Firko strikes gold.

[firko]

Firko that swingarm looks a dead ringa of my Redline swingarm, are they made by both the same frame builders 

you spotted it one....Redline made Shell frames to Shells Thuets specs.

[firko]

I've been digging around looking for info on OW72 and OW79 Yamaha 750 engines and came accross this snippet...In relation to your cylinder head rocker box the engine you are referring to is an OW-72 of which 25 were made in 1974 for flat track racing in the US. which makes this find even more exciting as it puts the engine and possibly the bike legal for pre 75! For anyone interested in what the OW72 head looks like when compared to a stocker, her's an old piece I found.http://users.skynet.be/fgeers/MyMotorcycles/Pages/TechOW72.html Apparently the development work was done by Toyota which is an interesting connection.

Here's the link I posted to the OW72 transmission that was recently for sale on vft.org. http://ozvmx.com/community/index.php?topic=27676.0

[firko]

I'm on a bit of a roll after the big 750 fell on my lap. I couldn't resist this little gem on eBay for $500. I happen to have a low mileage 305 Honda Dream motor gathering dust in the shed so.....why not
                                                            
                                                            
Up for auction is a very rare and unique item.  This is a Tom Cates Flat Track Racing frame.  It is made specifically for the Honda CL72 engine.  Of course a CL77, CB72 or CB77 engine will also fit.   Tom Cates started producing these frames in 1962.  This frame is in overall good shape, has surface rust but should clean up nicely.  The frame is straight.  There were only ever a handful of these frames ever made, I believe less than 100.  As you can see in the pics the engine mounts are about 2 inches over to the right to help give ground clearance for turning.  Includes triple trees, the triple trees are for the stock CL72 forks.  A lot of the parts you will need for this are pretty much universal fitting from other flat trackers such as the tank, seat and wheels. This would make for a good project for any flat track fan or a Honda fan that wants to build something truly unique. Here's a complete one that was recently for sale.
                                                            
                                                            
http://powersports.honda.com/experience/articles/090111c080a4ad9c.aspx
 http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=376                                                            

[firko]

I picked up the Tom Cates CB72 rigid frame pictured above today and can't believe how light it is. I might lay it out and do a dummy build to see what I need later in the week. I've already got the 305 motor, f/glass tank and seat almost identical to that on the red bike and will use DT1 steel forks and possibly a DT1 rear wheel (mainly to use up shit laying around the shed). I've also got a spool front wheel already fitted with a Carlilse an d even have enough candy apple red left over from the Yamaha so it should be a cheap build.....(famous last words)

[Iain Cameron]

Some lovely gear there Mark Im going to have to come up to NSW to see some flat track . Last time I was at Nepean was for the lisa Ricters and Herb benefit .

[firko]

As of this afternoon, this little sweetie is now tucked away in its new home at Casa del Firko. Once I've unpacked everything and checked it all out I'll post some photos. Then.....the build starts, I can't wait .
                                                                   

Packed in with the 14 boxes of Shell Yamaha was one box containing the 750 Trumpy engine destined for my Trackmaster frame, replacing the sold 650 Benelli motor that had sat in it for the last few years. That project can wait a little while though .
                                                                   
                                                                   

[Michael Moore]

Shell Thuet was th S in S&W along with Tim Witham.

Actually, Art Sparks (who founded Forged True pistons) was the S in S&W.

cheers,
Michael

[firko]

Actually, Art Sparks (who founded Forged True pistons) was the S in S&W

There you go, my medication has struck my memory again .....Thanks Michael...I was fairly sure I'd seen it mentioned a couple of times that it was Shell Thuet but I'm glad to be corrected. That's the beauty of forums like this....no matter how much we think we know, there's always somebody out there to proof read our stuff .

[Purple Dave]

As of this afternoon, this little sweetie is now tucked away in its new home at Casa del Firko. Once I've unpacked everything and checked it all out I'll post some photos. Then.....the build starts, I can't wait .
                                                                   

Packed in with the 14 boxes of Shell Yamaha was one box containing the 750 Trumpy engine destined for my Trackmaster frame, replacing the sold 650 Benelli motor that had sat in it for the last few years. That project can wait a little while though .
                                                                   
                                                                   

I'm DROOLING Mark..........As you know, Yamaha and Triumph are my mounts of choice......BEAUTIFUL !!

[yamaico]

OK Mark, enough's enough. I don't know about everyone else but you're killing me here. Photos, pleeeeese

[dalesween]

Nice find Mark, the OW looks like a very special piece of kit,being a welder i love looking at the quality of the frames,swingarm's etc.

cheers Dale

[oldyzman]

So it made the trip unscaved. Well Mark, if something happened to me i would like a good mate or two of mine to be as passionate as you have with your old friends bike. Can't wait to see it at Nepean one day!

[firko]

I'll run off some photos tomorrow. Remember that it's in a squillion different pieces so all I can do is photograph everything in a sort of dummy set up. Then everything goes away until I've finished up the last few little things on the Cheney and the red flat tracker. Getting them ready for Temora is my first priority.  I'll probably make a start on the 750 sometime next month.

[firko]

This rare, one off Trackmaster prototype frame to suit an XS650 Yamaha will slowly go together as well, now that it's confirmed that a mate is selling me a stock XS650 motor (see mock up above with its previous 650 Benelli Tornado motor). I've got most of the parts needed to get it on the track including Yamaha R6 forks, Morris magnesium wheels and a few different variations of bodywork. With a bog stock electric start 650 this bike might suit slow old fart me a tad better than the Shell which will be ridden by Yamaico Pete and/or Steve Gall at the big meetings. The 650 Trumpy motor will now go onto the shelf waiting to eventually be built into a pre 65 motocrosser project.........probably about 3 years down the track going by my current shed output.
                                                                               

[Michael Moore]

Mark, when helping a friend with an XS650 project I discovered that the rotor from a 3 phase external rotor alternator from a Kawasaki EX250 fits as though it were made for the Yamaha.  It is an "inside out" setup but it isn't that hard to make a plate to hold the stator in the outer case.  He only used it to generate power as he already had a Rita ignition off the cam.  It seemed a good improvement over the OEM generator.

You can see some photos of the installation in this folder along with some photos of the bike (modified CBR600 frame and swing arm, Ohlins from a Husky, GSXR forks/wheels/brakes):

http://www.eurospares.com/graphics/steveyamaha/

cheers,
Michael