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- #161
I’ve been trying to have a few threads that consolidate information into one place and encouraging others to add to them. Our combined wisdom and experience is far greater than mine will ever be.
Builds My 40 Build... 20 years and Counting... Purists beware, this may hurt... :D
- Thread starter bikersmurf
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I’ve been trying to have a few threads that consolidate information into one place and encouraging others to add to them. Our combined wisdom and experience is far greater than mine will ever be.
- Thread starter
- #162
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
This ‘barn find’ showed up under the tree. It looks like it was never used.
Now if only there was no one around and I had a part to blast. The question is more what to bead blast first
- Thread starter
- #163
Life has been interfering with getting anything done on the 40 
Overall I’m pleased with the new forum format... but it seems a lot of the links in this thread are broken. I’ve fixed the ones in my signature line. Hopefully the others will get sorted out with out manually fixing all of them.
Overall I’m pleased with the new forum format... but it seems a lot of the links in this thread are broken. I’ve fixed the ones in my signature line. Hopefully the others will get sorted out with out manually fixing all of them.
- Thread starter
- #164
One challenge I’ve had for years is that my Left knee is toast. Of course that is my clutch leg, and like many others here, that impacts the ease of shifting.
1) I’ve contemplated a vacuum boosted clutch master cylinder out of a newer cruiser, but space is a big issue. As it is, my brake booster covers one of the mounting bolts for the clutch master.
2) Tie in the on-board air to a pneumatic cylinder and use it to push the clutch... but how to control it and maintain pedal feel. What happens to smooth shifting... and how to make it safe.
3) Just came across remote mounted servos. It looks like they’re available new, maintain feel, and can reduce required force by 1/2, 2/3, possibly more. It could be hard to mount... but there’s a lot more space by the bel-housing than beside the brake booster. Thoughts or ideas?
www.wabco-auto.com
I bet there’d even be a market for a bolt on kit... since buggered knees seem to be a common issue, and the question comes up frequently.
If someone else figures this out based on my idea, I’m volunteering to be a beta tester... and want one for the cost of parts
1) I’ve contemplated a vacuum boosted clutch master cylinder out of a newer cruiser, but space is a big issue. As it is, my brake booster covers one of the mounting bolts for the clutch master.
2) Tie in the on-board air to a pneumatic cylinder and use it to push the clutch... but how to control it and maintain pedal feel. What happens to smooth shifting... and how to make it safe.
3) Just came across remote mounted servos. It looks like they’re available new, maintain feel, and can reduce required force by 1/2, 2/3, possibly more. It could be hard to mount... but there’s a lot more space by the bel-housing than beside the brake booster. Thoughts or ideas?
Clutch Control
Clutch Control solutions help to improve vehicle safety and driver comfort through optimized gearshift operations.
I bet there’d even be a market for a bolt on kit... since buggered knees seem to be a common issue, and the question comes up frequently.
If someone else figures this out based on my idea, I’m volunteering to be a beta tester... and want one for the cost of parts
I’d never recommend automatic transmissions to anyone without good reason (I’m firmly in the “row your own” camp). Knee replacement surgery, perhaps? I think I’d opt for that over an auto. My issue with the 40 series clutch as it stands is that it’s a pretty long throw, which necessitates lifting your leg up a pretty long way to shift. Would one of these boosters allow you to run the pedal lower?
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I think that Rick’s question regarding the pedal position is a good one. Many folks are also experiencing hip problems that, regardless of pressure, take issue with how HIGH they have to lift their leg to accomplish a shift.
That was the proverbial straw that caused Tony to gift me the Karma Cruiser.
That was the proverbial straw that caused Tony to gift me the Karma Cruiser.
- Thread starter
- #167
I’m not a big fan of automatics either.
In theory, a vacuum assist booster with a smaller bore could allow more bearing movement with less pedal movement. So far I’ve not been able to find specs on these booster. The extent is 2:1 or 3:1 assist, and Volvo trucks & others use them.
