
...and it was obviously clear that the amount of heat had made the
tubing weak and brittle next to the welding ... the 'heat-zone' one might say
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/3brokentube.jpg)
Lesson learned.
-
...now actually before the above tests, I practiced doing 'fish-mouths',
to prepare for putting the frame together
As I mentioned , I have VERY little practice or skills, fabricating or working
with steel, and none whatsoever on working with tubing.
I don't have a fancy tube-cutter tool for this stuff.
..I can't afford it
..I would be too dumb to figure out the exact angles with which to do the cutting
so it was all done 'free-hand' using first and angle-grinder and then one of my
favorite tools, this one
( I don't even know what such a thing is called. I call it a trunk-sander ( like in elephant-trunk ))
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/4Oneofmyfavoritetools.jpg)
...quite a challenge, I'd say, but it went surprisingly well,
if I may say so ( I just did...didn't I ).
Some are kind'a good...some not so much, but I'm getting there
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/3Thisisheavydutytubing.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/b.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/a.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/1.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3268.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3249.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/2.jpg)
Obviously the trick was to grind/sand off just a little at the time
...check it up against the tube that it's supposed to match...repeat, repeat..etc...
so as not to remove too much material....if you do, you're screwed and
can dump that fancy just-CNC-bend tube.
-
And now a short intermission in the build-thread to let me invite you to visit the
nicest motorcycle workshop in town;
the Nimbus-only 'J.C. NIMBUS' run by the ever-so-kind John
and located 10 minutes drive from me:
It's a busy place:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/foto-1.jpg)
..he's got the tools:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/foto7.jpg)
Cylinder-head/valve job:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/foto2-1.jpg)
Care for a cylinder, Sir ? :
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/foto5.jpg)
Then how about a crank-shaft :
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/CareforacrankshaftSir.jpg)
I nearly fell over backwards when I walked in and saw this one.
It's exactly like the one I had some 30 years ago
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/foto10.jpg)
Nimbus engine test-stand:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/foto9.jpg)
Nimbus frame check/repair jig:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/foto8.jpg)
Nimbus-parts galore:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/Nimbussparepartsonly.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/Nimbusspareparts.jpg)
Cut-up engine for educational purposes:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/Engine2.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/Engine1.jpg)
Note the rather nifty, and for the time very advanced, combined dynamo
and overhead-cam bevel-gear-drive
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/foto1.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/dynamo2.jpg)
Nice place, oy ?!
I hope you enjoyed the visit.
-
A possibility on the added mains. Could you make a girdle that goes between the pan and the upper case that also housed the two added main journals? The two stock mains would still be in the block.
-
Hi Lars
After reading your reply's I see what you up against now, that little stock rod does look pretty good and could not see the I beam in the engine
Very good idea to have your frame welded by a pro till you get more seat time, as it is a one time deal once you start laying down that bead
Your friend sure has a squared away bike shop, very nice and the neat cut away engine too
Glad I tuned into your build thread and will seeing your neat stuff with each post
G Don
-
Lars, Just a though on the crank. You might want to look at the cylinder spacing on some other 4 cylinder engines to see if you can find one that matches up. It might be easier to swap in a different crank rather then modifying the original one. A different crank would likely be staggered differently and would require the same for the cam.
-
The modern Hinckley built Triumph was sorta like the Nimbus when I started to work on it for LSR in 2006. There were very few people around who modified them and had a record of proven experience. In fact, just one fellow did. It was finding that person that was critical. I could get his advice and build using his experience rather than go through all of the work he did to figure things out. Perhaps those drag racers who rode Nimbi might have a solution worked out?
-
I had this turn up at work today
the guy was looking for some one who knew what it was and where to get parts
Well, one out of two isn't bad
G
(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc28/grumm441/Bikes/Nimbus_zps216ba50e.jpg) (http://s219.photobucket.com/user/grumm441/media/Bikes/Nimbus_zps216ba50e.jpg.html)
-
Grumm; an Australian Nimbus..now that's something !
The guy who runs that workshop I showed on the previous page can get you just about every
spare-part you'll need, and he's used to ship parts all over the world.
Click:
http://www.jcnimbus.dk/jc-engl.htm
...and if you have any problems at all with it, feel free to contact me and I'll be more that
happy to help you out.
Update and some rather brilliant news on the Nimbus build and replies to the comments above coming your way
very soon.
-
Yep, who would've thought they would make it all the way to Aus
Apparently there are 14 of them here
Thanks for the Link
G
-
Yep, who would've thought they would make it all the way to Aus
Apparently there are 14 of them here
Thanks for the Link
G
Grumm, Steer clear of those 14 Nimbi, they were probably cast there for dastardly deeds or worse.
Oh, wait a minute, you were too, never mind. :roll:
Don
-
.
Been a while.
I guess I fell asleep for a long time.
Just woke up:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/bonseng.jpg)
..or maybe THAT was a dream, and I'm still asleep...
..or I'm dreaming I'm having a dream, where I woke up..
….NUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUrse: give me my pink pills....NOW !
__________________________________________________________________
Again: thanks for all your advise concerning the crank-shaft,
but again: doing those rather sophisticated modifications just won't happen.
For several reasons, but most importantly; it's way way beyond my scope
and having someone make it is way way beyond my financial means.
Since I last posted I've had a few conversations with people generally
accepted to be the ones in-the-know when it comes to Nimbus engines.
...the guy who runs the Nimbus shop here in Copenhagen
...a Swedish guy ( more later ) who is known as probably one of a few
persons with the most comprehensive knowledge on things Nimbus-technical
...a guy from Vermont, USA (!) ( more later ) who is a brilliant engineer
and probably the other person with the most comprehensive knowledge on
things Nimbus-technical.
They all say that I should stop worrying about it. The crank is immensely strong.
Check it, have it magna-flux tested for cracks... run it !
Perhaps those drag racers who rode Nimbi might have a solution worked out?
Mmmmm: I'm afraid not.
No one has ever tuned a Nimbus to run it in anger on the drag-strip.
If you refer to the one running the strip on the video I posted,
then that one is just an ordinary Nimbus having a bit of fun.
They have been used for racing, but that was back in the forties/fifties
and not because they were suited for racing, but simply because these machines
were the only ones available.
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/Bakkelobet_glynore1.gif)
…....but attempts to 'tune' them have been made:
...the Police used 'higher' pistons to ad compression, and speed up things
...apparently some crank-shafts with longer stroke were made.
Something I can't do btw. as it would bring me over the 750cc limit
...some made a cylinder-head/intake modification so as to
sport two carbs ( instead of one )
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/Nimdbkarb3.jpg)
but the resulting power-gain is debatable. I did however get a message from one who runs it
and he reguraly takes his bike up to 140 km/h ( 87 mph ), which is not bad at all for the old
bumble-bee.
...then there's this one. Now that's quite exciting:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/Turbo-NimbusB.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/turbo-NimbusA.jpg)
Unfortunately I can't find any information on it, but I'm working on it.
Would be interesting to hear about his experience.
One other 'racing' Nimbus is this one, about which I know nothing,
but a friend is working on getting in touch with the owner
( in Switzerland ).
Now turn up the volume on your PC, and listen to this.
It has a non-original carb, looks like a Mikuni flat-slide (?) and
it stumbles a bit first off, but listen as it leaves the second curve.
CLICK: http://youtu.be/g-I38mZmZNk?t=2m56s
That, to me, sounds pretty darn sweeeeeet !
-
NIMBUSTIDBIT:
In 1939 a gentleman called Mr. Matsson took a small trip
through the United States on his Nimbus.
He rode it 18.319 km ( 11.382 miles (!!!))
-
Now here's another thing:
not only does it have just 2 ( crank ) main-bearings,
it also have just 2 cam-shaft bearings.
It's probably one of the very few 4-cylinder, in row, OHC engines
so (under- ) equipped in that department,
and I can't do a thing about it.
The cam-shaft lives inside this tube-shaped thingy:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/Knast2.jpg)
...with a bronze-bushing ( is that what it's called in English(?)) at each end and
it is mounted by inserting it into the 'tube' from this end :
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/Knast1.jpg)
See? Nothing I can do about that. Not that I'm worried, even if I probably
will use 'stiffer' intake-valve springs, so as to 'hold back' the pressure
from the blower.
PS: don't ask about the avalanche of blue silicone. It's quite not-too-wise
and I never understood why people do it, and I never understood why they do not
understand that on the 'inside' of the engine there's an equal amount of useless
silicone-gum, that soon will float around in there and clog up things.
Those are just pics I picked off the net.
-
I think this just looks like a real fun project! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Pete
-
Lars, what Pete said, BTW I still wear the salt cracker tee shirt you sent me. Get lots of good comments on it. :cheers:
-
I think this just looks like a real fun project! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Pete
Thanks Pete...it IS !
Lars, what Pete said, BTW I still wear the salt cracker tee shirt you sent me. Get lots of good comments on it. :cheers:
I'm honored to know it's being worn by one of my heroes
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Glen.jpg)
...and a good looking fella' too !
.-)
-
NIMBUSTIDBIT:
A guy posted this on FaceBook after seeing da' Nimbus:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/SnurreNIMBUS.jpg)
Nice !
.
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Thanks to a friend of mine called Kim, I've had a couple of
great visitors here in the workshop lately.
Kim btw. is a Nimbus nut-job ( and I mean that in the most positive way possible ).
A few years ago he gave himself a 50 years-birthday present:
a 2 month tour around Japan on his Nimbus.
Shipped it to Tokyo and had an epic journey.
Here's a brilliant picture of his bike with a couple of Japanese cops
sporting, what appears to be Startreck uniforms:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/26-10Mc-stroslashmere.jpg)
First visitor was a guy and his wife, from Vermont USA, dropping by on the way to the airport
after a visit to Sweden and Denmark.
He's a brilliant engineer and a Nimbusnut.
