gear lightening?

[superleggera]

I notice the H&H Engineering blueprint and references to gear lightening. (link to page H&H Engineering blueprint)

Has anyone done and recommendations and cavaets? (note: I have use of a lathe / mill and done numerous times for my modern Ducati's)

[superleggera]

also does anyone have a higher resolution (or size) of the H&H Blueprint above? Thanks.

[Rick]

I bought a pile of parts from a guy who raced a 250 in the sixties and seventies- he used the 'Blueprint For Power' specs for lightening and never had a failure. I've had conversations with other racers who had similar results- should be safe.
The guys I've spoken with who vintage race singles today don't use his intake port modification, and I think a peak in front of the valve guide will give similar flow without chopping off the valve guide.
There are a couple of versions of this print around- I don't have a complete one, just small copies from the racer's notebook- this shows what is probably an earlier version of 'slipperizing' the piston:

HH piston.jpg

You can buy a copy of the 'Blueprint For Power' on Ebay- I asked the seller if any of the money he made from selling the copies went to the Herb Hitch, still alive I'm told, but the seller never replied, so I decided not to buy- probably silly, but people who download a manual from the internet and then sell copies on Ebay are a pet peeve of mine.
Rick

[JimF]

If you are really good with a milling machine, here's the kind of stuff you could try to lighten the engine.

engine_milled.jpg

This is a Vicky Smith picture and I don't have permission so I won't leave it posted here long....

[Jordan]

Or a drill and some files?

[superleggera]

If you are really good with a milling machine, here's the kind of stuff you could try to lighten the engine.
This is a Vicky Smith picture and I don't have permission so I won't leave it posted here long....

(remove the pic if you want)

Exactly what I'm looking to do -- lightened, external oil lines and other crazy stuff. I have the mill/lathes and fabrication equipment. Just one engine -- all others will be restored or mild race setup.

I'll ask Vicky when she is back from WDW2012. She knows the chassis that this engine will go into. She has wanted me to bring it to Barber upcoming -- just never had time last year to go through all the old parts or finish the chassis and new coachwork. Daily business is more important at times.

Thanks!

[Eldert]

i used a hole saw , hecksawblade and file on this cover



the oilpumpcover is from a Mototrans and weights 145 gram less then a italian cover

here is another topic about shedding some weight :

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=820

Eldert

[DesmoDog]

If you are really good with a milling machine, here's the kind of stuff you could try to lighten the engine.

engine_milled.jpg

This is a Vicky Smith picture and I don't have permission so I won't leave it posted here long....

More details from the same bike, no surprise Rich Lambrechts of DesmoPro did the work. He put the bike together for the 2007 Motogiro d'Italia IIRC.

[superleggera]

Thanks for the ideas -- and more are always welcome (w/pictures). =)

Mods will be done to a 250NC 5-spd. I'll keep the other 250nc 5spd/4spd engines and rebuild stock for restorations.

I'll dig through the side case covers this weekend and choose the most mangled ones as a starting point.

More questions soon for other threads. Thanks!