02-23 OCT2013 UPDATE-Clutch / Chain Guard, Neoprene Gaskets, & Throttle Assembly
Here is what completed the last few weeks:
(I have been kinda focused on other outdoor stuff before the rains set in for winter, but found a bit of time for the mini project. . . .It has just been so nice in normally rainy this time of year, Oregon, I've been outside as much as possible and not in the shop, much!)
First up, I ordered the Bonanza style clutch cover from OldMiniBikes-wOw, what a nice piece! good chrome and solid construction, it bolted right up to my Tecumseh H35. I got it installed all nicely with the necessary
5/16" x 24tpi (sae fine thread) bolts and washer. No nasty routed leg injury for me, now!
Also in this picture, I have all the gas line routed along with a nice Briggs & Stratton gas valve and B & S mini gas filter. The light springs keep the fuel line from getting pinched up.
Next up, I had to replace the base plate of the air cleaner assembly after finding the original was warped and not sealing right. I tried to hammer it flat but it just wasn't right still so I found a replacement in our spares.
Here I am fabricating a new gasket for the baseplate to carb from neoprene. I paint the surface that needs the gasket with a good amount of black sharpie. Then, I press it firmly against the neoprene and put a weight on top of it. I let it dry for a few minutes and then trim to fit - voila! custom neoprene gasket!
Here is the other gasket I had to fabricate, the gas cap gasket. The original was all hard and crumbly and replacements were unavailable, to the best of my searching, so I just made a new one out of a thick neoprene.
I measured the diameters I needed and matched that up with the appropriate size sockets from the tool set, to use to trace and cut around. A little Dremel sanding drum work and the gasket is real nice and smooth and more importantly, seals up nice on the gas tank.
The next issue addressed was to modify the stock throttle mechanism to work with the cable from the mini bike throttle. I basically followed this VERY helpful post on Tecumseh throttles here: (thanks!
Randy )
http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/tecumseh-engines/23110-advice-hooking-up-your-tecumseh-carb-throttle-linkage-small-h-hs-engines.html
Here is a close up of the mechanism:
I had to sand the lever flat (there was a ridge on the bottom half) and then drilled out the existing hole a bit. Then I pried up the throttle plate a bit to work a modified screw from behind (I bench ground it to a smaller diameter head) and into a washer and then the barrel screw, with a touch of Loctite red. Then I installed a small bracket to hold the return spring and lined everything up straight and smooth. It's a real nice firm but smooth throttle now.
Here is a view of the whole engine area around the throttle setup:
So, after all this and filling up with some gas,
I HAD THE DING HOW RUNNING AND I DROVE IT UP AND DOWN THE BLOCK LAST NIGHT! WOO HOO! However, the fun was short lived as I realized no matter how much I adjusted the carb, it wouldn't idle low enough. It ran like a champ at speed but at idle it needed the choke on a bit and was a bit too high as the clutch kept trying to engage. :cursing: Sooooo, next up will be a carburetor cleaning, rebuild, and re-installation!
Here is what it looks like for now! Almost forgot, but I installed an engine kill-switch by the throttle, too.
After the carb rebuild, I still plan on putting a fancier exhaust on the mini plus I hope to touch up the seat a bit.....but, that's
DING HOW :thumbsup: for now!