He and his wife have started the " Intergalactic Nimbus Club / Vermont Chapter ".
They, and their dog, are the only members. She is the 'President and Grand Vizier'
and he is CEO ( Chief Engineer Officer )...not sure about the dogs position.
Top Dog, perhaps ?
Got meself' a t-shirt:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3512-1.jpg)
They claim that the spelling-error on the t-shirt is due to the fact
that their dog 'Radar' edited the graphics ( 'due to lactose intolerance issues' ..
he made the error.... I don't think they claimed to be 'normal'...or maybe it's just the dog
who's a bit wonky
.-)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/INclub.jpg)
Don't ever let your dog near the 'puter !
Mr. CEO, among other things, makes an improved clutch for the Nimbus:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/20042_1357119970106_1294681861_1019598_721867_n.jpg)
The Nimbus has a ( car-like) dry-clutch, which isn't the best set-up the world has seen.
His modification addresses some of the problems, like the fact that the springs
do not place an 'even' pressure on the clutch-plate and therefore this tends to
warp given time. He fabs an aluminum-ring in which the springs sit
so as to give this 'even' pressure.
Anyway; a little time later I got this absolutely freaking unbelievable email from the
CEO:
"...I will offer, if you like, to install my last remaining aluminum ring into your flywheel. I might also like to offer that if you were to send me your flywheel and crankshaft assemblies, I can have that all dynamically balanced for you as a unit after the installation. In addition, I have a technique to balance the large end of the con rods so they are all identical to less than 1 gm. IF you want we can also look at balancing the smaller ends in conjunction with the piston you will install on each. All you need to do is to let me know. I can make that contribution to your efforts!.."
SERIOUSLY: what can I say, except for being totally in awe that
such kindness still exists out there.
Gotta' fill up my Karma-account to put things into balance again after this, don't I ?!
...then some days later I had a visitor from Sweden.
Showed up on this:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/Nimbusstel.jpg)
Turn out he wanted to make new parts for the frame-assembly.
( They are running short now )
Then, why not, make a complete new frame ( the black'ish one at the rear )
...ride it to bits to test it...and then start fabricating the bits needed.
That's what he's done.
Simple ...erh ?!
We had a long talk about my two main challenges :
..One: having someone make a 4-speed, but HI-geared set of internals for the gear-box.
Long story, but LO and behold; turns out he's the man behind the
fabricating of the new 4-speed boxes, and he'd be glad to invite me up to his place
in Sweden and we'd go talk to the guy who actually makes them,
and surely we'd work out something.
..Two: I need an 'extended' cam-shaft , so that on the extension I can
mount a pulley that will drive the blower.
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Blower1-1.jpg)
No problem: he was just starting up the fabrication of new cam-shafts
( running short of them as well ) and making one with an extension for me
would be no problem.
The world is still a great place with an surprising number
of good and kind people !
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Hey Lars, nice work,most entertaining, its not surprising those others want to get involved,
"They dont pretend to be normal"...Hahahahahaha
Jeez i laughed.......
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Awesome update Lars!
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He's one of us.
If he approaches from Mexico he can get insurance,
food stamps, health care, a cell fone and a GPS that
will take him to every shop that's needed to make
his parts. Now all he has to do is get to Mexico.
Too bad Dolan has passed. Jack would help him to
the very end.
FREUD
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Thanks for posting that video Lars. That brought back memories of racing those bikes on roads just like those shown -when the machines were new. I thought it would be something I never would see or hear again.
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Thanks Goggles, Tman and Freud !
You're welcome Bo. Nothing beats noisy old motorcycles !
Where were we ?
Ohh yes: the frame !
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/2-2.jpg)
The tubing arrived and I could start assembling what will hopefully one day
be a functional bike that will roam the Salt at incredible speed.
A note here:
The parts you see here shows how I approached this silly project.
The idea was to use as much parts that I already had as possible.
Mmmm: 'idea' may be the wrong word...'necessity' might cover it better.
I've been..erh....financially challenged lately so this really was the only way.
...rear wheel; comes from a Honda GL1000 on which I replaced the wheels.
I wanted a smaller-than-(Nimbus)-standard rim so as to lower the bike. (*)
Also it is wider and more 'solid' than the Nimbus rim.
Fortunately both the Nimbus hub ( with the shaft-drive-thingy ) and
the Honda hub have 20 spokes, so I can move the Honda rim over.
...front wheel also from the Honda ( sans brake-disks )
...tank: from an old moped
...front-forks is from a HD Sportster . Bought cheaply for the Indian build,
but never used on that
...fairing: Danish made fiberglass fairing made for the MZ bikes waaay back.
Traded it for a 'Easy Rider' poster and some change.
...blower: reserve-blower for the Indian ( second-hand from an eighties Subaru mini-car )
...carburetor: reserve carb for the Indian ( off a Harley-something )
Time to move stuff over from the original-frame mock-up
to the new frame
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/3-2.jpg)
..holding things together with wooden thingies.
