Tennessee River Valley Sportsman

Tennessee River Valley Sportsman

IN ANY SPORT, SAFETY IS FIRST, LAST, and ALWAYS

 

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From time to time, I start a project to keep busy.  Most of my projects are small and not very time consuming.  Regardless of how small or seemingly unimportant, I always like to complete the projects to the best of my ability.  I also like to document the progress on this journal page.

The Story of the Three Little Piglets

These journal entries will document my efforts to bring three vintage Harley-Davidson® motorcycles back to life.

2009
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Date: 18 July 2009

Today I traveled to Baldwyn, MS and looked at the vintage Harley-Davidson® Sprint motorcycles.  The Sprint motorcycles where produced in Italy at the Aermacchi factory from 1960 to 1974 in the four-stroke version.  As pretty much expected, the seller had neither adequately nor accurately described the motorcycles.

Two of the three motorcycles are 250 cc.  One 250 cc is a 1966 Sprint H and the other is a 1968 Sprint SS.  The Sprint H and Sprint SS are standard cruises.  The Sprint SS was the more expensive of the two.  The pistons, cylinders, and top-ends are missing from the Sprint H and the Sprint SS.

One of the three motorcycles is a 350 cc.  The 350 cc is a 1973 Sprint SX.  The Sprint SX is a dual sport motorcycle.  Only the top-end is missing from the Sprint SX.

I agreed to buy the motorcycles if the seller would deliver them to Decatur so the deal was struck and the motorcycles were delivered to a storage unit.  In the next few days, I will do a complete inventory of the motorcycles and decide their futures.


Date: 22 July 2009

Today I started the inventory on the motorcycles.  All three have some good points and some bad points.  Based on their condition, I will keep all three and:
  • I will rebuild the Sprint H to AHRMA1 250 GP Grand Prix class specification.
  • I will rebuild the Sprint SS to AHRMA Novice Historic Production class specifications.
  • I will rebuild the Sprint SX for AHDRA2 drag racing Bracket class specifications.
These are subject to change due to any number of reasons.

Date: 25 July 2009

Today I downloaded the AHRMA and AHDRA rulebooks for 2009.  I need to confirm that the rules are as I remembered them from years past.  It should be easy to jump to the sections on classes and mechanical requirements for quick rules verification.

Date: 26 July 2009

I found an old stock seat for the Sprint SX so I ordered it today.  It will need recovering.

Date: 28 July 2009

I found a head today for the Sprint SX.  It appears that the 1973 and 1974 models were changed so earlier heads won't work properly.  Basically, any pre-73 or post-74 engine is totally useless to me.  This could add some challenge to finding specific parts from just the two-year time frame.

Date: 30 July 2009

While browsing through the AHRMA and AHDRA rulebooks today, I discovered a change I might want to make.  I am now weighting the cost of rebuilding the Sprint SX to AHRMA Dirt Track or Sound of Thunder® class specifications rather than AHDRA drag specifications.

Once I finalize the choice of classes for the Sprint H, SS, and SX, I'll start an outline of general requirements, document the motorcycle's initial condition with photographs, include additional photographs as examples of proposed final results, and document the progress in this journal with text and photographs.


Date: 31 July 2009

I gathered some example photographs for comparison purposes.  See the following figures.
Figure 1:  1966 Sprint H 250 Before Figure 2:  1966 Sprint H 250 Example
Figure 3:  1968 Sprint SS 250 Before Figure 4:  1968 Sprint SS 250 Example
Figure 5:  1973 Sprint SX 350 Before Figure 6:  1973 Sprint SX 350 Example
As soon as the conditions are right at the storage unit, I'll take, process, and display the "before" pictures.
Back to the top.

Date: 04 August 2009

Today I found and ordered the specific air cleaner canister that goes with the Sprint H.  It will need to be re-chromed.

Date: 07 August 2009

The head for the Sprint SX arrived today.  It is undamaged, relatively clean, and very usable. It will require some buffing.  I will need to find the rocker arms for this head because they were not included.

