OLD MINI BIKES . COM

[Steve Shauger]

Originally Posted by TimG

When I was in about fifth grade I'd mount a B & S motor on a bicycle frame and hook up a pulley to a tire with direct drive, no centrifugal clutch. On a rare occasion, I'd get it going somehow by pushing the darn thing and drive a block or so. Yes, no brakes at all and I'd reach down to the engine to give it gas......

Amazing how we all seemed to have the same idea. I took a girls Schwinn bike, heated an aluminum plate (in oven), bent and bolted it in the bike V and mounted a 6hp Tecumseh. I purchased a rear wheel from Cycle City and mounted a sprocket. The rub was the engine shaft was 1 inch and no clutch would fit, so I purchased a sprocket and my father took it to Boeing where he worked and opened the ID to 1 inch.

I had a group of neighborhood friends donate the bike frame, seat and throttle. I rode it two times that I recall. The first the chain immediately fell off due to alignment issue. The next and final time the front wheel immediately lifted as I accelerated. The time front wheel was up an eternity because time sat still. As I was riding my friends were following and cheering me on. I will never forget the pulsing of every powerstroke of the 6hp engine. I knew it was not functional without a clutch..... I ended up getting a Heath Kit mini bike with the variable ratio trans with the huge back wheel.... what a beast !