Unobtainium

Looks like this is one of the bits made from Unobtainium, a 8 valve cylinder head for the CB450.

A decade ago I did some serious investigations, trying to get get in contact with, what I believe was, the  last man standing, that was involved in making this conversion kit. I have to say I came pretty close, but...

Last year I made another attempt approaching from another angle, so to say. Seems like guys that could help are not interested in helping at all. Ignorant is the word.

Anyway, this is what I was searching for.

Wonder

I wonder if they ever sold one of these?

Just imagine if someone has such a cylinder head in the shed...

Barn find

Not really, it's my CB450 that has not been used for several years.

What thread is this

W7
35


Edit:
As it says 7mm, 35tpi, Whitworth thread

FEM

A couple of years ago my friend Frank from Germany was investigating methods for lightening the valve rockers. Below a simulation of the original rocker.

Klick the picture to see the actual simulation

Guess what

the cylinder head make is? The rest of the engine is pretty easy to recognize.

I did some detective work about 7 years ago, trying to track down one of the last persons alive (it seems), involved in the project. I came pretty close, so close that I got to hear the person I was searhing for had cancer and after that, nothing. The dream stopped at that point.

Another Museum

Nice museum, bad picture.

What about that

Field trip

No succes at work today. Fortunately, today it was close to the MC Collection...



Also upgraded my wardrobe with a T-shirt.

Radiator

Since the Chinamus was to bright to use as a lantern I bought a radiator kit for it.

Installing the kit.




Tested with the mantle in place


With the mantle in the bottom of the radiator


And plain radiator


The last was the best heatvice maybe too hot


Look at the hat, the chrome is starting to fail after 15minutes

Chinamus

Or actually a chinese made Optimus 1551 found a new home.
Quality is not perfect and it has some battle scars(?) although it's brand new.

Got it light after adjusting some damages.
The performance is bright & pulsating, it almost has X-ray strength (500cp). Hopefully the pulsating phenomena can be adjusted.

Funkmeister

Was supervising my bids for Kerosene products when I remembered that I have an old IMCO Funkmeister somewhere. How cool is that name, Funkmeister, just taste it :)

I must have rescued that one from the family summer cottage. One om my only lasting memories of my grandpa is when he lighted the Primus Gas Stove with the Funkmeister.

In color the same as this one but not that good condition, but still working.

Now I suddenly also remember playing with an IMCO Petrol Lighter as a child, a blue one. Must have been my fathers, will make him give me that one - if it can be found.

Brass cleaning

Bought an old kerosene camping stove that was dirty and corroded. Probably never cleaned since the 30ies.

Earlier I have used citric acid but thought I should try something new. Mixed up a solution of hot water, oxalic acid, soap, methylated spirit and ammonia. If you intend to do the same, do it outside and wear protective clothing.

As with the citric acid it works best as log as the solution is hot.

After a short time the the stove looked like this.

And with some light polishing

Using a polishing wheel would have made it more glossy...

New adventure

Today I remembered the old Kärcher Pressure Washer that i got from a friend. The only thing he told me was "it's blowing fuses". I tested it and it did!

I suspected moisture in the junction box and it was... and more.

The junction box was full of moist and rust and when I opened the switch, a piece was broken loose.

Have glued the piece back with Super Glue and so far it seems to work.

The motor still did not work and after dismantling more parts I could feel that the motor was not rotating, at all.

Suspected a bearing failure but it was worse. The rotor and stator were glued togeteher by rust. Bearings are fine!

After de-rusting I put the parts together and it works!

Kerosene

Due to lack of inspiration for my current projects I started with a new hobby today.

A Kerosene Torch Collection.

Or at least an extenson of the Kerosene Lamp collection I started last week...

The main idea is to buy some at every swap meet I visit this summer and fix them next winter, in between the other projects.

Cross Heads

In an earlier post I mentioned that I finally bought the JIS cross head screw drivers.

To clarify the difference (to myself) once and for all I tried to find the JIS specification on-line but could not find it.

Anyway, the most common cross heads, in my life are:

But unfortunately the most common screw drivers (as for most people) are Phillips and Pozidriv. This has resulted in a lot of damaged screws. Where to get replacement JIS screws or at least similar looking Phillips, I don't know.

Earlier I have replaced the screws with Unbrako / Allen head bolts but that just don't seem right. For one of the Honda engines I used flanged JIS bolts (smaller head size and finer thread pitch for the larger bolts) but they were not easy to find either.

Hopefully I can soon start refurbishing used bolts when I get my home Zinc plating kit working.

FARGO

Last summer I "found" an old Fargo Town Wagon in Canada that I "fell in love with".



I was allmost attempted to buy it, regardless of the state.

This is what it should look like. The only difference is taht my Fargo was a delivery van. I.e. no windows or seats in the rear. (Town Panel?)



Like this

Next problem

Maybe these motors were popular in Holland?



The cylinder had some shelf wear...



After some light filing and honing it's better.



New piston rings adjusted.



The next problem is that the magneto seems to be faulty. Visually I detected one broken wire in the primary winding but the secondary windig also has a open circuit and that's bad... I have not decided if I should put any effort and money into rewinding the magneto.

More Junk

Maybe I should start to build something instead of just piling junk.

Yesterdays "find".

Winter tyres not included

Mosquito

For some reason I have not had any "go" lately. But yesterday I visited a Swap Meet and sice I always try to find at least one item to buy I bought some piston rings.

I have had an old Mosquito autocycle engine laying around, for about 30 years, that need two new piston rings.



Unfortunately these rings seems to be made from unobtanium so finally I bougt some that I maybe could modify to fit. The new rings, I was told, are for some Villiers engine.


Above the original

The new rings are cut 90 degrees but that is not a problem. They are also 35.5 mm compared to the original 35.0 mm but that is easily adjusted by filing.