General Category => Simplexes with Non-Original Engines => Topic started by: induhhwind on June 01, 2012, 08:36:15 PM
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Ive always thought a simplex would be a cool moped because of its size and looks. bought a 47 simplex with no motor and researched my states laws on what is classified as a moped so Ive purchased a 50cc chinese Honda clone fully automatic engine and installed it with a fabricated motor mount. the electrics were purchased off ebay and online. Ive fabricated a battery box and plan on running the origonal rear brake with the left hand brake. Modified a belt pulley to replace the output gear on the motor and plan on using the origonal rear tire pulley and see what happens. I have earlyer pics from when I first purchased it but they are on a computer that i don't have access to at this time but I do have pictures of it from the past few week Ive been working on it.
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Project looks awesome! Keep us posted with the progress.
PS: Please size pictures so we don't have to scroll up-down and side to side to see them. I resized these pictures for you.
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Tried down sizing the pics this time. anyone interested in using an engine setup like this it was really inexpensive but I have access to a machine shop so some of the mods and fabrication might cost. The engine is a new ebay motor - $198.00 this includes the shipping. I purchased a wiring kit for I think was 189.00, it came with wiring harness and everything that plugs into it including the headlight,/speedo n cable, mirrors turn signals throttle/brake controls and cables, battery and battery box ect, I could not believe all the stuff in this kit. I had to buy a carb and odds and ends. Fabbed an exhaust from flexible stainless tubing I found in a scrap bin. Cut n welded a used beat up fishtail pipe. Had to cut n weld the intake manifold and turn it out to the side like a Harley because there was not enough clearance due to the frame and the electric starter. Fabricated a motor mount and battery box and used a old Christmas tin to house the electronics. Wheel races were in good shape so I just installed new bearings. Im planning on running the rear brake with the left front hand brake instead of the foot pedal. Still have to modify the front rim and spacers so I can use the speedometer.
It runs now and all the lights work but I still have alot to do. I think tuesday I might crank it up and just give it a lil test ride in slow motion because right now all I have are Fred Flintstone brakes but Im just curious about the ratio and the belt drive and the automatic transmission. I feel I took a gamble with this set up and it might have to really rev high to get any speed but be able to pull stumps with it:) - Tony
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Hi Tony, I'm digging this project. Keep up the good work! How fast would you ride on a simplex? 50 mph? I know BJM has gone over 50 mph with a honda GC160 engine, but that might be a little too fast for me!
BTW, I combined your 2 threads into one, so we can follow along. Just reply in this thread to keep everything together.
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If the final drive ratio is too low, you might look at a wheel pulley from a whizzer. They're smaller than Simplex, but I don't know by how much.
Mike Sal
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Had about 1 min before I had to go to work for the first test ride so I put my camra phone in my drill press vice to catch it on film. Notice the fred flinstone brakes:) I tried to trim it down so it wont be to long if it is then I guess it wont work.
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Ok guys thank you for your help, Ill check out Wizzer pullys.
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I can't open the video. I remember very well how flintstones brakes work. When I was a kid, I welded up a 3 wheel bike & wanted to try it out before finishing unimportant things like brakes.....I got it going down a sloped street & wound up in the ditch......
Mike Sal
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Mike I ordered and just recieved a new Whizzer pulley off of ebay. Ill post its performance after Ive installed it. Just getting the original pulley off without damage is going to take some time.- Thanks
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Ya if all those screws on the old pulley are rusty, it could be a real treat to get them all off without damaging the pulley or the little clips. A rotozip tool & cut off wheel might be faster.
The slip on pulleys are also a little tricky, as the little wire that joins both ends can be rusted in place, making it hard to spread the pulley enough to get it off the pulley.
Mike Sal
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Well the pulley is off and still in good shape. with PB blaster and time I was able to save all the hardware except three screws and nut that a cutoff tool in a dremmel worked as you said. When I have time I'm going to take pics and post some of the stuff I took off this bike and maybe do some horse trading with the guys on this site.
Installed the Whizzer pulley and today plan on installing the belt and if everything lines up take her for a spin:) -TOny
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What diameter is the Whizzer pulley?
Mike Sal
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Good luck on the test ride and looking forward to seeing some more pictures. Are you going to Portland next week?
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Any updates? Have you ridden it yet?
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Hi guys, been kinda busy lately hope yall doing good. The Whizzer pulley is fifteen" outside diameter. Installed it and with the engine redlining it reached a blistering speed of 25mph. Decided on a small block chevy single grove crank pulley that is 6 7/8 od. Drilled it and the rear hub with three holes and notched the side of the pulley that contacts the spokes. Have to make a spacer that goes in between the pulley and hub and spacer for the axil nut also. Ive taken some pics to show progress and some details that might be of interest. I think after I get the final drive working I next have to work out making the rear brake operational from the left hand brake and install a kick stand of some sort. I down sized some pics so I hope they are not too big or too small to see. One note on the motor I bought that was advertised as fully automatic, well it is because all you have to do is turn the throttle and it goes! .......but......it only one speed or shall I say only first gear. I wasnt counting on that and so now its a game of pulley size and ratios!
