Thanks for the interest, folks. The original intent was this year Speedweek, exactly 40 years after my first Speedweek.... anyway, it is unlikely to work out, so it'll have to wait for another opportunity. One thing I do NOT want to do.... is try out my strange driveline (for the first time) on the salt. It might throw little broken bits on the ground, and other folks don't need that problem!
About the seat...I found I couldn't get my right hip to agree to the flat, wide seat. I realized I don't have a problem on my bicycle, so I got a used mountain bike seat from REI ($5) and welded it to a bolt on plate. It is MUCH easier to bend down flat while getting my feet onto the pegs.
I must admit, part of the problem came about because I designed the chassis long enough to fit two of these engines (in line). The current engine can go back, by moving the batteries, reworking the middle vertical tubes, and shortening the chain. I left enough room between the frame rails, under the seat area, for the rear valve cover. The photo below shows the extra space for changing "rear" engine position.
A second engine could fit ahead, with the V rotated forward and the crankshafts connected by a large diameter, counter-rotating intermediate gear. That's the reason the lower frame rails are so wide, with the left lower rail 10mm lower than the right (to get engines in and out while coupled).
If it works out, in the long run, there is a 674cc version of this engine that would be 1348cc when doubled up. The first step is the baby step...just trying to get it to work at 500cc (and making some power with the experimental cam Webcam made for me). I hope it turns out to be a good toy to play with in the years to come!
regards, JimL