Checking for room / position for the blower
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/5awinner.jpg)
and trying to figure out the intake side
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/7.jpg)
...and after a quick trip to the HomeDepot equivalent
I did the Intake Version:2
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3238.jpg)
Mmmm: not bad. This might work.
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/4.jpg)
Figuring out additional tubing:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/9-1.jpg)
Gonna' need something up front to stiffen up the head-stock
and that will act as a mounting for the tank as well,
and something at the rear as well.
Bought a p.o.s. tube-bender from 'BilTema' ( the local equivalent to Harbour Freight ).
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/a-14.jpg)
Considering that I have never ever bend a single tube in my life before ,
it went pretty well....after a couple of not so brilliantly brilliant
attempts that is.
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/c-5.jpg)
and it was time to assemble the frame.
Started with the 2 upper rails and my neatly (sort of) bend connecting-tube
( not shown on the drawing above ):
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/d-5.jpg)
(*) Lowering the bike / engine;
the only way to lower the engine --> bike / riding position
was to use smaller wheels as I have to keep the engine / drive out-put
in line with the drive-shaft / rear-wheel axle, to exact measurements.
( Remember: it's a rigid set-up originally )
Fortunately I had the original frame to measure from
and later I had the original factory drawings:
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/1STELtotal.jpg)
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I don't have a fancy frame- 'jig' set-up thingy ,
so I had to make do with a rather primitive way of doing it
using my motorcycle-lift and pieces of wood
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/3-3.jpg)
...and checking and re-checking all measurements as I went along.
The most important thing was to get the
center-line / head-stock relation right,
so I made a set-up like this
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/2weldingset-up-1.jpg)
Instead of the head-stock I used a long tube with the same diameter as the head-stock, the idea being that IF I had used the head-stock
and mount it with , let say, 0,1 mm precision
...now I could mount the tube with the same precision
but allowing a 1 mm error at the end of the loooong tube.
( Not sure my explanation makes sense, but the error of 1 mm on the full length of the tube, would be x times less at the upper 'smaller' portion of the tube)
Also, this system allowed me to 'lift' up the 'head-stock'-tube
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/4gettingreadytogrindforheadtube-1.jpg)
...grind off a little of the upper tubing...lower the head-stock tubing back again..
...check if it 'matced' ....grind off a little of the upper tubing ...etc...etc
using first an angle-grinder , then the red-'trunk'-sanding thingy on the lower right here
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3372-1.jpg)
then a bit of hand-filing...
until it fitted as intended
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/5-2.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/6-2.jpg)
Same thing for matching up the lower tubes to the 'head-stock':
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/6aGrindinglowertubes-1.jpg)
..'bend' it outwards....grind a bit...match up...grind some more ...etc...etc..
That one was a bit of a challenge, as the angles of the grinding
were a bit complicated
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/7lowertubemeetsheadtube-1.jpg)
...but all in all it worked, though is was somewhat time-consuming
( but who cares ... not me )
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/8-3.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/headtubeisadummyfornow-1.jpg)
Then it was a matter of cutting off excess tubing and tack-(TIG-) welding.
The whole thing will come apart later... the real head-stock will be mounted..
...and a friend will do the actual 'full' welding.
For that we'll go to another friends work-shop, and do it on a proper
big-a$$ welding-table.
Yeah: I know the way I mounted the lower tubes to the head-stock
is un-orthodox.
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3379-1.jpg)
It's a long explanation, but basically I did it that way
so that during the set-up and the assembly I could change/alter the angle of the
head-stock, as I wasn't quite sure what the hell I was doing ( am I ever ? ).
Then on to the rear upper-lower tube connectors
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/10alltack-welded-1.jpg)
At the end I was pretty pleased ... again: taking into consideration that this was the
first time everever that I've done anything like this.
Off the bench it went, and it was time for a new mock-up.
Whoohaa: it almost looks like a bike, doesn't it :
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/3detlignersnartenmotorcykel.jpg)
.
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Needed some kind of exhaust.
This being a blown engine the rule is:
make it as short, nonrestrictive and big-diameter as possible.
Played around with pieces of cardboard
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/foto1-1.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/foto-2.jpg)
then on to a few drawings with measurements
and back to my computerfancypants colleague,
who in a few minutes produced this
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/Billedeafudstoslashdningsroslashr.jpg)
..then onwards to my new-found tube-bender friend,
to who I handed over the 3-D file
and for a very moderate sum he made them up in
thick-wall'ed Ø = 40 mm aluminum tubes
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3600.jpg)
...then out to my friends construction place where they,
after a short instruction, let me use their milling machine
( that was a first too...quite exiting I must say )
to make four 40mm precision holes in a 10 mm piece of aluminum
to act as a mounting-plate ( tubes/plate will be welded' on the 'back'-side )
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/c-2.jpg)
Why aluminum ?
..mild steel would rust and rut away in no time
..stainless steel I can't weld, as a rather complicated back-gas (argon)
thingy is needed, and besides it's tough to work with ( like doing that mounting-plate )
I searched and searched the inter-web for information
on the viability of this.
