General Category => Wheels & Tires => Topic started by: 2strokeslowpoke on May 15, 2017, 04:22:18 PM

Title: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: 2strokeslowpoke on May 15, 2017, 04:22:18 PM
Hello all! Excited to start working on my bike which is engine #G1244
It came with 26x2.25 inch tires. I was wondering if I could fit 26x3 inch tires on it. Also are there any brake shoes that will fit my front brakes as my bike has front and rear drum brakes.
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: Ricks on May 15, 2017, 05:45:29 PM
Front and rear brakes use the same shoes.  Are your shoes worn out or missing?  If worn, KartJockey on here can reline them for you, he does excellent work!

As for tires, the stock Simplex tire size is 26 x 2.50. An excellent reproduction is available from Wayne Mahaffey.

Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: kartjockey on May 15, 2017, 06:33:28 PM
Welcome!  So you are the lucky guy to get Henry's '40.  A couple of us here are jealous.
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: Ricks on May 15, 2017, 06:49:38 PM
I didn't realize that was Henry's bike.  Do it justice and restore it right! There are not that many bikes out there as complete as that one.
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: 2strokeslowpoke on May 15, 2017, 08:13:53 PM
Yes the bike is complete. I am keeping frame and everything untouched. I am looking to put a motor from the 30s-40s in to it without changing frame etc. this way I will have all of thenoriginal parts for it. The wheels are very straightand yes I do have the original shoes. Was wondering what his contact in for the shoe replacement(if a moped shoe does not work)
Thank you all!
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: kartjockey on May 16, 2017, 03:31:06 AM
We know your bike quite intimately.  If you haven't already go to the 'what year is my bike' category and click on the thread "1940s servi-cycle dating".  You mentioned putting a motor in it from the 30s or 40s.  Did you get the everything including the engine?  Even though I modded a Simplex very heavily(it was only a roller) I dig the originality of things.  Speaking out loud for a moment it would be great to see everything cleaned, lubed and reassembled on your ride given the sanctity it has received over the years.  Probably the best way to preserve it, display it and keep it at its highest value. 

Yes I can help with the brake linings when you get ready.  Contact info in the member list or shoot me a message from here.  It will find me.

Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: Ricks on May 16, 2017, 04:35:07 AM
Where are you from SlowPoke?
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: 2strokeslowpoke on May 16, 2017, 03:39:57 PM
I am from Rhode Island. Where is isnt a Rhode. Or an Island.  But the Dutch tried.
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: 2strokeslowpoke on May 16, 2017, 09:54:13 PM
I know what the stock tires are. I am just wondering if anyone had experience with a 3 inch wide tire on these. I am pretty sure they will fit. If anyone has any experience with this let me know please. Thank you all- Neil
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: Ricks on May 17, 2017, 05:29:03 AM
What 26 x 3 tire are you talking about?  A bicycle tire or motorcycle tire?
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: 2strokeslowpoke on May 17, 2017, 07:47:37 AM
COKER Tire 74715 - Simplex Servi-Cycle 26X3 CL.
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: Ricks on May 17, 2017, 08:30:24 AM
COKER Tire 74715 - Simplex Servi-Cycle 26X3 CL.

I would say zero chance it will fit on the rim. These are a clincher style and are made for 20" motorcycle rims.  Simplex Servi-cycles use a 26" bicycle style rim, which is actually 22 1/2" in diameter.  If you saw this on eBay, they don't know what they are talking about.

Italy, Holland, USA, Australia and England all had Simplex brands. I think these tires may fit on one of those.

There is a lot of information on here about some various Coker Tires, as I went through much searching to find a tire that would fit on a Simplex Sportsman rim, which used a nominal 27 x 3 size tire, but the closest I ever got that worked was a 21 x 2.75 motorcycle tire, but I wasn't comfortable riding it at speed, as the tire was slightly larger than the rim, which was closer to 20 1/2".  I spent an hour with the Coker rep at a AMCA show going through all the tires they sell, but no dice.

If you feel like reading about that story, look here:  http://www.simplexservi-cycle.com/index.php?topic=1434.0
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: 2strokeslowpoke on May 17, 2017, 01:37:03 PM
Thanks Rick. I guess I will go with the 26x2.50 tires from coker. I only want to go 55 mph top speed nothing more than that. Will keep rims original.
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: kartjockey on May 17, 2017, 05:18:19 PM
Just re-read my own post!  I miss called it.  Henry's bike was more than likely determined as a late 1940 considering the possibility of the heel brake vanishing by the end of that year. 
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: henrylr on May 18, 2017, 04:52:24 PM
Hi Neil,

Told you this was the place to get great info. It's really the only game in town. Thanks Kartjockey for the 1940 clarification.  The whole bike is in great condition. I rode it before I took it apart. It needs the few things I pointed out; new tires, carb needs a new bushing for the butterfly shaft, piston and cylinder needing carbon deposit removal, new rings for the piston and new wiring for the magneto and repair of the broken edge of mag backing plate. Also the motor bearings may be fine after an ultra sonic cleaning. The rotary valve assembly might also benefit from ultra sonic cleaning. Please keep us posted. I'd love to see this ridden again.

All the best,
Henry
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: kartjockey on May 18, 2017, 06:37:54 PM
That will be an exciting day for you Henry.  We cant wait either!
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: kartjockey on May 19, 2017, 03:44:59 AM
I should be able to help with rebushing  the throttle shaft as well.  I haven't tried them out yet but I bought all of Bob Legron's tooling to do it when we were at Portland last year.  Good MS style carbs are hard to find!
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: ndian22 on May 19, 2017, 06:04:21 AM
When I first suggested Henri contact this forum from the motor bicycle forum I'd hoped for a complete bike restoration and was quite dismayed when it appeared about to be parted out instead. It was just too complete to suffer that indignity. I'm glad this survivor will remain intact and will undergo a rebuild. I'll enjoy reading along with the progress & hope for lots of photos as well. Rick C.
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: pd on May 19, 2017, 07:42:46 AM
Pics do save a lot of keyboard time . ;)

Pete . :)
Title: Re: 3 inch tires on simplex as well as brake shoes
Post by: henrylr on May 19, 2017, 11:08:34 AM
Neil

Glad you are getting so many responses. Somewhere I saw a parts list for the tillotson and think it showed the vertical butterfly shaft running through a bushing that was pressed into the shaft hole in the bottom of the carb body (maybe its in the manual I gave you). Also thought that bushing might be a standard size and still available, Tillotson is still in business, or that one could be made, from an oil-lite bushing, on a small lathe. As I mentioned, on this site and, in the ad, the only missing parts are muffler, air filter, wrist pin retaining clips and front fender mounting bracket. It will also need new points. The points mounting bracket is in one of the parts boxes. Maybe someone can help you get those parts. Thinking back a woodruff key or two may also be needed. You may recall that I showed you the cam with the cam key in the cam.  I put it there instead of in the crankshaft cam key slot so I wouldn’t forget where it went.

Henry