That
JP
s one of many reasons im 2 weeks in on a total knee replacement. JP
- Thread starter
- #170
Purdy... in Dec ‘02, they told me I needed a partial knee. However no surgeon would touch it for 30 years. Quick math puts it at 14 years out for the knee.
That said, my arms and back freak out if I try using crutches. It’d make recovery horrible. So... need to sort out the nerve problems first.
I’ve not seen one of those Hj61 brackets... it looks like it could work. Only challenge is that those boosters don’t seem to be super available.
Anyone drive a 61 with one of these? How light is the clutch?
I’d consider a larger bore master (or smaller slave) for more bearing movement for less pedal stroke. Running a booster would allow this while keeping foot pressure to a minimum.
If I had more time I’d find a readily available brake booster and fabricate brackets to make it work... power steering is higher up the list. Unless an easy solution comes up, I’ll stick with my current setup which has reasonable pressure, plenty of stroke, and a SBC with a wide power band that’s redicously forgiving in when/if I shift (400-4000 rpm).
That said, my arms and back freak out if I try using crutches. It’d make recovery horrible. So... need to sort out the nerve problems first.
I’ve not seen one of those Hj61 brackets... it looks like it could work. Only challenge is that those boosters don’t seem to be super available.
Anyone drive a 61 with one of these? How light is the clutch?
I’d consider a larger bore master (or smaller slave) for more bearing movement for less pedal stroke. Running a booster would allow this while keeping foot pressure to a minimum.
If I had more time I’d find a readily available brake booster and fabricate brackets to make it work... power steering is higher up the list. Unless an easy solution comes up, I’ll stick with my current setup which has reasonable pressure, plenty of stroke, and a SBC with a wide power band that’s redicously forgiving in when/if I shift (400-4000 rpm).
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I like your rig.
find a younger surgeon who does revisions. there’s no reason to make you wait that long if your knee is really that bad. besides if the wait lists are anything like we have in saskatchewan you might be waiting that long to get your surgery anyway. (roll eyes)
No Crutches they gave me a walker then a cane and now only use cane when I have to go out to PT or around people. Each day is a bit better.
JP
JP
Is there a sad political/socialized medicine joke here or was the knee just not bad enough yet?
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- #175
No, knee is bad enough. I kept pushing the surgeon and he finally explained it like this, “At your age an artificial knee will only last 5-8 years. Each time a knee is replaced, the risk of complications increases. Therefore it can only be done twice. When the second one fails, you’ll loose the leg. Any Questions?”
Now given the lifetime warranty knee braces I was using at the time were failing within a week... I’m not very confident in how a man made knee will last. So, I’m making the best of it, and have learned a lot about changing my perception of pain. I’m in no hurry to get a knee replacement... it’d also likely fail prematurely... just like my first three knee braces... one of them more times than I can count.
Really goes to show how good our OEM equipment is that a stock, factory knee can last decades and tens of thousands of miles.
Yikes - I’m only 33 and have cartilage issues and general “crunchiness” from years of distance running. I cut way back on the running (proof is in the beer gut) - sounds like I need the OEM knees to go another 30 years minimum before I start looking into aftermarket! You should see if they’ll let you keep the original knees as “trail spares.”
There are a couple of different styles of knee replacement. One is a standard off the shelf small,medium, and large these are one for all and all for one. I went with a 3D image custom were they take a catscan from your hips down to your toes and reconstruct your posture with a custom made to fit knee. They give them about 15 to 20 years depending on style of life they did recommend that i stop running jogging or any high impact activity. No problem here fat boy don
JP
t run anyway. Ive hade knee problems for over 20 years and have learned to deal with the pain. so i`ll see how this works hopefully good.JP
- Thread starter
- #179
Winter is here
Insured and drove it in the first snow this year.
We're getting hammered down here in the last week. Foot and a half with another 12-14" over the next day or 2.
