Dianne's C77

LOUD MOUSE · Post by **LOUD MOUSE** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 6:10 pm

At one time that bolt was not TIGHT.
Happens to the others also. ..........lm

G-Man wrote:Dianne

It's your bike but as a Mechanical Engineer for 35 years I would be interested in how the crack got there..... :-)

G

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 6:16 pm

Good to know.

G

LOUD MOUSE wrote:At one time that bolt was not TIGHT.
Happens to the others also. ..........lm

G-Man wrote:Dianne

It's your bike but as a Mechanical Engineer for 35 years I would be interested in how the crack got there..... :-)

G

DianneB · Post by **DianneB** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 6:28 pm

I also noticed that there is a bit more space between the engine case and the frame than I am happy with. If I was building it (the first time) I would have put a washer between the engine and the frame so that the frame wasn't under stress when the bolts are tight. It could have been that stress that caused the metal to fatigue in the narrowest part over the years. I will make the doubler of the appropriate thickness to fill that space.

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 6:43 pm

Good plan....

Might be worth making a plate with a hole for the engine bolt and tacking that to the inside of the frame. It would spread the load a little better.

G

DianneB wrote:I also noticed that there is a bit more space between the engine case and the frame than I am happy with. If I was building it (the first time) I would have put a washer between the engine and the frame so that the frame wasn't under stress when the bolts are tight. It could have been that stress that caused the metal to fatigue in the narrowest part over the years. I will make the doubler of the appropriate thickness to fill that space.

DianneB · Post by **DianneB** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 8:25 pm

G-Man wrote:Might be worth making a plate with a hole for the engine bolt and tacking that to the inside of the frame. It would spread the load a little better.

That's the plan - pick up the engine bolt and extend the plate up the inside of the frame to pick up a doubler plate higher up. I haven't measured it yet but think the gap is about 0.080" so that will be the thickness of the doubler.

DianneB · Post by **DianneB** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 10:37 am

I was wrong on the gap between the engine and frame - far smaller than I thought it was - so I decided to put the doubler on the outside. It extends from the engine mounting bolt which is in double thickness metal to higher on the frame where there is also a double thickness of metal. The thickness of the doubler is a bit over-kill but it was what I had on hand without cutting a large sheet of something thinner.

DianneB · Post by **DianneB** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 10:52 am

I am still debating which way to take this bike. I am not considering a full restoration - a LOT of money and work to end up with a showpiece. I will keep it so that is restoreable (i.e. not cut anything off!) but I want a fun bike, a classic, and a rider.

My present thought is a cross between a rat bike and a hippie bike. Thinking of leaving the dents in the fender, leaving some exposed primer and/or some psychedelic paint, and a few flowers. It would be "different" LOL!