Gas Bicycle Project

24 January:  Time for an update of what whas been going on.  Quick item zone8cycling sent me the replacement grip.  I will keep it on hand in case either of my throttle grips fail.  The superglue is holding so I don't want to take that one apart.

I decided to build my own chain tensioner instead of ordering one from Sick Bike Parts.  I think the main difference from what I made and what they sell is that mine is made out of aluminum instead of angle iron.  If it doesn't work out I can always just get As I mentioned earlier I was wandering the aisles at Ace I found something that just seemed right. for the luggage carrier.   Rubbermaid makes a mailbox holder. It is strong heavy molded plastic and costs about $10.

Instead of getting 4 feet of angle aluminum at $9  for the chain tensioner when I only needed 6" I bought 8 feet for $15.needed  Some screws, from the rack mounting kits for computer equipment, which are the same size as the holes on the frame of the bike (M5) and nuts, washer and lock washer and a couple rubber grommets turned the mailbox holder into a heavy duty  luggage rack.  So for under $25 I have  a nice solid strong carrier on the back  of my bike.  One thing I that never occured to me was that my collapsible ice chest almost fits perfectly into the slots on the top of the mail box holder.  With the handle of the chest wrapped around the back of the carrier and a bungee cord  on the front end I can have the folded chest on the bike in seconds.  I need to drill a couple holes in the feet of the ice chest and then it will be a snap to attach it in the open position as well.  The luggage rack will also easily take a milk crate or just about anything else I want to put on the back.

Took the bike for a spin down the block and back after getting the carrier on.  No issues with the carrier,  Then I am a couple blocks from home and the engine dies.  Crap.  I have no tools with me except an allen wrench in my back pocket.  The CDI connection  is loose and I have no way to tighten it.  So I pedal home,  Another advantage of the shift kit is that the bike pedals a lot better than the direct drive bike.  I have the connectors to replace the cheap ones that come with the engine and I meant to put them on, but had not got that far yet.  Quick fix and the bike works again.  I installed one of the connectors backward so that I won't get confused as to which is positive and which is negative since I can't really see the color of the wires in the dark.

One other little problem arose during my test drive that I was not to find out about untill later that evening.  I had left the garage door open as well as the door from the house and the garage.  I was out of view of the house f or a few minutes.  I probably should have closed the garage, but how was I to know that I would be pedalling home.  About  two hours after I have quit working on the bike my doorbell rings.  There is a guy outside with a dog, MY DOG,  he decided to take a little trip of his own while I was around the corner.  I chatted with the nice guy that brought him back.  He was worried that was not worried about my dog.  I assured him that I cared very much about the dog.  I am pretty sure he realized that when he saw I had an electric dog door so the dog could go out , in the backyard whenever he wanted.

Still to go:  Clutch and chain cover.  Just need to drill 3 holes and cement the cover on.  Clear coat tank, permanent lighting.which now includes wanting.bicygnalsonline wireless turn signals and rear light which is so cool but will have to wait, for now I just need to come up with cheap lights. I also need a mirror to call this thing done.

26 January:  I drilled the 3 holes for the clutch/chain cover and put in the little studs that  I was supposed to screw these little screws into. to connect the two parts together.  I am sitting there looking at this and I wonder if I could do something better..  Why not snaps?  I won't need a screwdriver to get to the chain.  I guess it helps if you have leather working equipment around, ha ha.  So  the holes are in the plastic, I just swap in the snaps instead.  I have cemented on the clutch side of the cover and am waiting for it to dry. then I will do some last minute cutting of the chain cover to make it look right.  That luggage rack is sweet, it also holds my milk crate.  2 bungie cords strap it on to the carrier with no problems. Crate easily holds two grocery bags.   How cool.   In addtion to the milk crate it also handles my travelling ice chest. which can be expanded or collapsed to reduce drag.

27 January:  I swapped out the Shimano derailleur, fo whatever came with the Walmart special.  The springs are a bit stronger so it get up to first and down to sixth much better.  I still hear too many clicks when shifting but this seems to work out by far better.