A bunch of people on different forums I read, said it wouldn't work /
the lower melting point etc....but then I read some people who had actually
done it with no problems.
I may be daft, but I can't see the problem...hey; an air-cooled bike
like my BSA have cylinder-heads ( with exhaust 'exits' ) made in aluminum
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/DSCF3601.jpg)
and btw. it turns out a few American cars came with aluminum exhaust/headers.
Donno....we'll see.
But it looks pretty freaking neat...ai ??? !
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/octane98extra/Nimbus/1-2.jpg)
( Yep; they will be shortened at final assembly )
.
.
Cost so far for da' Bonneville Nimbus: $US 629.32
.
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Those must be the best looking set of pipes I've ever seen on a bike. Excellent work. Why won't they work?. It's not like the bike will be standing in one place, you'll be getting cooling from airflow and you used a nice thick walled tube. I like. :cheers: :cheers:
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the motorcycle is really coming along and looking nice, Lars.
very detailed build diary.
Franey
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The aluminum pipes will be fine as long as you dont use heat wrap on them. Once you do they will over heat and blow out.
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Lars, awesome design, and great craftsmanship. love it. Wish we were closer so I could see for real. Your way of doing things is like old school thinking. My dad always told me to make a template first as it's easy to modify and fit. then make the real part. if something happens you already have a template to make another. Sure like the build pictures as you go. :cheers:
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HI Lars. Looking well. Stan Back sent me this video. A vintage bike hill climb. About 3:20 in there is a Nimbus. Good sounding one too. Looking forward to seeing you on the salt next year.
http://youtu.be/g-I38mZmZNk?t=2m56s
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Two guys went around to world on their nimbus's. Here is the link: http://kingcroesus.blogspot.com/
They talk about the problems with clutches, heat, etc. and the solutions with info on all the nimbus experts including the 4 speed trans update.
Have fun! I am reading this!
Geo
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Awesome! The exhaust looks beautiful! Great work octane. I love the frame as well. I'm a bit of a wierd duck when it comes to bikes and cars. That being said, I love what your doing. And the fact that it's a Nimbus makes it that much cooler. I'm hoping to see this machine fly down the salt in the near future.
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Any new updates?
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Lars,
I was looking at your frame mock up and thought I should remind you to try to fit a headstock, triple clamps, and forks. The forks are going to hit the top perimeter tubes on turns. Of course, you don't want or need anymore than 10 or 15 degrees, but turning around can be time consuming if you have less.
Tom
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Hi Lars, that is one fabulous looking bike you're building & it's great that you're learning new crafts. Love the wooden jig, I've been using them for ages. I have also mocked up full frames in wood. They're accurate & easy to modify, & at the end of your frame-build you can put them in your workshop wood burner if you have one.
Much talk about two-bearing cranks, the last bike I worked on with 4 cylinders & 2 bearings was a 1923 Henderson, & it was nowhere near as beefy as yours, plus it had pushrods about as thin as knitting needles to open the valves.
I had to smile when I recognised that white haired eccentric in your pictures, Kim Scholler! Nice bloke, he turned up at my house one day here in the UK, having ridden 120 miles from London on a borrowed bike, & not wearing a crash helmet. When I pointed out to him how highly illegal it was here, he grinned & said "It's OK, I have an excemption certificate from my doctor". I didn't bother explaining that no Police here can read Danish. After several hours shooting the old bullshirt in my workshop, he set off for Birmingham, another 200 miles & still helmetless, to buy an old British Arial Leader, which he was going to ride home to Denmark.
Good luck with the build, Lars, & if there's any way we can help in the UK, just ask.
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:-D I know a Dane that won't ride through a green traffic light without checking first.
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Thank you 'desperate' ! You're very kind.
..................................................................
Hello all you good people !
I hope you are all well and fine, in spite of you visiting a lake instead of a Flat a little while back.
I' m not dead ... yet... but life has (again) been..er...roller-coasting, one might say,
and I really didn't want to come here unless I had something to show, and thereby deserve
to take up a chunk of space here.
Now finally, I've got some a bit of stuff to show that I'm still at it.
You guys like pictures, so I'll just shut up and show them and hopefully
you'll let me back in then. Got myself an engine and have started proceeding from there:
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/1-Kopi.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/2.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/6.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/1-2.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/1-1.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/2b.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/2c.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/2a.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/4.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/7.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/5.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/6-1.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/3-1.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/1a.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/1-3.jpg)
...back on track.
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Wow as always yhour woke is awesome. We have missed your posts and glad to see you back. We all have those up's and downs for sure. Lar's please keep us up to date on the fantastic build.
The rain outs this year on the salt was a bummer for everyone. The dry lake was bad as well except the November meet was great so everyone got in good runs. Good to hear from you. :cheers:
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Lars,
That's one fine motorbike you've got there. When I grow up, I want to build one like that, too!
Tom
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Almost bought one 10-15 years ago. It was so cool!