Date: 08 August 2009

I found and ordered the right side clutch cover for the Sprint SX.  I still need the clutch hub, basket, clutch plates, rods, adjusting nut, springs, spring cups, spring cup nuts, basket plate.  Seems like I am leaving something out.

Date: 09 August 2009

Today I ordered a carburetor for the Sprint SX.  It is complete but I will still have to take it apart, clean it, and make new gaskets for it.  In the process of ordering the carburetor, I made some hard decisions.  I have decided that:
  • The Sprint H will adhere to the AHRMA Novice Historic Production class specifications with the exception that the safety wire technical requirements may not be implemented at this time.
  • The 1968 SS 250 will adhere to the AHRMA Dirt Track class specifications with the exception that the safety wire technical requirements may not be implemented at this time.
  • The Sprint SX will adhere to the AHDRA Bracket motorcycle racer specification and safety wire technical requirements.
I also ordered the cylinder head, cylinder head covers, push rods, rocker arms, rocker arm shafts, cylinder, and carburetor for the Sprint H.  Things are coming together quickly.

Date: 13 August 2009

As of today, I have received all of the ordered parts.  They all arrived safely.  Most arrived very quickly but the seat for the Sprint SX just arrived today.  It was extremely slow to arrive (it was ordered first on 27 July 2009) so I probably will not order any additional parts or services from that specific individual if any other source exists.  Tomorrow, I will deliver all of combined parts to the storage building.  Soon, I will need to remove the engine from the Sprint H and bench it.  Also, I have to start the outline of the general requirements so I don't stray from the chosen paths.  It is very easy to see something and order it without first determining that it is necessary for a particular construction class.  Case in point, I almost ordered a dirt track seat, bracket, and springs for the Sprint SX but, at the last minute, I remembered that I as going to dirt track the Sprint SS instead.  Those brackets are different because of the frame construction.

Date: 22 August 2009

Today I ordered additional parts.  The parts were a banjo carburetor connector and petcock with an incorporated filter.  Both the banjo and the petcock are correct for the 1960 through 1968 Sprint motorcycles and included the proper primary and reserve shutoff levers.

Date: 24 August 2009

I started the front fork accessory disassembly on the Sprint H, SS, and SX.  I forgot that I was going to take photos so when I do take them, they will not be a true representation of how the motorcycles originally looked.  Also, a lot of the Sprint SS parts are going to end up on the Sprint H or the Sprint SX.  In order to make sure that the Sprint H meets AHRMA specifications for Novice Historic Production class, I will interchange just those parts that have the same part numbers.

I need to clarify a statement that I put into the journal on 09 August 2009.  I had indicated that the Sprint SS would adhere to AHRMA Dirt Track class specifications.  The statement should have said Dirt Track Tourist Trophy (TT) class.  The rules for Dirt Track and Dirt Track TT are exactly opposite in one ruling.  Dirt Track mandates no front or rear brakes on the motorcycle.  Dirt Track TT requires both front and rear brakes on the motorcycle.  For safety and resell reasons, I would rather not completely remove all the brakes from the Sprint SS.


Date: 28 August 2009

Today I ordered a center stand for the Sprint SX.  This will allow me to spin the rear tire to start the engine.

Date: 30 August 2009

I ordered the clutch cover for the Sprint SX this morning.  After placing the order, I went to the storage unit to work on the three piglets.  Here are the day's events.
  1. I remove and discarded the handlebars, clutch cable, and throttle cable from the Sprint H.
  2. I removed the headlight, speedometer, clutch cable, and throttle cable from the Sprint SX.  I discarded the cables.
  3. I removed the headlight, speedometer, tachometer, handlebars, clutch cable, throttle cable, and front fender from the Sprint SS.  I discarded the cables.
  4. I removed the muffler and crash bars from the Sprint SS.  The tachometer, muffler, and crash bars will be stored for future use.

After noting the general condition of the items, I need to give additional thought to interchanging the parts.

Back to the top.

