springs

+ things

MetalPonies with new carbs should read this these so they don't blow up their bikes.

http://www.mopedarmy.com/wiki/How_To_Tune_PHBG_Carburetors
http://www.mopedarmy.com/wiki/PHBG_tuning_made_easy._%28a_step_by_step_guide%29
http://www.mopedarmy.com/wiki/Dellorto

the newest addition

1974

(yellow + gray is always a winning combination)

So... as some of you may know, I was having some difficulty starting my free spirit. Lots of head scratching... pacing... triple checking electrics, cursing Motomatic, etc. Couldn't figure it out.

Turns out... I forgot to put the reed block in? Yeah... embarrassing. And when I did, she started with a quarter kick! The intake from Moto is fricken perfect and all the wiring was fine as it was! The headlight on/off switch works and so does the kill! So stoked to get it outside tomorrow and start tuning. Sounded so good to finally get her to idle! Whew! I can't even believe myself... explains everything though. Updated pictures etc. coming soon.

Apparently grad school at RISD is not all work + no play.

Thanks Ryan!

see you this evening. . . .

So I was thinking my pinto tank needed some kind of puch branding on it, but I didn't want to go for the traditional circle and shield. I opted to design my own decals and get them made up. I'm pretty pumped about how they came out, and how they look on my tank. I'm trying to decide whether to put one on each side or just on the one. Any thoughts. Opinions??? I thought the quality I found in the company that printed them is really great: expect some Metal Ponies decals hopefully coming soon...


and on my tank.

Got my intake from motomatic!!!!! was a little bummed about how expensive it was for such a small piece of welded steel haha... and even more bummed when the base thickness wasnt deep enough to have the washers push down on it to hold in place on the Polini 64. I fixed that problem easily, but frustrating none the less... The tubing was a bit short, though in the long run probably beneficial because less distance for the mixture to travel... but it did force me to use a throttle bendy... very close to the frame. I did try and kick it over last night, only a short effort though because the GF was there and growing tired of moped debauchery. I had great compression, the headlight turned on when I pedaled(<-- BRIGHT!) and it was doing that almost starting engine whine, i think i heard it almost fire up , but I'm unsure - Could have just been wishful thinking. I'm unsure of where my problem lies, if there is a problem, maybe I just need more time with it. Hopefully I'll be able to get her going tomorrow... That'd be SO sweet. Otherwise hopefully the ponies can help diagnose and get it running on Tuesday.

For those of you who might be interested. I found Michelin M62 Gazelles (17x2.5) for under $17 here. This is a great tire which is usually pretty expensive ($25 each on Treats or 1977).

p.s. the description on their site saying their tubeless is wrong, I just got mine in the mail and their not, but they are super sexy.

So after talking with sloppy Joe we decided to decrease the overall length of the intake flange by 1mm on each side (2mm total) and increase the outer radii around the bolt holes to 4mm (vs. 2.76mm) to give it some structural integrity around the area where people like to crank them allen bolts down. 1/4" steel is being used to further beef it up while also allowing extra room for customization and/or to sand things flat in the event of any warping after welding.

I sent the design to Metfab Engineering in Attleboro Falls, MA (excellent place by the way) and they are being laser cut as I am typing this. Only three are being made right now to do some test fits, but if alls good in the hood we'll get more to make people quality, affordable, and TRUE 19mm ID intakes. I'll post pictures as soon as I can.


In other news, I'm setting up my Minarelli V1 Polini to be a little more...radical haha. I'm going to fit a right-mounted Simonini exhaust, but the flange for that is way kooky since it's designed for some Euro non-variating Peugeot. Solution? Yet another custom flange! This one has a 25mm ID...hopefully she'll scream :)

Sneak peak of the start of a true 19mm intake manifold.

I'm serious when I say that I couldn't enjoy myself as much as I do working on peds if it wasn't for the awesome and talented people who help and suggest with my builds. John and Ryan have been there since day one helping me build my E50 and answering endless amounts of questions. I took the engine apart just fine... but they've been really good about teaching me and helping me learn in a way that I can do it myself... eventually. Joe did an UNBELIEVABLE job welding and machining my new pedal spindle. He also made a suggestion to widen the exhaust flange to allow enough room for the baffle to clear the rear shock. Richards been a saint for allowing us to invade his workshop every Tuesday until at least midnight! Dan for the jets, Derek for... being the devils advocate... and questioning my every decision! ha... I really could sit here all night naming everyone in the clan who has helped me in one way or another, but I'd be here all night! But I just wanted to say that I'm so thankful to have been brought into a group of people who are all so enthusiastic about something that it has created the friendships I've made with you dudes and dudettes. Thank you all!

With that said... I present a couple updated Free Spirit pictures from tonight.

Spindle weld

Clearance! no rub!!!

Yep.

Derek loves it.

The damn bracket!

A couple ongoing projects in Bjorns shed, more to follow.