The Bonneville Report (of sorts)

[guitargeek]

I'd say that your bike fits right in!

[obiwancanopy]

There hasn't been a lot to write about for the past while. Waiting for El Mirage to start up and wondering if Bonneville will be on this year. Not holding mu breath on that one. I got out to El Mirage last weekend for the first attempt at running the sidecar with the blower. To make a long story short it was a steep learning curve. Major lean out and piston destruction. I haven't fully determined the cause but its (A) I didn't fatten it up enough or (B) the blower was sucking the fuel out of the bowl faster than it could get in.

It started easy, left the line hard and I was revving it out in third (around 7000) and there was a loud bang , rattle and get the clutch in as fast as I could.

Pulled the head and cylinder when I got home. Expecting the worst I was surprised with what I found. Over the years I have holed pistons, seized them, broke them but never have I "melted" one. First photo is what I saw when I lifted the head. The others are pretty much self explanatory. What surprised me is the head looks good. Only a couple of nicks that will clean up easily. The cylinder hasn't any gouges or scratches. Just a bit of aluminum on the wall that is no problem. Even the big end feels good. I haven't split the cases yet. I'll do that in a couple of days and see what lurks in there.

[Jaeger]

MELTED a piston?



That's fuckin' hardcore, man. Uh... well done?

--Jaeger

[obiwancanopy]

Kind of melted it and beat the shit out of it while I was at it.

[Pintgudge]

See, this is the extent that some dedicated artists will go to to create truly stunning modern art.

This sculpture will be admired until the end of days!

[obiwancanopy]

If a job is worth doing its worth doing right. Anybody can seize a piston but it takes a supercharger to do it right.

[Bigshankhank]

If a job is worth doing its worth doing right. Anybody can seize a piston but it takes a supercharger to do it right.

Hey, the Gods of Speed require a sacrifice now and again.

[obiwancanopy]

Hopefully, that's a sufficient sacrifice for the rest of the year. Bonneville is a long way to go to make another sacrifice.

Zane McNary took this shot as I left the line last week. With a bit of luck he'll take a shot of the sidecar in the lights.

[Mk3]

Naaaarf. Good picture, though the props of barely being caught on camera from last time were pretty sweet.

[Bigshankhank]

Some good news!

http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/hooray-th ... 1783293328

[obiwancanopy]

Yeah! I've been watching the reports closely. As have an awful lot of other people. A friend in the club who does the Bonneville entries say entries are down about 20%. I guess there are a lot of gun shy people after the last two years. All of the European racers I know are not willing to take the chance. And I can't say I blame them. Les Triplettes du Bonneville from France are coming. They'e the only ones I know of.I'm trying to get my shit together after a disasterous El Mirage. Leaned out bad and melted the piston. Got all the bits and am starting to get it back together. I'll be ready for the salt.

[obiwancanopy]

I'm sitting here Halloween night handing out candy. I went to Bonneville and had a rough time getting the carb right. Too rich or too lean. I think the problem boiled down to the carb not being able to let enough fuel in fast enough. I think the blower simply drew so hard the carb couldn't keep up. After dicking around I finally got it to a point where I thought it would make a decent run.

I had no idea a blower could make such a difference. It left harder than I could imagine. Pulled so hard through the gears. When I put in into fourth it pulled like it was in first gear. I started to think I'll need more gearing. At about 135 at the 1 3/4 mile mark the piston let go again. Too lean again. I should be depressed but it just flat pulled so hard I'm excited to get it back running. I do believe that with the right gearing 150 is a possiblity

Some friends said EFI is the only way to go. But I haven't a clue about EFI. I spent a couple of afternoons at Hilborn Fuel Injection. Long chats and a lot of details. Don Enriquez (he probavly knows more about fuel injection than Stu Hilborn ever did) put a set up together for me. It will get me in the ballpari and cure the lean out problem. I'm waiting for some parts from England and get to work on it.

Waiting for tech.


The long wait.


On the line.


Leaving the line.


The Hilborn injection.

[Bigshankhank]

There is just too much to like in this. Eager to hear the results of the F/I setup once it is dialed in.

[problemaddict]

I feel like I've asked this question before, but is there any chance of getting that thing on a dyno for a tuning session? Or, at least get an EGT gauge so you can back off before the piston pops...
Good luck with the fuel injection. Can't wait to read the next installment!

[obiwancanopy]

I don't know of any dynos near me. The fuel injection will cure the lean out problem It will be a while before the next installment. I've been catching up on honey dos. Should be done soon. and I can get my head down.

[Pintgudge]

What about sweety doo'es

[12ci]

looks like there are a few near Riverside: http://www.dynojet.com/DynoCenters/dyno ... istance=25" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

edit to add: DYNOS. there appear to be dynos near you, in addition to the honey-do's and sweetie-do's...

[Bigshankhank]

Adding a bung for an EGT should be pretty simple, I never really thought about it as I am still pretty new to F/I (and have never tuned one) but it would probably yield really useful data.

[obiwancanopy]

I just go an A/F ratio sensor which I'm told is a vital tool. Frying pistons and bending valves is not what I had in mind. I need to get off my lazy ass and start working. Been doing much needed stuff around the house.

[AZRider]

I'm friends with the local Dynojet guy in Connecticut. He may know the guys near you. I will try to ask him if he advises one in particular.

[obiwancanopy]

Kind of hard to believe its two years since this thread died, 2017 I went to the salt but got sick as a dog and didn't run. This year I had the blower off because of the above mentioned piston problems. Fried the piston again, A real pisser. I had blamed the blower and a lean mixture. Turned out it was a partial blockage in the oil pump. The pump was able to get enough oil in to keep the big end alive but not enough to lube the piston. That will be resolved for next year, The engine will be going as a spare.

