New simplex owner

[Mo in Mo]

I had a local machine shop check the round, it hasn't been honed. I did use the old rings. Wayne said the rings he has are not the right size and would require them to be machined down. Which can be done I just wanted to see if the ones in it would work, which could be part of the problem.

The manual said to put the piston in so the side with the angle faces the muffler opening, so that's the way I put it in.

The drill method did claim one cordless drill and almost a second corded drill. The corded drill wasn't a real good one. The cordless was a 18v dewalt but it was a few years old. So I think I still might try the running method

I have attached a few pics of the caliper measurement I got.

[pd]

Umm , .05 what ? Always use units of measure .

Pete .

[Ricks]

That looks like .050 to me.  According to the earliest manual I have, which is 1947, you need .008-.010 for ring gap, which is like paper thin.  You have 5-6 times the ring gap.  If the earlier used even tighter gap, you are even further away.

You have the piston the correct way.

[Mo in Mo]

Just rechecked the manual and you are correct I was leaving a zero off. According to the manual when new it should be .004-.006 it said if it's over .020 it should be replaced. So looks like new rings are in order.

[Mo in Mo]

Well she is now in pieces and ready to be sent to various places to be painted, powder coated and chromed. I hope they don't take to long!!

[Ricks]

Ok Lester, we need an update!  I am really interested in seeing this bike come together.  We don't see many early direct drives.

Did you get the motor running?

[Mo in Mo]

Had a little delay. I had a place that was going to do the chrome I spoke with them in December. I called to take the parts to them last month and they went out of business. So I had to find another place. I called and emailed over 10 places only 1 place responded. I guess people don't want/need the work. So I dropped off the parts at the chrome shop today. They said it will take about a month.

I will take the other parts to get powder coated later this week, I hope. So probably another month plus before any more progress. My goal is to make it too Portland this year.

[Derek]

What parts are you getting chromed? I had my exhaust "manifold" powder coated chrome, while it isn't the same as real chrome I like the way it looks. I may use it for some other parts too.

[pd]

What parts are you getting chromed? I had my exhaust "manifold" powder coated chrome, while it isn't the same as real chrome I like the way it looks. I may use it for some other parts too.

I've seen complete motorcycle exhaust systems done that^ way , headers and mufflers . They looked very 'respectable' .

Pete .

[Mo in Mo]

Attached is a few pics of what I took. Just lots of little things. I took my rims also, they said they could do them. However it was gonna be $150 a rim due to the amount of work. So I decided to get them powder coated instead. My muffler is copper and soldered to the exhaust flange so I will leave it as it is. I'm just going to clean it really well. I will just have to keep my leg off the muffler as it might get slightly warm!!

[Ricks]

$150 to chrome a rim is cheap!  If I had a place around here that would do it for that price, I would jump at it.

[Mo in Mo]

Just got the chrome back. I was like a kid at Christmas unwrapping it all. Now just waiting on the paint and powder coat stuff.

[Ricks]

That stuff looks looks really good! Get that together and come to Portland, Indiana in July for the VMBC meet.

[pd]

Pretty , pretty , but for a few grubby finger prints . LOL

Pete .

[ndian22]

Glorious stuff chrome. Rick C.