It's "go time" gentleman.  Down to a month! 

Please take plenty of pictures.

GaryS

Gary, your bike is a 1952 with an earlier engine.  The frame number is the giveaway. Mystery solved!  LOL

Just got off the phone with Mr. Mahaffey... sweet man and very knowledgable/helpful. It seems that swapping my earlier 40ish engine for a rebuilt 1952 engine is totally within my budget for this restore/saviour project... leaving me with only 5 small items to complete my bike to where I am confortable riding it, she won't win any ribbons... but then again there aren't any paparazzi trying to break my door down.
Only thing left is to come up with a name for "HER"... maybe I'll name her after my late sister "Lourie Lee"
has anyone else named their bikes?

Has any one had any luck getting more oomph out of one of these ?? I'm not a small person and we have hills here in Tennessee. I have to duck walk it just to get up the hill out of my drive way. Any easy tuning ideas ? I've got the carb where it runs pretty good once it's going. But it just doesn't make much horsepower. Start up and a hill and if I don't have a good running start or it's too steep, I'm back to having to leg it.

Thanks

I'd thought of maybe designing a hemi piston and head to go on this type engine but the single main bearing design won't hold up to much more power than it already puts out I would imagine.(I could be wrong)... whatcha think guys?

GaryS

Gary, your bike is a 1952 with an earlier engine.  The frame number is the giveaway. Mystery solved!  LOL

Posting pictures here is simple. When making a post, Click the Additional Options right under the white response window. Then click the "chose file" button. Then just choose your photo. To post more than 1 picture in a post, click the "(more attachments)" button to the right of the choose file button.

so if I can find an early frame with a 1952 engine I'd have the makings for two complete/correct servis?
what year do you think the engine is? the # begings with "H" and it has a compression release on the right rear of the cyclinder and has a small wooden handle on it. the only markings I can find on the carb. is a MT1D stamped on the rear of the float bowl.

GaryS

has anyone noticed the simplex servi-cycle frame for sale on eBay? We got 2 people fighting over it for now...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131526349281?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

GaryS

Well... it's up to $46.00 now (18:25 JUN 7,2015)

Gary, that is a late Model H, which was built through september of 1947.  A 1948 would have an engine number that starts with a 48-xxxx.  Too bad they didn't use that numbering system all the time, as it would make it much easier to date these bikes.

The front end has been changed to a late model style, which started in 1949, on the Model K.  The earlier models used a gooseneck, like a bicycle.  The wheels have also been changed to late style 2" wide wheels, which became available in on the Model L, in late 1949.  The gas tank is also off a later model, as 1947 would have had a single fill tank with fine threads on the filler neck.

So it seems that my bike could be a 1949 with a "H" model engine?...or was simplex known for "slapping together" bikes with whatever inventory they had to use parts up?
 I had this same problem when I was trying to date my Erector Sets, a lot of mismatched parts from other sets, ultimately when I inventoried ALL the parts and completed/restored the set I had over tripled  my money.

GaryS

HEY! ITCPS .... check out this 66 mustang conv.
Maybe I can cash in on that engine/finders fee if it's still available?
Here's the link (you may have to cut-n-paste)

http://vintagemustangtrader.com/Classified/1966-mustang-for-sale/66-convert


GaryS

Thanx for the invite Rick... Maybe next year I'll make the trip... This year it's gonna be Yard Sales every weekend... gotta finish cashing in on all my collecting before I can truly pursue this new passion. But have fun and take lots of PIX.

GaryS