Springfield Flyer.

[Peter Jack]

Mike, why not check the wheel for runout before you put it on the lathe. Attempts to correct a non existent problem have been known to screw up the works before.

The welding process they used would be submerged arc welding. It leaves a really high quality weld and is commonly used for pressure vessels.

Pete

[tauruck]

Pete, I'm learning.
I think Theo is going to do all the checking as that's his game.
The lathe was my idea to make sure the mating surfaces are spot on.
I'll convey your thoughts to Theo. Thanks for the heads up. I really appreciate it.

[lsrjunkie]

Sweet Mikey! Looks like the first one turned out pretty darned good man.

As I have learned, progress of any kind is good. Keep at it man! 

[tauruck]

Thanks Joe.

I feel so much better now. Things are moving again.

We had a few giggles here today.
My army buddy Willie called to say he was "legless" and couldn't drive the car.
His limb broke and had to go to 1 Mil Hospital for repair.
He won't have it for a week and doesn't have a spare.
If he can't use the clutch he can't put food on the table.

I asked what spares he had so he goes "a few".
Bring them over. He got here using the crutch to depress the clutch and we used all the parts he had to cobble up a working system.
I never knew they used Loctite on a prosthesis.
A socket from and old unit and a piece of steel hand rail for a foot and we were good to go.

There's always something strange going on here but it was fun. The thing works and he's home already.

[manta22]

Mike;

Good job!  Back when I was in the US Army, that's what we called "field expediency".

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[Buickguy3]

When I first saw the prosthesis on the ground and started to read the story, I thought, "I know where this is going". I thought Damn, Mike's the guy who built the "blades" for that other SA guy. Damn, Mike you did good. Love a story with a happy ending.
     Doug 

[wobblywalrus]

Sometimes the hub the wheel is mounted on is not perfectly true.  This is not a big deal if the wheel is not perfect either.  Simply mount the wheel in five different positions on hub.  The wheel will be truest in one position.  Then, put a mark on the wheel and hub so they are always put back in the same position.  A back woods racing trick.





   

[tauruck]

Guys, the term "we never leave anyone behind" should be a standard in any walk of life.
Willie is a tough dude that got a raw deal. We had a little thing and I never spoke to him for 4 years.
He lives 400 yards away but I felt that he did wrong so I ignored him. Water under the bridge.
There's no time for a Dodge Time.

Bo, thanks for the advice. If the wheel checks out we might not have to go through the above but if not we'll use the process.

[tauruck]

I painted this Skull for Theo my wheel sponsor.

Pretty straight forward except for the birds who couldn't wait until the paint dried.
Some bucks coming for materials.

[tauruck]

Today is pay day.
I can buy more ammo.

[wobblywalrus]

This magazine I read, Classic Bike Guide, features custom bikes from all over the world.  They have an article about a fellow in SA who built a Triumph.  He says "In this country spares are hard to come by and due to a very unfavorable exchange rate, running anywhere between 15 and 20:1, buying parts from the UK is far too expensive because apart from the exchange rate, we have to pay carriage, duties, and 14% VAT, all of which add anything between 25% and 30% to the price paid."

It is amazing what you folks are up against.  Just getting to the races and running a bike or car is a major accomplishment.   

[lsrjunkie]

  Right on Mikey! 

Load it up and give 'er both barrels!

[tauruck]

Bo, the exchange rate sucks. In the apartheid era when the world hated us we were getting $2 for our Rand. Now that we're liberated $1 will get you R11.40.
I think the powers that be did this to keep us here. Guys would have left in droves taking their money out of the country.

Making progress on the liner in spite of the currency.
On Sunday I had the rocket scientists here from Marcom.
Big discussion on CP, tailfin dimensions and CFD.

Yesterday I managed to get the two turbo hangers fabricated.
One is tacked in place and I'll have the other done today.

Pics later.

Thanks Joe, always good to get some motivation from you.

[Captthundarr]

 

[tauruck]

Some photos of the turbo hangers.

I did have some very nice heavy wall seamless tubing from another project so there was no bending involved.

It came together very well and both units are mirror images, level and ready for final welding.