477 Racing

Well due to the new house and a whole raft of other things happening, including the building of a smaller but newer workshop, racing is on the back burner this year. There is a chance of a meeting around October with some new parts fitted but until the workshop is setup one cant say Stephen

2009 This year, the computer software is up and running , The bike has had all of the problems from last year ironed out so we should be set to go... This year our goals are to finishe all the rounds of the VMX class and to sort out the suspension. The Suspension is in theory , ok , but with one or two tweaks , it could be on par with the more exotic bikes. The race dates are the same as last year with March the 22nd being the first of the year .. here's hoping ,,,,, Happy new year everyone and lets hope for a few good results this year Stephen

Have been very busy,,,,,, I have finally managed to get the FEA up and running as well as the CGI program. This means I can now take a sketch all the way though to a prototype. All on the computer. The Enfield has had its tank repainted after a crash and the brake system redesigned. Lots of weight removed and the lever going over the kickstart . Photos will follow. In the mean time some photos of the brake arm and logos. Stephen

Ok Have been very busy trying to get this software running. As you can see its is. What this means is that I can take a 3d drawing ( scanned in the future I hope ) and take it from a concept drawing all the way through to a plastic prototype , with a fully rendered concept drawing , so that it looks like the finished part ( and you have the plastic part in your hand ) . This process cuts down on the prototyping costs considerably. Also part optimization. We can take an existing part and optimize it , producing a drawing which shows the modifications needed. the following pictures show what I am saying. the bean is a 50mmx 50mm H beam and a 50 x 50 channel both in Aluminum. The next software to implement is a CFD , now all this means is , I need to run a more powerful computer, As the above stopped the processor in its tracks! Stephen

Samore fotos....... The Enfield looks good , need more period clothing though me thinks . Stephen

In order The attendance ( was the same the other side as well) Some of the competition The start of Evolution race 1 me and the boy Evolution class British bikes ( warm up Lap ) The Enfield

What is it with some people , to make you start at 6.30 in the morning! Well I got there , only after a bit of drama............. The night before, all was sorted , bikes running , tested all ok , gear packed all ready,,,,,,,,,, one final start ...Cr ok ....Enfield ...Crack, snap ,,, no kickstarter . The pawl had gone. Well , as the compression is so high, you cant bump start the thing , so you need the kick starter . There was nothing else for it but to strip the gearbox. Done, fixed, working ok . All arrived ok the next morning, out for final practice , both bikes ok , track wet and clay ( which means if you stuck behind a bike you get a face full of HARD clay. which hurts .) Heat one for the Honda. I got the holeshot and was leading into the straight , when I forgot to pull the clutch in enough and stalled , as all the field went past ,,, well I restarted and had to work hard to pass all the back markers , crashing once into a corner by losing the front .Still 4th place .. (I th...

Well shes up and running and waiting for final testing, Need to fit off road tires , ( will do that after I do the engine speed checks ) I fitted Hitchcock clutch springs ( same as the ones I designed but cheaper,) Hitchcocks ignition springs and a 15 tooth sprocket. I have estimated the gearing required using Google earth and the knowledge of family . Spent ages getting the shifting right , I think its as good as it will ever be. ( it clicks into gear, a touch stiff but I can change through the gears at a stand still with little to no free play,). The front forks have been stripped measured and drawn in Cad, so that in the future a cartridge can be developed. Today I am panal beating a number plate. This is a first , so I wonder how this will turn out ! need three of them ! In order of development, I now think it will be , A; stopping the heat getting to the Exhaust tappet block. B; Ignition springs...

Yesterday I spent the day down the track, The results were; Bad pinking on large throttle openings ( eg 2nd gear out of a sharp corner ) rich up to 1/4 throttle opening , slightly lean mid throttle and lean top end . its in the ballpark so not worried about that. Heat causing excessive rocker block clearance , as discussed oil viscosity through those bearings . need to stop heat transfer into rocker block. front Suspension , in the last part of its travel is too soft allowing fender to contact the frame . Plug tip timing band ( the little bit at the top of the electrode ) is grey and 1mm wide Gear changing is still difficult , its going PAST the gear needed , ie from second to third , I go past second into no mans land between 2nd and third . ( simple fix is RHS shift , but I want to use the left ) Clutch is STILL a might heavy for MX use ( The bench mark is the 2007 CR Range ) two finger use !! The balance is good , it lands well of a jump and the suspension is surprisingly ok...

17 deg at 1000 rpm 38 deg at 2040 rpm Stephen

Just measured the ignition timing at 16 degrees BTDC at 1060 rpm I will try and get an ignition curve later on in the week This is with stock Indian springs and the oil seal is leaking slightly ......poo Stephen

well trying to go through the process of using FEA to solve cad drawings for Stress strain and deflections This means I can conceptualize an Idea run it and check then send straight to rapid prototyper/ water cutting or Machine shops I am using CAELINUX ( Salome post processor, ASTK solver ), while this is free open source , its in french . I dont speak french!!! Still I ve managed to, model the piston and a valve. So I can now epand on the idea. Stephen

Finally got a FEA package to easily ???? run a script. Using a tutorial I managed to load, mesh , solve and display a piston. Now I know How , and the pitfalls , I can start modelling other parts such as a foot peg bracket A couple of minor question remain but they are solvable Stephen

Clutch cable system total flex 1,8mm Clutch pushrod flex 0.3mm Cable flex 1.5mm Stephen

Bike up on Bench float hieght reset 25mm ( its quite tricky , to little , lean , to much , flooding and only a few mm either way ! Clutch Spring info free length 27.15mm Clash 2.86mm wire dia 2.38mm End constant 1.5 Number of active coils 4.5 Pressure plate lift 0.8mm actuator arm lift ( measured at adjusting screw ) 1.10mm flex of clutch pushrod 0.3mm clutch lever lift 43mm ( not enough ) Stephen

Well I well use this blog to keep people informed of the Enfield and its continuing dramas Stephen