and now, for something completely different.

[roguetek]

I've been lurking for a bit, and looking at that pile of **** in the corner of the garage for a couple of years, and the old lady sez 'Get rid of that ****'. so...

I've got a 84 VW rabbit deisel engine, and the better part of two 1977 era goldwings.

I'm thinking

1: stretch the frame on the GL about 12 inches, weld some mounts for the motor/tranny in place, mount it in line with the frame.

2: cut the end off of one of the CV joint/shafts weld a spline head onto it so it sockets into the honda shaft drive rear end.

3. build a foot clutch, and a suicide shift ( my ballpark estimates put the shifter on the tranny under my left thigh. a single rod with one bend in it, and a ball on the end should do it.

4. Drive the hell out of it, and scare the **** out of the neighbors.

thoughts?

[Curtis in Texas]

I've thought about something simular myself for some time.
Here are some thought I've had.
1ST, Is the rotation correct to the final drive?

2nd Is this a 1.3 or 1.8 liter diesel?

3rd What is the wieght of that drivetrain.

WOuldn't an Automatic tranny make more sence.
That is going to be one HEAVY Scooter.
Cool and heavy. But, the Gold Winger will be a perfect base.

Have you thought about making it a sidecar rig? I saw a 2 wheeler once that used the front drivetrain in the rear and the guy spliced a Gold Wing front on the left side like a regular bike amd a side car body on the right side.


4th Where in Oklahoma are you located? I may want to come see your build.

I'm just south of Denton Tx so I'm not that far from Oklahoma.

Curtis

[roguetek]

I've thought about something simular myself for some time.
Here are some thought I've had.
1ST, Is the rotation correct to the final drive?

2nd Is this a 1.3 or 1.8 liter diesel?

3rd What is the wieght of that drivetrain.

WOuldn't an Automatic tranny make more sence.
That is going to be one HEAVY Scooter.
Cool and heavy. But, the Gold Winger will be a perfect base.

Have you thought about making it a sidecar rig? I saw a 2 wheeler once that used the front drivetrain in the rear and the guy spliced a Gold Wing front on the left side like a regular bike amd a side car body on the right side.


4th Where in Oklahoma are you located? I may want to come see your build.

I'm just south of Denton Tx so I'm not that far from Oklahoma.

Curtis

1st. rotation wont matter. if it's not right, I'll just put a reversal in.

2. 1677cc to be precise. out of a 1985 VW desiel 2 door, w/5speed manual.

3. weight of drivetrain is about 300-400 pounds.

4. automatics are for pussys.

5. yeah, and I have a plan for tipping it back upright.

6. I'm in Oklahoma City.

[smokyjoe]

I think I saw something similar in one of the pictures of the rallys, maybe Hamm? There's a VW bike and I think they used the tranny also. The rotation would be right if the Goldwing shaft is on the right (like my CB1000c) and you put the timing belt end of the engine to the nose of the bike.

Glad there's some VW Diesel enthusiasts on this site, I've got an 85 Jetta and an 81 Rabbit Pickup (Caddy to you Euros), both Diesels.

A crazy thought I had was to saw a 1.6L Diesel in half, ending up with an 800cc 25 horsepower 2-banger! It's been done with many other engines and probably been done with a VW too. I have a head that had a bad injector and melted #3 prechamber, that's what gave me the thought.

[roguetek]

yeah, that was the plan, mounting the motor in-line.

[smokyjoe]

In looking at my Jetta engine and Honda frame the only thing I can think of is that perhaps the engine will be pretty high up in the frame unless the Honda shaft is lowered somehow to mate up with the CV joint flange. It's sure to be a head turner!

Here's a video of how to test run your VW Diesel the Canadian Redneck way, eh?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e21ek72Gzps

[TedV]

the Canadians do like diesel. I had my autocross fuel pump built up in Canada. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKG_0pbzkrw for proof.

If you want a sequential shift trans, Quaife and a few others make them for VW. Expect to pay $15K for one brand new tho. Seen used and other RWD trans in the $6k range. I've looked into what it would take to make a DSG trans work. They are HEAVY, lots of electronics, and can only take 250 pound-foot of torque reliable. You will want to defeat the differential. either weld it up to lock it or for more money you can get a spool.

[cumorglas]

this is a fairly popular concept with rock buggies. typically they will grab a honda or similar fourcylinder fwd engine/transaxle figure out some flange from axle shaft to pinion of some beefy off road axles, weld the diff, and then build tube around it. I have eyed such buggies for some time and thought to myself "man if i could find a diesel rabbit cheap enough."

i love this concept as a bike.

[roguetek]

As far as getting the cv-joint and the swingarm drive socket to line up, I'm sure I can bodge something. perhaps by using the whole cv joint, it does have a flex point on both ends. Also, be aware that there is a universal joint in that rubber boot on the inside end of the swingarm.

