450cc 4 stroke Air cooled Engine
We are currently building tooling for an all new single cylinder vintage engine.
This engine is the result of years of market research. For those of you that have been following this page, yes we are making big changes. This engine has it's roots as a motorcycle engine It has a vintage appearance, and should look right at home in a Boardtrack style racer.
We are making the crankcase patterns currently, and hope to have cast production parts in the first quarter of 2015. The crankshaft design is finished,and has been well tested. An all roller bearing design, and made in the USA by Truett & Osborn - the leading builder of high performance motorcycle crankshafts with decades of experience.
Yes, it is still a Flathead
It became clear over the past year that the only way to offer a vintage flathead was to build it here in the USA, and market it as a display or racing engine. The vintage look and durability were our customers top requests in feedback.
Why 450cc's?
Based on classic singles from the 1920's to 1930's. The classic Harley Davidson B model single was 350cc's. .The 1930 C model was 500cc's Our customers indicated they wanted reasonable performance, and good torque at low speeds. Many customers have expressed desire to build a vintage flat belt drive replica bike, while others want to use a vintage 3 speed transmission.
In keeping with the "Peashooter" feel a bore of 2.745 is used with a stroke of 4.625
Update 12/20/2015
As you can see from the photo, we now have production castings. It has been a little longer than we thought. From wood patterns, to match plates to the production foundry. We are making chips now.
The castings were designed from the beginning to be used as a true Keystone type mount. This makes for a slim, single down tube frame like an early machine. The cases will easily stand the stress of being a part of the frame
This engine is the result of years of market research. For those of you that have been following this page, yes we are making big changes. This engine has it's roots as a motorcycle engine It has a vintage appearance, and should look right at home in a Boardtrack style racer.
We are making the crankcase patterns currently, and hope to have cast production parts in the first quarter of 2015. The crankshaft design is finished,and has been well tested. An all roller bearing design, and made in the USA by Truett & Osborn - the leading builder of high performance motorcycle crankshafts with decades of experience.
Yes, it is still a Flathead
It became clear over the past year that the only way to offer a vintage flathead was to build it here in the USA, and market it as a display or racing engine. The vintage look and durability were our customers top requests in feedback.
Why 450cc's?
Based on classic singles from the 1920's to 1930's. The classic Harley Davidson B model single was 350cc's. .The 1930 C model was 500cc's Our customers indicated they wanted reasonable performance, and good torque at low speeds. Many customers have expressed desire to build a vintage flat belt drive replica bike, while others want to use a vintage 3 speed transmission.
In keeping with the "Peashooter" feel a bore of 2.745 is used with a stroke of 4.625
Update 12/20/2015
As you can see from the photo, we now have production castings. It has been a little longer than we thought. From wood patterns, to match plates to the production foundry. We are making chips now.
The castings were designed from the beginning to be used as a true Keystone type mount. This makes for a slim, single down tube frame like an early machine. The cases will easily stand the stress of being a part of the frame
The case web in the sprocket bearing area is much thicker than original B or C models.
The cam bores have clearance to allow a lobe lift of more than .550 with a .950 base circle. Larger clearances can be machined if needed.
We left a lot of material in the cylinder base area. This allows for a wide range of future cylinder assemblies. There is enough room for the VL cylinder base bolt pattern.
With the Truett & Osborn flywheel installed, cases are clearance cut for the 4 5/8" stroke with the 2.745 bore. The step is for the X ring seal at the cylinder base.
The sprocket shaft bearing housing. This part starts out as a hefty chunk of bar stock. It is machined, then heat treated before finish machining to minimize distortion. It is shrink fit in to the case half, and secured with 13, high strength bolts.
Both intake and exhaust cams are supported by full compliment roller bearings on both ends.
Cams are off the shelf items. No unobtanium vintage parts in here.