Glad I didn't do it now. It wouldn't have held a candle to yours!
Terrific!! Glad you're back!!!
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it looks really nice, Lars.
the motor looks brand new and the fairing fits well.
Franey
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Wow, Lars. It is nice to see you back. I was worried... That looks like a good bike. It will sound nice with those four open pipes.
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Absolutely gorgeous Lars. Nothing more to say. :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Pete
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Speechless here too. :cheers:
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Lars,
No one will ever accuse you of taking the "easy way out"!!! I love that engine and your bike looks great. Good to see some progress and to hear from you.
Rex
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Great to see the 'artful' progress................last I looked, you were trying to solve the crank/bearing design issue with respect to the potential power output. So WHAT'S INSIDE? :wink:
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Thank you ever so much for all your very kind words
Glen, Tom, Stan B, Franey, Bo, Peter, Taurock, Rex, Young-Scrambler-Dude !
Thank You!
Glad to be back.
I'll do a proper update later but for now a couple of very belated answers to
a couple of questions here:
Lars,
I was looking at your frame mock up and thought I should remind you to try to fit a headstock, triple clamps, and forks. The forks are going to hit the top perimeter tubes on turns. Of course, you don't want or need anymore than 10 or 15 degrees, but turning around can be time consuming if you have less.
Tom
Tom; it's been taking care of. I think I posted some pics with a triple clamp on the bike, that I mounted that I
took from a Honda XL500 that I broke up. Found out that it didn't work, for the reason you mentioned.
I'm obviously not the sharpest tool in the kitchen-drawer.
It now sports a HD Sportster front ( Showa forks ) , with plenty of wiggling room:
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/IMG_5526.jpg)
..in fact I have close to 30 degrees movement to each side
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/IMG_5525.jpg)
....Your way of doing things is like old school thinking. My dad always told me to make a template first as it's easy to modify and fit. then make the real part. if something happens you already have a template to make another...
Thank you Glen. Yes, I always make templates.. first in cardboard, then in 0.25 mm aluminum which can be
cut with a box-cutter or normal scissors, and is flexible like metal .. THEN the real metal.
Two guys went around to world on their nimbus's. Here is the link: http://kingcroesus.blogspot.com/
They talk about the problems with clutches, heat, etc. and the solutions with info on all the nimbus experts including the 4 speed trans update.
Have fun! I am reading this!
Geo
Thanks Geo. Yep , I know them guys. They have been visiting my workshop and if all goes well
one of them will come over and crew with me.
Those must be the best looking set of pipes I've ever seen on a bike.....
Ohh, thanks... they are quite cool aren't they. I wonder if there ever was a motorcycle
with "zoomies". There's not a hell of a lot of bikes to do it on. Have I really made an original thing ?
Ha ha ... please don't ya' ever post a pic of someone who has already done it
.-)
Lars,
That's one fine motorbike you've got there. When I grow up, I want to build one like that, too!
Tom
Thanks Tom.
I do sincerely hope it won't ever happen...the 'grow up' thing, that is
.-)
Great to see the 'artful' progress................last I looked, you were trying to solve the crank/bearing design issue with respect to the potential power output. So WHAT'S INSIDE? :wink:
Inside is a perfectly totally rebuild engine, done by a highly respected 72 year old gentleman,
who has worked on NIMBUS'es for 50 years. He has the most impeccable clean baffling
workshop I have probably ever ever seen. Initially I planned to get a engine and do the rebuild,
more or less, myself ... but it stopped making sense when I was offered this engine.
Sad story really: he rebuild it fora guy who asked him to do EVERYthing, and then he
couldn't/wouldn't pay. The builder , who is a gentleman, let it sit and waited patiently 3 years for him
to pay up. Never happened , so a deal was cut that the builder would be 'allowed' to sell it for the
sole cost of rebuilding it, so as to cover his expenses.
How could I resist this offer ?!
Came with the most baffling meticulous paperwork of all the measurements , tolerances, parts, work he had done etc.
filled out on original old NIMBUS factory/workshop paper-work :
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/9.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/10.jpg)
Life is good
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Ahhhh Harley Sportster forks. My favorites. Good choice --- Lots of years with interchangeability and parts readily available. Now it can go fast.
Joe
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Lars, there is a relatively inexpensive modification to those Showa forks that in improves them for race use. In a couple of weeks I will be doing it on the street bike and I will post it on the build diary. It is simply installing some inertially actuated blow off valves. It allows the forks to quickly compress and absorb energy if you hit a rough patch on the salt. There is less of the big jolt to the chassis that can cause stability problems.
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The exhaust looks downright awesome!
(The rest ain't too bad either :-D )
Cheers,
Greg
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Howdy !
Hope you're all doing well and is getting ready for August.
Progress report from this side of the pond , the short version:
Essensially started ALL over again with the 'rebuild' engine.
Didn'tlike what I saw inside of it.
Got a BRAND NEW NOS crank/con-rod assembly.