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Difference between the Whizzer pulley and the small block crank pulley.
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1)gas cap I made but still have to vent and weld in a baffle. Believe it or not but I found a metric equivalent that worked for the threads.
2)Key switch housing i made and installed where the choke knob would be.
3)old Christmas tin I painted striped the outline and put logo on, inside it holds the cdi, starter solenoid, horn relay, regulator.
4)Output motor shaft drive v belt pulley modified to accept a splined shaft and spline lock. from the factory the motor came with a toothed gear.
5)I really enjoyed the pics and updated on this site, I notice a rough frame on ebay today they want 1200 for it but I think thats too high for whats there but all it takes is someone with the a case of the simplex bug and its sold i guess:) - Tony
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key switch
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Christmas tin
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gas cap
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Air cleaner is actually one that I cut the back mounting face and mounting bracket off, turned it around and cut an offset hole and made a rubber mounting bracket from a large hose. Offset was to clear the choke lever. the front is the bottom of a stainless hyd. filter canister I cut off then polished and epoxeyed to the filter steel mesh filter element to give it and older look than the cheap stamped tin logo that was on the other side.
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Looking good Tony. I thought those chinese automatic engines were 3 speeds? How was the acceleration with the whizzer pulley? Keep up the good work and bring it to Portland next year!!
PS: I saw that simplex frame for $1200, and will start a new thread in for sale section to comment on it.
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Rick the bottom end acceleration was great with the Whizzer pulley so im hoping it will still be good with the Chevy pulley. Id love to go to Portland. From the pics and comments posted here it looks and sounds like a really fun and interesting event. I also thought the Chinese engine was 3 speed but either I have a defective transmission or its really a one speed. It goes on a childs 50cc ATV sold by I think a company called wildfire motors, I have to look up the name again and call them to be certain. I also am entertaining the idea of using a disc brake setup from a moped for the front wheel someday. do you know of any tires sold that fit a simplex that has a speed rating? Ive seen tires that fit and say they are for simplexes but haven't seen any speed ratings. - Tony
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I'm not positive, but have read that the simplex reproduction tires made by coker are rated to 92 mph. They are not like a bicycle tire, they are much heavier. I would feel comfortable on these at any speed that I would ride a simplex. On a bicycle tire, I would not exceed 25 mph or so.
Tony, where do you live?
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Rick I Live in Summerville SC, It is part of Charleston SC. Ill Check out the Coker tires too. Thanks-Tony
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I'm going to be in need of a Simplex rear pully if you decide to part with yours let me know, cool project hope the Chevy pulley works out.
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Is there no gear shift shaft coming out the side of the motor at all? Does it have some sort of internal centrifical clutch that lets the motor idle until you open the throttle? If it's truely an automatic, I wonder if you got a bum motor....anychance you have a warranty on it?
Mike Sal
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That is some great work you are doing. I really like your project. It's alot of fun to be creative with old parts. And being a Chevy man I am diggin' that crank pulley idea!( check out the pic I posted of my old truck) I have been getting my thoughts together for the frame I just bought but not quite ready to start the project.
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Im going to try and reply to you three guys in this note.
Mywaymfg -I think when my bike is about finished ill take pictures of all the extra parts I have and put them on here if thats not against any rules here on this site. theres a few Simplex things Id like to maybe be able to trade/buy too.
MikeSal- Nope no gear shifter or manual clutch on theis engine. Its the same engine used on a childs atv sold by Wildfire. It is truely a one speed. It must have a cintrifical clutch because its just like a scoot/moped.... you just twist the throttle and away you go!
Kartjockey- Thanks for the complement, I do like your cool old truck! I once owned a 55 Chevy stepside and had a blast fixing it up and yes I wish I still had it.
I test drove the bike with the Chevy pulley on it and at ten mph it just idled nice and slow rpm! I think it will purr at 45 no problem. Didnt go any faster because I still have to mount fabricated a rear brake bracket and modify the brake linkage too. But there was two issues when testing the Chevy pulley, 1) the belt slipped because the belt I used is just a little to long and I had no more room for adjustment. 2) The centrifical clutch in the engine slipped whenever I gave it gas to take off. I had to give the bike a push off to get moving and then the clutch stopped slipping. Have to do some research to see if I can modify the clutch with stronger springs weights?? I need to research this some. Anyway thats where Its at, at the moment. Ill try and take some pics of what progress that might be interesting. - Tony