Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/151

 �a Motor-Sled

Fifty miles an hour on the ice

���By Clifford A. Butterworth

��FOR those who like to make things, there is nothing better to construct than a motor-sled, and there is nothing from which more pleasure can be derived. The one shown in the illus- tration is capable of making from 40 to 50 miles an hour with a 9-horsepower engine. A 4 or 5-horsepower single cylin- der engine will do, but of course it will not be possible to obtain as great a speed as with a twin cylinder engine. The few parts which require forgings can be made by the builder if he has a shop of his own. In case a blacksmith does the work the cost should not be very great. If the builder has a motorcycle he can save the cost of the engine, which is the largest expense. If the sled is well built it should last for years. The following is a list of materials required:

1 Motorcycle engine with ignition and oiling

system 1 Motorcycle rear wheel with brake and chain

1 Gasoline tank

2 Pieces of pine 14 ft. long, 4 in. wide and 2 in. thick

2 Ash planks 12 ft. long, 8 in. wide and 1)^ in. thick

3 Matched boards 12 ft. long, 6 in. wide 1 Board 2 ft. long and 8 in. wide

1 Piece of iron pipe 6 in. long and 1 in. in diameter

2 Flange couplings

2 Pieces of 3^-in. pipe 4 in. long

Number and Size of Bolts Required

��4 Bolts 8

��1 Piece 1 Piece

��5 4

IH

��by y% in-

" 3^ "

��22 Bolts 7 4 " 5 9 " 3

18 " 21^ 6 " 1

��by Vi in.

" 3^ "

��2 Bolts 1 by M in.

Number of Iron Pieces

6 ft. long, \]/2 in. wide and }/2 in. thick 4 ft. long, 1 in. wide and J^ in. thick

��1 Piece 7 ft. long, 1 H in- wide and ^ in. thick 1 Piece 11 ft. long, 1 J^ in. wide and Y^ in. thick 1 Piece 24 ft. long, 1 in. wide and Y\va.. thick 1 Piece 3 ft. long and 1 in. in diameter 1 Piece 18 ft. long and % in. in diameter 1 Piece 8 ft. long and Y2 in. in diameter

Screws, Rivets and Wire

Yi, Gross oWYi in. screws 10 Screws 3 in. long

3 Dozen rivets 1 by J^ in.

8 Ft. of No. 6 wire

Begiji the work by cutting the frame pieces A from one of the 14-ft. lengths of pine; then cut the pieces, B, C andD, from the ash plank, making them 3 ft. 2 in., 2 ft., and 2 ft. 4 in. long respectively. Bolt them to the frame pieces with the 7-in. bolts. Cut the two 4-ft. pieces, E, E, and bolt them in position; then cut another piece, E, 2 ft. 11 in. long and bolt it to the underside of B as shown in Fig. 1, with three 5-in. bolts. These last three pieces are cut from the other 14-ft. length of pine.

Cut the runners from the ash plank and make a V-shaped groove on the edge. This is used to receive the shoe iron for the bottom. Make the groove ^ in. wide and % in. deep. The shoes are made from the ^-in. round iron, flattened at the end to 34 in. and fastened to the runners with three screws in each end. Fasten the rear runners in place with five 3-in. screws through the piece B and four iron braces G. The steering knuckles are next assembled, as shown in Fig. 2, page 137. The pieces H are 6-in. blocks of 2 by 4-in. material fast- ened to D with 8-in. bolts. Bolt the runners on and put the steering rods / in place. Washers should be placed under

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