Is this engine board track material?? Yay or Nay

[LarzBahrs]

The engine is an appoximately 1955 311 cc cushman husky m9 engine that puts out about 8hp and it has a small 3sp trans hooked to it via clutch. How would this be for a board track racer if i converted it to use a standard chain drive and used a smaller motorcycle style points system instead of the bulky wico unit under that massive meat grinder of a flywheel? Just pondering in my head the possibilities!

 

[DougC]

Much depends on how rebuildable it is.

One thing for sure, that size is too much HP and torque for standard bicycle hubs.
I would either use a motorcycle rear hub or mount a smaller carb to limit the engine's power.

 

[LarzBahrs]

I am basing my assumption off of the 1908 indian 1000cc twins. From what Ive seen they used only a beefed up bike wheel even only using a back coaster brake as their means of stoping.

 

[Chainsaw]

If you're thinking of running it on the street, unless the cops in your area are blind and deaf, you're gonna get tickets left and right. That engine is no way legal as a motorized bicycle. You'll have to license it as a motorcycle.
But if you're just building it to build it, then consider it's weight, the amount of h.p. and torque. Lots of beefing up to do to the frame and wheelsets.The engine looks pretty wide so that would be another issue. Was you thinking about jackshafting it? Which side you gonna run as the drive side?
I think you could find a better engine for your project. Cool setup though.
Good luck and keep us posted on whatever project the engine turns up in.

 

[masterpoop63]

totally but its gona be a fatstack bike :mrgreen:

 

[LarzBahrs]

I just plan on building for the build sake right now because the engines just laying around in my garage collecting dusk and Ive grown to accustom to it to sell it though I know they go for a pretty penny. I have a bunch of tubing from an old off road buggy frame that i dismembered which I plan on using. As for the driveline issue id plan on using a jackshaft to put the drive on the left hand side unless I could find a small lawn move tranny that will put the power down that way as well. I would just flip the engine around if I could find a industrial engine reverse cam but they are hard to come by unless I had one made. It was previously in a scooter which could be ran on the street and i think its exempt because its so early so maybe down the road id try to make it conform and register it as a special build moto. Its actually surprisingly light, it weighs about 50 lbs and with 8hp im sure it will have no problem moving quite along. If and when i get the ball rolling on this project ill keep it posted, i actually be trying to piece together the frame in the coming week.

 

[karfer67]

i say build it why not i love big engines in bikes. it would be way cool to use the trans but as it sits would be way out there wonder if it could be packaged behind the engine say like a HD? good luck

 

[LarzBahrs]

I was actually think of doing that, just fliping the trans parallel to the engine and running a chain drive in between, but then i need to figure out how to do a clutch since as it stands it is a pressure plate type.

 

[Uncle Stretch]

I grew up around a bunch of Chushman scooters and the only one I remember that had a clutch and a trans like that was a Truckster. You should build something like that. By the time you strip off everything that would make it work on a bike , you would ruin the setup and it probably would bring some coins from a real Chushman collector. Then you could buy a new 4 stroke Honda that would work way better. Just my 2 cents though. I did see a bicycle on you tube with a hit and miss engine , and nobody would put one of those on a bike.

 

[cashman]

While you could make anything work with enough time and money, weight and vibration are going to be a major issue to overcome trying to use this type of engine on a bicycle frame. Like already pointed out, your engine might be more valuable to some Cushman collectors. If I remember right, those Cushman engines ran backwards to engines like Briggs & Stratton etc. A while back, I contacted the current Whizzer guys and inquired if they sold their engines as a kit. They told me they only sell complete bikes with motors. One of those 49cc engines with an automatic clutch like is used on some of those off-brand mini four wheelers might be better for adapting to a bicycle?

 

[SSG]

I think it would work great. Just mount it transversely with a right angle 1:1 gearbox on the end of the transmission
Like so:

 

[LarzBahrs]

SSG thats spot on!! , Its pretty striped down as is and any mods would be reversible. The way it looks is how it will be ran aside from the starter or the flywheel ring. Balance is the key to this build, I will not be using standard bike tubing so the stress on the tubing wont be an issue. Mainly the wheels and hubs are the problem

 

[gashuffy63]

Go for it, what better than loud, dangerous and if it works fast. It's what guys do, innovation often comes from tossing common sense onto the scrap pile.

 

[LarzBahrs]

Its gonna be beastly alright but not too non sensible. If I was throwing sense to the wind Id just stick it in a stock stretched frame running a falcon coaster brake hahaha

 

[KJV]

watching for update. 8)

 

[scrumblero]

I think it would work great. Just mount it transversely with a right angle 1:1 gearbox on the end of the transmission
Like so:

did you just sketch that up> U gots skills.....

 

[outskirtscustoms]

It would certainly be one of a kind. I like it! :mrgreen:

 

[LarzBahrs]

Its either using that engine or a lifan and I sure as heck don't want something that modern looking in it

 

[dos cruiser]

This sounds like an interesting build idea, That is a petty big engine for a bike. You could build the first three wheeled broadtracker, since you are just wanting to build it for the build. Then you could use motorcycle disk brakes on the back. Just an idea.

 

[Beau]

Interesting. It's going to basically be a motorcycle.

Look for a 4 wheeler differential. Hook the differential to the drive on the engine. Then run one side of the diff with a gear to the rear wheel, and but a brake caliper on the other side of the diff.

I saw it done on a BMW motorcycle. Looked sweet.