Date: 01 September 2009

After assessing the parts and identifying the part numbers, I have decided on a plan.
  1. The Sprint SS handlebars and front fender are going on the Sprint H, the internals from the Sprint SS speedometer are going into the Sprint SX speedometer case, and the internals from the Sprint SS headlight are going into the Sprint SX headlight case.
  2. The 19-inch front and rear wheels from the Sprint SX are going on the Sprint SS.  That will put the correct wheels on the Sprint SS for AHRMA Dirt Track TT specifications.   If the rear wheel sprockets and drive gear sizes are identical, I will not have to exchange them.  I will temporarily put the 18-inch Sprint SS front and rear wheels on the Sprint SX until I am ready to determine the rim sizes for the drag tires.
  3. The dash gauge brackets need to be exchanged between the Sprint SS and the Sprint SX.  The Sprint SS will need a tachometer while the Sprint SX will need a speedometer (for street use), a tachometer, an oil pressure gauge, an oil temperature gauge, a cylinder temperature gauge, and a voltmeter.

Date: 02 September 2009

The parts I ordered on 22 August 2009 arrived today.  They were pretty slow getting here.  They were in very good condition for their age.

Date: 04 September 2009

The clutch cover I ordered on 30 August 2009 for the Sprint SX arrived today.  All it needs is part washing and buffing.

Date: 08 September 2009

The center stand I ordered on 28 August 2009 for the Sprint SX arrived today.  Needs a little paint but that's all for now.  Later, it will need to be modified with spring-loaded pins so it can be quickly attached and then removed.

Date: 15 September 2009

I ordered a kick-start for the Sprint SX today.  It needs a new spring and ball bearing.  Those I can pick up at a local hardware store.

Date: 21 September 2009

The kick-start I ordered on 15 September 2009 for the Sprint SX arrived today.  I purchased a ball and spring from a local hardware store, removed the bolt from the mounting, and installed the ball and spring.  Now, I have a good, clean kick-start.

If you are reading this text and you didn't notice, I finally incorporated the "before" pictures of the piglets.  I also added the threesome to the journal title.


Date: 23 September 2009

I ordered a head and valve cover for the Sprint SS today.  The seller says it will need to be completely rebuilt.

Date: 29 September 2009

The head and valve cover I ordered on 23 September 2009 for the Sprint SS arrived today.  The seller sent me an email before he shipped it saying that it might be a head for a 350cc engine instead of the advertised 250cc engine.  He offered to cancel the sale but I elected to complete the sale and receive the part.  The head, valves, and valve cover look OK but the rocker arms need a total cleaning.  No parts are stuck.
Back to the top.

Date: 02 October 2009

A visual inspection of the new head makes me think that it is for a 350cc engine.  I took the supposed 250cc head to the storage area to measure the combustion chamber.  The measurement indicated that the head is for a 350cc engine.  I will have to start a new search for a 250cc head and valve cover for the Sprint SS.

Date: 09 October 2009

Due to conditions beyond my control, I need to modify my plans.  The Sprint SX efforts are being put on hold until some point in the future.  With the Sprint SX out of the picture, I have decided to transform the Sprint SS into a drag bike rather than a dirt bike.  Thankfully, some of the custom parts that were necessary for the Sprint SX drag bike effort can be used on the Sprint SS drag bike.

Date: 15 October 2009

If you have been following these entries, you would have noticed that I mentioned custom parts for the first time on 9 October 2009.  The custom parts are for a turbocharger and intercooler.  Against all common sense, I have decided to turbocharge the Sprint SS drag bike.  Adding the turbo requires a lot of re-engineering.  For a start, the engine will need to change since it makes no sense to turbocharge a single cylinder motorcycle engine.  Having said that, a search will start for an old 750cc Harley-Davidson ® flat head, side valve, v-twin engine.  If the search fails, the backup plan will be to use a readily available 250cc v-twin from the pacific rim.
Back to the top.

Date: 19 November 2009

I now have the intercooler (acquired locally) for the turbocharger.  The next step is to locate and purchase the specific turbocharger.
Back to the top.

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