BSA B50 -500 APG Build

[Koncretekid]

Ivan,

Go back one page.  Look at the photo of the pushrods with the broken upper cups where they contacted the rocker arms which split off the sides.

As for the commentary, it was just me complaining.

Tom

[Koncretekid]

I received new pushrods on Wednesday, July 16 at 9:00 PM.  The courier driver said he wouldn't have been in my area until 5:00 PM, but I guess my bitching to Fed-Ex paid off, he got the message, I got my package in the morning!  

It tuned out that the old pushrods were too short and not too long.  Luckily, the Smith Brothers ones were about  a 1/16" longer, and with a tulip shaped upper cup, they looked fine.  I had the bike back together and running by 10:30, loaded everything up and made the ferry to New Brunswick at 4:00.  I left the fairing behind so I could sort things out with the open bike.  Thursday was just a tech inspection day at Loring, but as I am one of the inspectors, I try to get there on time.

First runs Friday afternoon were disappointing, as we kept bogging down before we got to the mile.  That night it dawned on me that some dummy had lowered the float level because the carb was flooding last fall on a dyno session.  We raised the float level and installed a new battery for good measure and started to get some results.  Our best run Saturday was 128 mph.

We made a timing change and a jetting change on Sunday morning but started bogging down again.  Subsequent jetting changes  did nothing, so I again changed the float level and we got one last run in at noon of 130.38 mph at the 1-1/2 mile.   Bonneville should be interesting!

Tom

[wobblywalrus]

Tom, what carb are you using?

[Koncretekid]

Bo,
It's an HSR42 Mikuni flatslide. One of the problems may be that the bottom of the tank is not far above the float bowl, so not much head.  Bigger motor = more fuel required.
Tom

[sabat]

I received new pushrods on Wednesday, July 16 at 9:00 PM.  The courier driver said he wouldn't have been in my area until 5:00 PM, but I guess my bitching to Fed-Ex paid off, he got the message, I got my package in the morning!  

It tuned out that the old pushrods were too short and not too long.  Luckily, the Smith Brothers ones were about  a 1/16" longer, and with a tulip shaped upper cup, they looked fine.  I had the bike back together and running by 10:30, loaded everything up and made the ferry to New Brunswick at 4:00.  I left the fairing behind so I could sort things out with the open bike.  Thursday was just a tech inspection day at Loring, but as I am one of the inspectors, I try to get there on time.

First runs Friday afternoon were disappointing, as we kept bogging down before we got to the mile.  That night it dawned on me that some dummy had lowered the float level because the carb was flooding last fall on a dyno session.  We raised the float level and installed a new battery for good measure and started to get some results.  Our best run Saturday was 128 mph.

We made a timing change and a jetting change on Sunday morning but started bogging down again.  Subsequent jetting changes  did nothing, so I again changed the float level and we got one last run in at noon of 130.38 mph at the 1-1/2 mile.   Bonneville should be interesting!

Tom

130 is flying on a naked pushrod 650, congrats!   Imagine how fast you'd go without that tractor trailer on the tailsection!!    Dean

[55chevr]

LOL

[Koncretekid]

Maybe I should try a sidecar to replace that trailer.  These big singles were always known as good sidecar tugs!

[Old Scrambler]

Very Nice speed for test & tune..................check the size of the fuel inlet at the float needle.............Mikuni offers several different sizes. You may have to top-off the tank before each run to keep the pressure up

Dave is still busy with getting my new chassis completed..............should be painting by next week.  Final assembly of motor while the paint dries

We leave Wisconsin on 8/20 for a date on the salt............save me a spot 8-) 8-) 8-)   

[wobblywalrus]

Tom, the Keihin flat slide has a main air jet as well as a main fuel jet.  Some of the symptoms you describe resemble what I was experiencing before I went up on the air jet size.  I do not know if Mikuni has this feature.  If it does, this might be the problem.

[Koncretekid]

I'm back in CO after a wet but rewarding week. The timing slips tell the story.  Sorry I didn't post each night but it seems we get back to the hotel, clean up, eat, and crash.  My new pit crew consisted of Mike from St. Louis who was just great.  I picked him up every morning at 6:00 to get in line when racing was allowed.  We spent the first day chasing electrical gremlins, and after 2-3 hours and several new wires and connectors, the problem boiled down to a faulty fuse.  12.5 volt in, 10.5 volts out. New fuse and all the lights came.  We made one run Monday morning  at 140 mph with a 10 mph head wind, before they called the day for wind.  I must have been at the starting line when Don Pearsall went down and didn't get the news til I read it here. Beat wishes to Don on his recovery.

Monday afternoon was called for wind but we got out early on Tuesday and made a down run of 150 and a return run of 149 for a new 650 APS-PG record of 149.8.  If I hadn't picked my head up on the return run to make sure I was still in the middle of the track, I think we would have got that record over 150!  But there's always next year.  Here are a few photos.

Tom

 

[Milwaukee Midget]

EXCELLENT!

Congratulations, Tom.     

That 2/10ths will be precisely the bee in your bonnet that will provide your motivation for the entire winter and next year.

Chris

[Peter Jack]

Well done Tom! I might add that the bike looks as good as it goes. It should be even more fun next year when you put the record well over the 150 mark. 

Pete

[Milwaukee Midget]

Tom -

Self interest requires me to ask - how were the courses?

The weather report looks solid going into WOS, and while the USFRA will be grooming their own courses, was the salt okay?

Thanks for the update, and again, congratulations!   

[tauruck]

Way to go Tom.

The long hours and hard work paid off.

I'm happy for you.

[SaltPeter]

Good on you Tom ... Proper Job  8-) 8-) 8-)

Pete