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So I finish my frame for the Bazoo, it was never meant to be a roll bar but I flipped the thing straight after and not a scratch so I'm pretty happy. The engine is running great thanks to a non broken choke spindle and the choke flap no longer flaps about in the breeze. The original specs said this thing can go 33 mph, a figure I very much doubted, however now with everything running like it should I'm not so sure where my doubts lied. It screams along, almost uncontrolably and after the flip I'm a little more cautious on the cornering on damp grass. So after having some fun I jammed the left brake on and it stuck on, then I lost drive (actually it was the fact the brake couldn't disengage) on the Left side.
This was just after going through the lake (tires the correct way around so we had forward motion) and everything going just too well.
I limped back to the garage and started looking for the problem, it seems the puck (brake pad) had worn thin enough to slip between the caliper and the disc, this in hindsight heated the caliper and weakened it. I made a new brake pad from a car pad that just needed cutting to shape. All was going to well, I got it back together and ready to go just before dark so i took it for a quick spin. The caliper disintergrated
So late into the night much welding and grinding (and cursing as I no longer have access to a mill) and trial fitting I made a new steel caliper.
Note to self: don't try working in the dark, every spring, washer and tool you drop falls into the hull of the machine, and hides behind the chain, shafts and frame. I believe the whole shape of the amphib machine is designed to make you reach in between the chains for a piece that is just out of reach that you refuse to take your eyes off of as you know it will dissapear the second you blink.
So i finish my quest and now I have another problem, due to the rigidity and new pads the left brake is soo much better than the right, meaning I may just as well make another for the other side and keep the one good caliper for a spare.
However the thing is running so well I'm frightened to take it back out, it's too good to be true, I want to preserve it in this state forever. But I know I'll be back behind the sticks at the first oppertunity and getting it ready for snow. In the mean time I still have the Jiger to work on and now I have decided to go the kawasaki 440 route rather then the 225 I'm looking forward to something with a bit more power with better brakes and less maintainence.
if thats possible.
Thanks for listening.
This was just after going through the lake (tires the correct way around so we had forward motion) and everything going just too well.
I limped back to the garage and started looking for the problem, it seems the puck (brake pad) had worn thin enough to slip between the caliper and the disc, this in hindsight heated the caliper and weakened it. I made a new brake pad from a car pad that just needed cutting to shape. All was going to well, I got it back together and ready to go just before dark so i took it for a quick spin. The caliper disintergrated
So late into the night much welding and grinding (and cursing as I no longer have access to a mill) and trial fitting I made a new steel caliper.
Note to self: don't try working in the dark, every spring, washer and tool you drop falls into the hull of the machine, and hides behind the chain, shafts and frame. I believe the whole shape of the amphib machine is designed to make you reach in between the chains for a piece that is just out of reach that you refuse to take your eyes off of as you know it will dissapear the second you blink.
So i finish my quest and now I have another problem, due to the rigidity and new pads the left brake is soo much better than the right, meaning I may just as well make another for the other side and keep the one good caliper for a spare.
However the thing is running so well I'm frightened to take it back out, it's too good to be true, I want to preserve it in this state forever. But I know I'll be back behind the sticks at the first oppertunity and getting it ready for snow. In the mean time I still have the Jiger to work on and now I have decided to go the kawasaki 440 route rather then the 225 I'm looking forward to something with a bit more power with better brakes and less maintainence.
if thats possible. Thanks for listening.
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