Considering a build...need direction

[wingrider]

Hey All,

I recently had the thought of putting a diesel engine in a motorcycle, did a search on you tube, and found some good stuff to watch. I also did a Google search, and found this site, which I'm guessing will be helpful for me in the future.

I am in the earliest stages of even taking on this project...figured it would be a good summer project for me. So, I want to try and get the basic thoughts down before I start buying things,so that I don't buy them, only to find they don't work.

I'm thinking of using a Yanmar 3 cylinder of some size...they are fairly common in the little John Deere garden tractors we have around here. I would plan on putting a turbo on it as well. I'm not sure about the transmission either...I'd like it to be belt drive...figure that might be easier.

Frame wise, I'm not real sure what to use. I'd like to make my next bike a bagger...with a smaller fairing and saddle bags. I realize I can add these to almost any bike, so that isn't as big of a concern. I don't know that I'm up for building my own frame, but I'm to scared of welding brackets, or extending a current frame if needed.

So, I guess I'm looking for a bit of direction as to what to look for...or what doesn't work good.

Thanks for any help!

[Stuart]

Hi and welcome I guess you'll be going for something like Sam here built? It's a bike that's very quick off the mark with that turbo onboard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5sd6Pv_xMk
It's featured on this page here: http://www.dieselbike.net/privateconver ... onsS-Z.htm

[wingrider]

Thank you Stuart!

I imagine that is similar motor wise to what I am thinking of building...happened to see some his you tube videos, and knew that it could be done....which was why I am now trying to persue it.

I had hoped that he documented his build on here, as I get more familiar with the layout of the site, I was hoping to find it. You made it a whole lot easier for me!

[wingrider]

Well, I've settled on a motor...a little 3 cylinder Yanmar, now I just need to rebuild it, and find a donor frame to accept the motor. Anybody know of a good frame that is steel?

[pietenpol2002]

Are you desiring a north-south or east-west orientation of the engine?

[wingrider]

If we are considering the front wheel North, the motor will be a east- west orientation. Figured it would be easier to adapt a transmission to it that way.

I'm thinking of some type of cruiser, that either has, or can add a bat wing style fairing, and hard bags...for some reason I am recently wanting a bagger to go with my Wing. I'm not partial to brand...as long as it'll work. Harley's tend to be expensive, but they might have the steel frame I desire.