I was talking to a guy on FB about Weslakes. He was telling me about a 647 cc Weslake he has. I asked how did you get a Weslake out that big without major surgery. He sent a bunch of photos. Wow! It can be done without moving the crankcase studs. I started to think I have a donor crankcase and a cylinder and made some plans. Fast forward a couple of weeks and I get a message from him to say he wants me to have the Weslake. Great! How much? He says no I want you to have it.!! Damn!!! this doesn't happen to me. It arrived a week ago or so. Its Beautiful!! Mahle Piston (big bugger 97.5 mm), Jawa rod, polished and lightened rocker arms.

I had thought that this year would be my last Bonneville but I hated the thought of ending Bonneville on a failure. With this engine I have no choice but to ho back. I'm now looking forward to it. In fact I think now that death would be the only acceptable reason for not going.

One minute I have two Weslake and suddenly I have five. And a Godden. The Weslake on the left is a genuine , unmolested Otto Lantenhammer Weslake. I bought it from Scott Autrey. Didn't need it or have any plans but I couldn't resist a genuine OL Weslake. The one on the right is the bones of a 350 that was given to me. And the Godden in the back I bought because it was dirt cheap. Missing some nuts and screws. The one in the foreground is the 647 cc beastie.

[Jaeger]

...

I had thought that this year would be my last Bonneville but I hated the thought of ending Bonneville on a failure. With this engine I have no choice but to go back. I'm now looking forward to it. In fact I think now that death would be the only acceptable reason for not going.
...

Rock the hell on, man. You know we're rootin' for ya.

--Jaeger

[Mk3]

Ahhh.. my life is back in order, I've had my annual salt flats pron from obiwan.

[obiwancanopy]

Ahhh.. my life is back in order, I've had my annual salt flats pron from obiwan.

Well, the last couple of years have been shitty to say the least. With the blower I fired a couple of pistons and blamed it on the blower heat and a lean mixture. This year at Bonneville it did the same thing without the blower. So the blower was exonerated. After a search it turned out to be the oil pump. It was pumping just enough to keep the big end alive but not throwing enough onto the cylinder wall to lube the piston. Problem discovered and solved.

I'm looking forward to Bonneville next year and to killing a couple of records. P.S. I love the poppy! Nice to remember.

[obiwancanopy]

[obiwancanopy]

This may be the last post on here for me. Seems pretty quiet of late. 10 years since the first post and my knees have turned to shit over that time. We went to Bonneville this year and had high hopes. It rained heavily the day before we arrived. The groomed courses were washed out. The SCTA managed to salvage one course with crappy salt. I decided not to run as 1. the salt was crap and 2. I didn't feel like sitting in line for 10-12 hours to make a run. I've done that before and had no intentions of doing it again. I'm hoping the knees will hold out and the the rain will hold off for next year. Whatever happens it was a good run. The sidecar ran a total of 16 records. 7 of them still stand. That was beyond my wildest dreams for the sidecar.

I went to El Mirage last weekend. Met a fellow Norton owner who introduced me to Jess Thomas. Who you say? Jess rode the "Texas Ceegar" 500 cc Triumph streamliner to a still standing 212 mph in 1958. Its been the highlight of this year for me. He was one of my teen years heroes. A couple of shots to finish this off.

[Jaeger]

Hey there, Obiwan! I was wondering if you were still out there. Yeah, it’s been quiet since the damn FecesBook sucked everyone away. There are a few die-hards still on here. We still had a good turn-out for the annual DOOM thing in Gettysburg. You should come attend some time! I expect if you could get your ass to Gettysburg there would be enough admirers to float you for the duration. (Quality of chow and accommodations notwithstanding)

Sorry to hear you had another shit year at Bonneville. I fear that may just be the new norm, like the crazy wildfires California’s having. Strange days indeed… Regardless, I’ve personally had fun saying I’m a member of a motorcycle organization with world speed records. You’re an inspiration to average-joe street-riding fuckwits like me. I sold Athena (my ’03 Triumph Speedmaster) to MeanChuck earlier this year because she was just becoming too much of a hassle. Picked up a new Indian Scout that’ll hopefully hold me another 15 years. (Also, I must point out you’ve been on longer than 10 years! Ha!)

Still, God rides a Triumph...

Also, cool history on Jess Thomas! I discovered my personal top speed on an Aprilla out in Colorado some years ago, and it was significantly less than 212 – let alone on a goddamn 500cc streamliner Trumpet.

And I hear ya on the shit knees. I have one that predicts the weather now – it’s going to rain in the next few hours, I know that – and I don’t get to ride nearly as much as I used to. Kids seem to have that effect pretty universally.

Rock on, sir. Hope you still hang around, and let me know if you’re ever out near DC. I’ll buy you a beer (or several).

--Jaeger

[Mk3]

No reason to quit lurking, but yes it has gotten eerily quiet. Like all the cool cult members drank some kool aid.
FWIW, it's been badass following your annual race attempts, even as the salt has been shittier and shittier.

Best of luck with the robotic knees.....You are getting robotic knees right? Like War Machine? think how fast you could shift!

[obiwancanopy]

Seems more like it died. With all the shit happening nothing much has happened. Apart from screwed up knees and most events cancelled nothing has ha[ppened. It rained at a Bonneville last year and the year before so I didn't bother to run in mushy salt. The only highlight of this year was Scott Autrey called me and asked me if I wanted a Weslake engine. No one turns one of them down. Nice one too.





I may not be back before Christmas so Merry Christmas folks.

[Pintgudge]

It's always good to hear from you! Congrats on your new? engine.
Sometimes when I don't hear anything for a while, I get worried, so, yay!
I hope you do run again so I can wear out another t-shirt!