As far as any sort of a fancy transmission, I'm going to pass. The entire point of this is building 'on the cheap'. I think I can get this thing off the ground for less than $1000.00 USD. it'll be ugly, and look extremely strange, but it will work.

[Crazymanneil]

Guys,

have you seen the thread here -

https://www.dieselbikeforum.com/view ... =22&t=1220

n

[roguetek]

It's nearly identical to what I had in mind, barring a few small problems.

1. It's a rigid frame. I"m pushing 40, and my kidneys do. not. like. rigid frames. neither does my back, or any other part of my body.

2. I really like what they've done with the shifter linkage, and might try to copy it.

3. the fabricated linkage looks to be expensive, and this bike is supposed to be cheap.

So I"m going to try it my way, and hope. It does show me that what I want is certainly possible, so that makes me happy.

[TedV]

2. I really like what they've done with the shifter linkage, and might try to copy it.

So I"m going to try it my way, and hope. It does show me that what I want is certainly possible, so that makes me happy.

I would like more details on the shift linkage. Wonder what all dance steps it takes to operate?? A lot of it looks to use VW parts, cut and welded.

I know what you mean about trying to do it cheap. I know I posted the $15K transmission option, but cheaper solution would be better. Cheap thrills and smiles are always good.

[roguetek]

Well, I just got done talking to my teacher at school, and I -may- have a solution to the shifter problem. my school is a vo-tech, and manufacturing automation is one of the courses offered.

so I"m thinking using a fore and aft 'stomp switch' hooked to a pair of solenoids, and a small controller.

[roguetek]

other thoughts. A 1980s era vw deisel motor only makes 48hp. wondering if I should look around for newer motor, like a VW golf 1.9l TDI, roughly the same size, and twice the horsepower.

[coachgeo]

If your Horse Power/Speed potentials are surpasing what came on the bike.... your opening new problems. You'll need stronger frame, improved braking, More efficient cooling, Computer nightmares, remapping of computer, etc etc etc

[roguetek]

If your Horse Power/Speed potentials are surpasing what came on the bike.... your opening new problems. You'll need stronger frame, improved braking, More efficient cooling, Computer nightmares, remapping of computer, etc etc etc

Stronger Frame - That's going to happen when the frame gets stretched to accommodate the new power plant.

Improved braking - dual disk front, single disk rear, about as heavy as I can make it. possible aftermarket, but ill worry about that when/if it seems to need it.

More efficient cooling - not really. the engine is going to be exposed to air, and also be working not -nearly- as hard, so less cooling will be required, not more. besides, I've already figured out how to get a full sized radiators worth of radiator in there. ( use the honda's radiator, and add two aftermarket coolers on either side, slightly angled. total volume equal to the origional. problem solved. )

Computer nightmares... the current projected power plant does not have a computer. it has glow plugs, and a fuel cut-off solenoid. that's it. The older VW 1.9l TDI uses a mechanical injection pump, so there's no need to tinker. and if I feel like it, there's a program and a module that allows me to hook a computer to the onboard comp, and reprogram it ( with an aftermarket chip, but still )

And yes, -of course- it's dangerous. Getting on -any- motorcycle is dangerous. Frankly, if there was not a possibility of getting killed, I would not be interested, as it would be -boring-.

oh, and while I'm thinking about it, the bike came with an 88hp motor, so I"m not really worried.

[TedV]

I’ve also been looking at ways to use as much VW parts as possible. No good solution yet. Was wondering the same about solenoids to work the H pattern shift mechanism and have a few people I can work on that with.

All VW TDI motors have computer control. The 1.6 was mechanical indirect injection (IDI) and there was a 1.9 version of the IDI motor that does not put out as much power as a TDI. Simple head gasket upgrade to the hydraulic lifter 1.6 is use the metal one from the 1.9. This wont work so easy with the mechanical lifter head of the 84 Rabbit, oil return holes are different. The blocks are taller on the 1.9 so they do weigh a little more. Clearance could be problem if you design a hole for a 1.6 then try to stuff the 1.9 in it. There have been some people who have put a mechanical pump on a TDI motor so you can have a TDI without all the electronic hassle. The mechanical injection motors have one wire to the stop solenoid, and then the glow plug harness if you will be starting it in cold temps. You will get better performance out of a computer controlled TDI. Speed is money, how fast can you afford to go?

As for stopping, Goldwings and Harley fat boy touring bikes can be stopped, Hayabusa’s and ZX14s can be stopped from around 200mph. Brakes should not be a problem to figure out once the transmission question is answered. It will be harder to figure out how to pick it up if it ever falls over. Maybe that is why Harley folks ride in groups. hehe