Crankshaft experiment
Moderator: minetymenace
- Jack Gifford
- >560
- Posts: 576
- Joined: Fri May 24, 2013 5:58 am
- Location: Phelps, NY
Re: Crankshaft experiment
Well, yes, it's intended to look like part of an airplane. The body is a fiberglas replica of a P-38 drop tank. Starting in 1947 hot rodders used surplus aluminum drop tanks for the original landspeed racing "lakesters".
"Motley" bike history: Horex 400, 1940 HD 45 FH, HD Baja 100, '49 Indian Scout 440, Victor 441 Roadster, H*nda TL125, Guzzi V50, H*nda FT500, 400-4, NX250
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
- Jack Gifford
- >560
- Posts: 576
- Joined: Fri May 24, 2013 5:58 am
- Location: Phelps, NY
Re: Crankshaft experiment
Another test-run with no breakage, this time on a quarter-mile track. Didn't learn much, due to a bad choice of gearing- too "tall" to get the engine into its intended rev range.
"Motley" bike history: Horex 400, 1940 HD 45 FH, HD Baja 100, '49 Indian Scout 440, Victor 441 Roadster, H*nda TL125, Guzzi V50, H*nda FT500, 400-4, NX250
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
Re: Crankshaft experiment
well, - at least no breakage.
wich is something of a success.
beat
wich is something of a success.


beat
- Jack Gifford
- >560
- Posts: 576
- Joined: Fri May 24, 2013 5:58 am
- Location: Phelps, NY
Re: Crankshaft experiment
Tomorrow I'll be at the tenth-mile drag event again... This time with gearing that's more appropriate... 

"Motley" bike history: Horex 400, 1940 HD 45 FH, HD Baja 100, '49 Indian Scout 440, Victor 441 Roadster, H*nda TL125, Guzzi V50, H*nda FT500, 400-4, NX250
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
- Jack Gifford
- >560
- Posts: 576
- Joined: Fri May 24, 2013 5:58 am
- Location: Phelps, NY
Re: Crankshaft experiment
The race car treated me good once more- no issues.
85.3 MPH at the end of the tenth-of-a-mile was 7,100 RPM, which is getting closer to the engine speed I want to see.
I need to improve some things in the cramped cockpit. For example, the required helmet and HANS device prevent me from tipping my head enough to view the harness buckle- a crew member must reach in and buckle it.

85.3 MPH at the end of the tenth-of-a-mile was 7,100 RPM, which is getting closer to the engine speed I want to see.
I need to improve some things in the cramped cockpit. For example, the required helmet and HANS device prevent me from tipping my head enough to view the harness buckle- a crew member must reach in and buckle it.
"Motley" bike history: Horex 400, 1940 HD 45 FH, HD Baja 100, '49 Indian Scout 440, Victor 441 Roadster, H*nda TL125, Guzzi V50, H*nda FT500, 400-4, NX250
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
- Jack Gifford
- >560
- Posts: 576
- Joined: Fri May 24, 2013 5:58 am
- Location: Phelps, NY
Re: Crankshaft experiment
Got in two more tenth-mile runs with no damage. Had to abort the first run- about two seconds out the rear tires broke traction and tried to pass me! Gearing was only increased about 12% and I didn't expect wheelspin. On the second run I stayed away from full throttle for a couple of seconds, so I didn't see the 8,000 RPM I wanted- only 7,250. No more running this year, but I'm anxious to get to a landspeed track next season.
"Motley" bike history: Horex 400, 1940 HD 45 FH, HD Baja 100, '49 Indian Scout 440, Victor 441 Roadster, H*nda TL125, Guzzi V50, H*nda FT500, 400-4, NX250
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
Re: Crankshaft experiment
wishes you the best for next season.....
beat



beat
- Jack Gifford
- >560
- Posts: 576
- Joined: Fri May 24, 2013 5:58 am
- Location: Phelps, NY
Re: Crankshaft experiment
Thanks Beat! I'll be watching for some podium finishes with your 3-wheeler.
"Motley" bike history: Horex 400, 1940 HD 45 FH, HD Baja 100, '49 Indian Scout 440, Victor 441 Roadster, H*nda TL125, Guzzi V50, H*nda FT500, 400-4, NX250
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
- Jack Gifford
- >560
- Posts: 576
- Joined: Fri May 24, 2013 5:58 am
- Location: Phelps, NY
Re: Crankshaft experiment
I finally got the lakester to a landspeed event the first week of September at the former Loring AFB (12,600' x 300' runway). Plans for a crew fell through, but other racers were very helpful. It was a long trip- 1,720 miles towing with the '59 GMC- but neither the truck or race car suffered any damage. The prior mile record in my class was 121 mph, which I bumped to 136 on my first run, then bumped it the next day to 150. Amazing success for a rookie racer!
"Motley" bike history: Horex 400, 1940 HD 45 FH, HD Baja 100, '49 Indian Scout 440, Victor 441 Roadster, H*nda TL125, Guzzi V50, H*nda FT500, 400-4, NX250
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
-
- >1200
- Posts: 1222
- Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2011 3:49 am
- Location: Sydney Australia
Re: Crankshaft experiment
Well done Jack congratulations all your great work paying dividends.
- b50root
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3324
- Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 12:44 pm
- Location: Malmö Scania Sweden
- Contact:
Re: Crankshaft experiment
Congrats. Any Video?
nebrer on EBAY
nebrer at skype ( http://www.skype.com )
nebrer at skype ( http://www.skype.com )
- Jack Gifford
- >560
- Posts: 576
- Joined: Fri May 24, 2013 5:58 am
- Location: Phelps, NY
Re: Crankshaft experiment
One movie- forgot to start the camera on other runs. But it's just a view of the instruments (poor boy's data-logging!).



"Motley" bike history: Horex 400, 1940 HD 45 FH, HD Baja 100, '49 Indian Scout 440, Victor 441 Roadster, H*nda TL125, Guzzi V50, H*nda FT500, 400-4, NX250
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
Re: Crankshaft experiment
hi Jack,
this is great news
pushing a record from 121 mph to 150 is a amazing job
congratulation

IMO: at the view of the instruments is maybe some more mph to find...
beat
this is great news


pushing a record from 121 mph to 150 is a amazing job



congratulation


IMO: at the view of the instruments is maybe some more mph to find...
beat
- Jack Gifford
- >560
- Posts: 576
- Joined: Fri May 24, 2013 5:58 am
- Location: Phelps, NY
Re: Crankshaft experiment
Yes, I hope so. I especially need to see A/F ratio since I'm purposely running "fat" to be on the safe side. The conservative tune has served me well so far- no engine issues at all in 10 runs (including dragstrip tests last summer). Now that my licensing passes are out of the way, I look forward to a more aggressive tune-up next year- A/F ratio, ignition timing, blower speed, etc.- and gearing changes to also run the 1.5 mile.
"Motley" bike history: Horex 400, 1940 HD 45 FH, HD Baja 100, '49 Indian Scout 440, Victor 441 Roadster, H*nda TL125, Guzzi V50, H*nda FT500, 400-4, NX250
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs
Aside from bikes: known as the "guru" of M/T hemi Pontiacs