That is harder to find than a full set of hens teeth in a very big haystack
( or something )
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/1.jpg)
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/2.jpg)
..and better quality main bearings
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/3.jpg)
Puzzle for big boys
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/4.jpg)
..worked over and flattened every single surface that 'mates' to other stuff
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/5.jpg)
..got hold of all the parts for the rear-assembly, brakes , drive etc
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/6.jpg)
..and fixed them up
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/7.jpg)
..and painted
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/8.jpg)
...now, that's better
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/9.jpg)
..yet another puzzle for big boys
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/10.jpg)
..got the camshaft back from the local machinist. 'Extended a couple of inches
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/11.jpg)
...that will hold the blower-pully
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/12.jpg)
.. he also made a 'lid' with an oil-seal from where the extension will pass through
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/13.jpg)
...fixing up stuff, gear-change mechanism, modified ignition system etc.
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/14.jpg)
..ripped the old ignition-coil out of the housing and inserted a ned HT lead connection.
Will now run a normal hi-performance ignition-coil mounted on the frame
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/15.jpg)
...loads of paintwork to do
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/16.jpg)
..tank with new filler-thingy almost ready
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/17.jpg)
.. lots of repair, modifying and paintwork on the fairing
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/18.jpg)
.. got an AKRONT rim for the rear-wheel off German Ebay
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/19.jpg)
.. and laced it up with custom-made spokes
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/20.jpg)
.. lend orginal Nimbus tools for setting up the drive crown/pinion gear
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/21.jpg)
.. tricky and timeconsuming shim set-up
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/22.jpg)
..had a bunch of things laser-cut: engine mounts, rear-wheel / drive mounts and a kick-starter
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/23.jpg)
..time to tack the frame together properly with help from a guy smarter than me.
Welded the frame to the table
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/24.jpg)
.. made spacers and stuff to keep everything in right position
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/25.jpg)
...enden up looking hilarious, but it worked pretty well
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/26.jpg)
..and it kind'a looks like a frame. Still only tacked together
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/27.jpg)
..setting up blower
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/28.jpg)
..made new intake-system
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/29.jpg)
..made a photo session mostly to brag about probably being the only guy in the
world with 3 supercharged old motorcycles
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/30.jpg)
..smoooooth ,ain't it ?!
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/31.jpg)
..2300 cc of supercharged goodies
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/32.jpg)
..had the crankshaft checked in this fine piece of equipment ( not my crank in the photo )
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/33.jpg)
..to see how well it was balanced. Big surprice: maximum out-of-balance at 1200RPM
was 1.5 gram (0,0529 ounces) , dropping up the range to 0.8 gram (0,0282 ounces)
That is like nothing. A brand new car-crank is around 3-4 grams
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/34.jpg)
..finished the zoomies with metal inserts to fit it up to the cylinder-head
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/35.jpg)
..and it was time to get the engine together again / again / again
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/36.jpg)
...setting up crank-shaft / clutch
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/37.jpg)
..I love this part
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/38.jpg)
..never done an engine this way, but that's how to do a Nimbus
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/39.jpg)
Borrowed an electric-driven run-in table from a Nimbus workshop.
8 hours of running it, just like they did with every single engine at the factory back in the days
http://youtu.be/JGh6893rjrk
..I sat it up so it sucked the oil-mist out and into the intake to lube things up
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/40.jpg)
..changed the oil a couple of times and it contained no nasty surprises
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Landracing/41.jpg)
Time to get this thing running !!!
Yesterday was my birthday and an appropiate occation to bring ”Odin's Fury”
to life :
Click and turn UP sound :
https://youtu.be/taE7l68DcRo
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah !!!
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Lar's it looks great and the sound is awesome. Nice work. :cheers:
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Hey, Lars seeing the bike uses a drive shaft.....what are you using for gear ratios??????
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Lars, you've done it again sir, beautiful build! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Pete
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Odin should be pleased :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :cheers:
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Awesome build Lars. Much attention to detail. :cheers:
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DAYUUM !!!!!!!!
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Amazing work, absolutely beautiful bike !! :cheers:
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A work of art, just beautiful
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very nice, Lars.
the big end on the con rod sure is beefy .
Franey
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Lar's you have sure put in many hours for this super build, I am very impressed with your work. You have to be very proud. We are all wanting to see it on the salt. :cheers:
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Hi Lars...
Looks more than bloody good!!!
Patrick
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This is gonna look so awesome on the salt!
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The Gods will be pleased!!
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Looks great & sounds even better! See you on "THE SALT" my Danish friend!
If you've not organised anywhere to "pit" park up with us Brits, we're bringing 10 bikes this year.
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Very interesting story. Good luck with it, it looks great!
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Lar's it looks great and the sound is awesome. Nice work. :cheers:
Thanks a lot Glen.
You need a new t-shirt ?
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/IMG_7194.jpg)
You COULD look just as tough as me...ha ha:
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/Bonneville%20Nimbus/6_1.jpg)
Hey, Lars seeing the bike uses a drive shaft.....what are you using for gear ratios??????
Erhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh: this will give you an idea...maybe.
It's nut, I know
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x214/octane98/yyy.jpg)
Lars, you've done it again sir, beautiful build! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Pete
Thank you Pete
Odin should be pleased :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :cheers:
He is ... he's riding his eight-legged horse Sleipnir around in circles in pure joy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleipnir
Awesome build Lars. Much attention to detail. :cheers:
Thanks Taurock, I do my ( rather limited ) best
DAYUUM !!!!!!!!
I have NO idea what that means, but ; thanks
Amazing work, absolutely beautiful bike !! :cheers:
Thanks. Glad you like it
A work of art, just beautiful
Thanks a lot Mt'boy !
very nice, Lars.
the big end on the con rod sure is beefy .
Franey
They are; and most importantly: the crank hasn't broken ............................... yet
Hi Lars...
Looks more than bloody good!!!
Patrick
Thanks Patrick Owl !!!
This is gonna look so awesome on the salt!
Thanks Nanno. I hope it will set tires on the Salt this year.
No too sure right now, what with my financial situation and all that crap.
But still: where there is hope , there is .................... erhhhhhhhhhhhhhh .... hope
Looks great & sounds even better! See you on "THE SALT" my Danish friend!
If you've not organised anywhere to "pit" park up with us Brits, we're bringing 10 bikes this year.
Chris, my man : thanks for you kind offer ... on second thoughts ; I'm sure the Nimbus
will start dripping oil in large quantities if I camp anywhere next to a bunch of Brit bikes .-)
Very interesting story. Good luck with it, it looks great!
Thanks Olepaw !
I'll do a proper update, but for now I'll just post a new video of the Nimmer
running a whole lot better and more aggressively than on the previous one,
where I had forgotten to ....mumble mumble mumble ... never mind; here it is;
turn up sound and enjoy: ( note how the video-recorder is thrown back at the surprise of
the sound of the thunderous ROAR from Odin's Fury ... he he )
https://youtu.be/X5VteB3SmY4
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Looking forward to seeing you, new wow sure. :cheers:
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Hi all you good folks !
" The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated "
Mark Twain
SOOOOO, some 8 years past by, where my life took some twisted, and sometimes not too pleasant, turns
and the NIMBUS was kicked to a corner of the shop, and occationally taken out to do some work on.
Didn't want to post here unless I had something to show for it.
Now I'm officially retired, and have finally spend a few weeks to get it ready and roadworthy.
Still need a few details to fix, but I have plenty of time to do it according to plan which is 'official'
presentation in 3 weeks. I have a shi..p -load of pics I'll post later and I'll post the final assembly.
In the meantime here's a very art'y photo ( black&white is 'art' ) of the present stage in my new shop.
Good to be back and I hope you're all doing well !
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Great news. Look forward to seeing Nimbus on the salt flats.
Joe
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Thank you Joe !
-
Semi-slowly but surely going according to plan.
For now, this is my favorite image of the build ( work in progress )
(https://i.ibb.co/Z2bh7Gg/20230820-175037-Kopi.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FHdBCmY)
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Nice Lars...
Same here, life gets in the way (but in a good way for me... See below...) but planning a return...
Hope to meet you again!
Patrick
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53075274003_d4ba7ae299_b.jpg)
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Good to "see" you again, Patrick !
Just to clearify: everything ( well, allmost ) is in a 'good way' here now.
Yeah, you have a few good hours of work ahead of you with that .. erh .. HD Shovel Pan Knuckle Iron -head (?).
1) What's the plan ?
2) That carburettor; is it on of them slightly wierd sort of direct 'injection',
no float-chamber -thingies ? 'Jet' -something ?
Cheers !
I believe that's you behind my INDIAN in 2012
(https://i.ibb.co/RpcKqG6/patrick.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Y7hSx4d)
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2) That carburettor; is it on of them slightly wierd sort of direct 'injection', no float-chamber -thingies ? 'Jet' -something ?
Tillotson diaphragm carbonater me thinks!
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Octane, I've got most of the bits....
T'was dismantled in circa 1969... Collected it last month...
It is a factory one-off 900cc XLR-TT Sportster Road Racer in so-called High Boy cycle parts.
Ex Lance Weil, a Californian who came to GB in 1967 to race it with some success.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53075173015_e9ab015a56_z.jpg)
And yes, good old Tillotson w/o float, pressure diff between AP and venturi vacuum admits gasoline in carb via a rubber diaphragm actuated inlet valve.
Like on the little motor driven chainsaws and works at any angle...
Patrick
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Ohhhhh, that looks absolutely brilliant.
Congratulations with finding such a gem !
Any plans for spiffing it up / modifications ?
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Octane: I believe that's you behind my INDIAN in 2012
Yes, bctually in 2011, that was my 60th anniversary pressie to meself!!!
And my friend and helper Jim Haubert with hands crossed on his back.
Year of the Hand Burn... After the facts, in Bryce Canyon on the way back to AZ...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53143883407_3cac5cc424_b.jpg)
Patrick