Solo to Sidecar by STD

[Bruin]

Wobbly, Your advice is appreciated and will go in the vault. I already finished the compound curves of the bottom pan with the poor tools and talent at hand. It's rough but it has a four inch radius all around the bottom joint. It ain't pretty but with some puddy it should be functional. I hope to mount the topsides today. Pictures soon.

[Bruin]

The cuts and folds look a bit rough but I'm hoping some Bondo will smooth things out enough that it will slip some wind.

[wobblywalrus]

Those rough areas can be blended together nicely by removing a rivet at a time, covering the area with soap, heating it up until brown, letting it cool, and tapping it down tight with a plastic pear hammer.  The rivet is reinstalled, the rivet next to it is removed, and the process repeated.  A pool ball might be a good dolly.

[Bruin]

I thought a wheel cover and a sidewall on the hack might tame a little wind. Also, the side might help keep the co-pilot onboard.

The Flash Gordon toy is my beta model.

[sofadriver]

If I was your monkey,  I'd demand a window. 

[4-barrel Mike]

I don't think the ray gun is legal.

Mike

[Kiwi Paul]

Nah, Mike, The Ray Gun just puts him into Fuel Class, yes??

[4-barrel Mike]

Hmmm.  I concede to the inspector, who knows the obscure rules much better than I.   

Mike

[Bruin]

I followed some of the tips above, annealed the fairing aluminum with soap as a temp gauge, drilled out the rivets on the ill fitting leaves, hammered them into a smoother overlap, and re-riveted. The compound curves are much smoother and will require significantly less filler to get that baby butt smooth effect. Thanks guys.

[Old Scrambler]

Brian................slow down and do it right..............you have another 12 months before we get to run.............maybe a cam is in your future

[Bruin]

Admittedly, haste does make waste. But I feel like I should finish the build while I'm still on a roll.  It would make me feel better to have something positive come out of this season. A viable bike would be some consolation.

[Bruin]

It has taken some time but I'm back on track with the sidecar hack. Originally the side-sled was built with a plywood bottom. I replaced it with sheet aluminum. Three pieces tacked on with screws and rivets and sealed with adhesive. The overlaps are shingled with the wind. It saves me about 6 pounds and is a much smoother skin.

[Old Scrambler]

So tell us about the 'rebuild' plan..........................I saw you at the SHELL and gave your wife a hug on the salt............

[Bruin]

This year at the Motorcycle Speed Trials was great. After three wet years and a cancellation this year was a redeemer. There wasn't even water at the boat ramp. The salt was thin but the track was in fair condition. Best of all I even got to hotlap so that I didn't even have to stop at prestage or the start line. As for my runs... My engine fairing seemed to slow me, at 85mph its down by 5 mph. Too fat I suspect. Went faster without it. I ran with weights and passenger. Best passenger was 87mph. I started to slow down again and found that the front brake mechanism was sticking and dragging from a touch of rust. I pulled the shoes off. By the last day I managed to tie last year's speed at 90 mph running with weights. In general I found that I could hit 8,000 rpm (factory redline is 6,500) in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Then it flattened at 7,400 rpm in 4th, and 6,700 rpm in 5th. Because I have to run on the 1 mile track I can barely get to 5th at the timed mile mark. It is like a freakin drag race for me.
Next season: I am looking at a more aerodynamic position for me. I want to do a full Rollie Free layout but the rules say I have to sit or kneel. I'm also looking to gear it to run top speed in 4th and not use 5th. 4th gear ratio is 1.0 while fifth is a true overdrive at 0.84. Thoughts?

[wobblywalrus]

Maybe use a rear sprocket with a couple more teeth?