ESE's works engine tuner

[lodgernz]

I see that Alex Degnes ("2-stroke Stuffing") bike "Moped Dick" was the second fastest 50 at Bonneville, at 133kph (81.978mph)

[Peter1962]

I see that Alex Degnes ("2-stroke Stuffing") bike "Moped Dick" was the second fastest 50 at Bonneville, at 133kph (81.978mph)

Congratulations to that !

I sure hope that Alex returns to being active on the forum.

[diesel pig]

133 Kph is very good considering how thin the air is in Bonneville which affects non turbo and non supercharged engines quite badly I understand.

I look forward to his youtube video about his time there.

[lodgernz]

133 Kph is very good considering how thin the air is in Bonneville which affects non turbo and non supercharged engines quite badly I understand.

I look forward to his youtube video about his time there.

Yes, not a bad speed for normally aspirated and unstreamlined. The 50 that was about 6mph faster was in a different class, so who knows what that would look like.

[diesel pig]

Yes, not a bad speed for normally aspirated and unstreamlined. The 50 that was about 6mph faster was in a different class, so who knows what that would look like.

That's right it is not streamlined. That would here a big effect on the speed.

[diesel pig]

That's right it is not streamlined. That would here a big effect on the speed.

I remember reading in John Robinson's book on MC Chassis just how bad aerodynamics on MC's were, even with fairings on, they have bad aerodynamics. ironically there power to weight is fantastic.

[F5 Dave]

It is a lie down bike from what little I've seen.
A Freetech 50 in that chassis would murder it.
Local NZ (Faired but not fill streamliner) is 149km
Not trying to knock. He's only gaining info ATM.

[SwePatrick]

Friday!
Weekend, pop a beer and enjoy!

[adegnes]

We almost got the bike working reliable enough, but not quite.

First run on gas, 73mph. Far too rich, egt stabilized at 870f. This was with a 24mm PWK, 105 main jet.
Bonneville sits at about 4200ft/1250m, same elevation as Mack Colorado where we did some testing beforehand(not nearly enough, the engine was falling apart and most of the week was spent doing repairs).
4200 is bad already, but with the extreme heat, and humidity things get much worse. You get effective elevation printed on the timing slip after a run, our runs were done at an equivalent to over 8000ft/2400m.

Stupid as I am I didn't bring any smaller mains than 100.
Switched to a 28mm pwk with that 100 jet, as lean as we could go, and did another run. 82mph.

Egt still low at 1050f. Running 116 leaded.

Both runs done early in the morning.
Hard to find small pwk main jets in the pits, no way to go leaner.

Switched over to methanol and 30% nitromethane through a 35mm alcohol pumper carb.
Running this carb/fuel combo was the initial plan, but a clogged tank vent fooled me into thinking it didn't work too well. Didn't realize that vent was glogged until Bonneville tech inspection when demonstrating how our fuel shutoff solenoid worked.

Had a few failed runs were the bike would not rev, and just die after taking off.
The rotary valve was failing, so was that fuel solenoid.

Didn't bring a spare RV of course. Made new one out of a saw blade.
Bypassed the solenoid.
Bike seemed to run good on our roller in the pits.
New run. Seized 10s in. Too lean. Plug/piston top had started melting.
Salvageable.

New ring, dialed in lots more fuel. Back in line, last run.
Warmed up, stalled, then wouldn't run at all, RV had shifted on the axle and was now almost timed 180deg out...
Track closed.




Notice the low temperatures. Also notice how stable the variator keeps rpm.
If only I had time before this to dyno it properly and figure out where peak power is actually sitting. There's a new pipe on it. Simulations say about 15500.
Installed a brake caliper for locking the gear ratio, but it had too much flex to work properly. Plan was to feel where power was sitting with that brake and adjust variator accordingly.

Also we might be running out of gear.

Being Norwegian I'm not used to the extreme heat. Felt like I was operating at about 20%. One day I drank roughly 15l of water and didn't pee once!

Hoping to be able to fly over sometime soon, fix the RV and get an unofficial record run done in Mack.

Questions:
- Could the friction disadvantages cancel out the flow advantage of a rotary valve vs reed in small engines like a 50?
There's so little torque, and very high rpm.

- pop off and fulcrum height in pumper carbs. I'm thinking I want to set this so that both high/low needles work in their normal range, no more than 3 turns out or so. Correct? Probably want really low pop off with a 35mm carb on a 50.

[adegnes]

Must add that the engine in use is very much a conventional specimen, and does not invole any of my usual free jazz experimental features.

Iame M50 cylinder(you might remember it) ported to rsa-ish spec.
Normal RV case induction.

[adegnes]

Moped Dick.

[adegnes]

I'm sorry to say that Mark Atkinson "makr" passed earlier this year.
Head injury from motorcycle accident. Seemed fine, then died a few days later.
I was just about to ask him if I could come by his shop in Salt Lake when I heard.
RIP.

[F5 Dave]

Hey good to see you post again. I tap on my phone in a cafe at a comfortable temperature. I salute you for your efforts. No one ever seem to crack a decent run without several visits. Best of luck.

[diesel pig]

I just watched your video of your time on the salt. adegnes, and it's ever what you think is going to be the problem that turns out to be the problem after seeing others time on the salt. Remember in the movie "World's fastness Indian" it turned what was eight trip's to the salt into one trip for the movie.

[husaberg]

I'm sorry to say that Mark Atkinson "makr" passed earlier this year.
Head injury from motorcycle accident. Seemed fine, then died a few days later.
I was just about to ask him if I could come by his shop in Salt Lake when I heard.
RIP.

Bummer he was a talented dude. Speed of cheese will remain undefined