Manx Club

Two years ago this month I went to Chicago and picked up my first buggy, All in baskets and sitting in a barn for thirteen years. It's been a long, sometimes very frustrating and bitter sweet learning experience. I would not trade it for a anything. TOMORROW I put some fuel in it and pull it out of the garage for the first time.----I HOPE!!!!!. I have had the engine running on the bench so I am safe there I think. Everything else is up for grabs. I know that I will not sleep a wink tonight. I can already feel the adrenaline mounting in my body and the wind blowing across my face. I can feel the thrill of the ride. Thanks fellows for all of your help. I could not have done it without you. I will let you know tomorrow.

There's nothing like the first ride! It gets even better as you solve the problems that pop up. You will soon forget all the hard labor and long hours. You will realize that it was all worth it. I can't wait to hear your report!

Cool, keep us posted on the quirks and the hijinx you get up to. Also the details of anything you forgot to tighten) Cheers!

Round one to the buggy. I never made it out of the garage. I put gas in it and she fired right up. ( she sounded sweet ) The fuel cable was in a bind under the buggy and caused the RPM's to run at about 1800 on idle. By the time I found it, and got it fixed it was to late to take it out. BUT TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY! I shell be relentless in my efforts, for this is a labor of love.

As you already know, things like that are to be expected. When I was finishing putting ours together, it was the day before a Lone Pine trip. It was to be our first MC run. Missed Big Bear because the buggy wasn't ready yet, so the pressure was on. I had the motor running the week prior, and was working on som ancillary stuff totally unrelated to the motor. Come time to fire it up and put it on the trailer.... no go . Spent the next 7 hours diagnosing, changing this, adjusting that... I was sooo pissed, frustrated and tired . I was almost to the point that I was going to drag it on to the trailer and see if I could get some help at the run. Turns out that I accidentally knocked the wire off of the condensor, so it wouldn't fire. Plug the wire back in, and :rock: .So I got it on the trailer, got 2 hours sleep, and headed out for Lone Pine like a kid going to a candy store!

OH My Gosh What A Ride!!! I have never driven or even ridden in a buggy before today. I had no idea that the response of the buggy would be so quick. The speed would be so quick. My buggy only has a 1600 DP with duel 34 ICT carbs on it and the throttle response is unbelieveable. I have read on this site when you guy's talk about 1700, 1900 and 2200 engines and can only imagine what they must run like. The only Problem I have noticed now is it has a rubbing sound when I turn the corner. It sounds like a wheel scraping or maybe the fan scraping but when I look under the buggy can't see any marks or scrape places. The sound is comming from the rear end area somewhere. I only need 5 words to discribe my experience today. " I am hooked for life." What fun!!! What excitement. The people that would wave and blow their horn with their thumb up.

Wow nice buggy! The first drive is always the best. Your buggy looks a bit low on the rear. Maybe that's where the rubbing sound is coming from? It might be time to reset the torsion bars.

[QUOTE="L0084MC"]OH My Gosh What A Ride!!! I have never driven or even ridden in a buggy before today. I had no idea that the response of the buggy would be so quick. The speed would be so quick. My buggy only has a 1600 DP with duel 34 ICT carbs on it and the throttle response is unbelieveable. I have read on this site when you guy's talk about 1700, 1900 and 2200 engines and can only imagine what they must run like. The only Problem I have noticed now is it has a rubbing sound when I turn the corner. It sounds like a wheel scraping or maybe the fan scraping but when I look under the buggy can't see any marks or scrape places. The sound is comming from the rear end area somewhere. I only need 5 words to discribe my experience today. " I am hooked for life." What fun!!! What excitement. The people that would wave and blow their horn with their thumb up.[/QUOTE] GREAT STUFF!! :rock: check out that rubbing though,, try a standard pair of wheels on the rear if you cant see where its rubbing,, if it still does it then it could be behind the brake drum.

Thanks fellows for the compliments on the buggy. MarkMark --The driveway is at a steep incline. That is what makes the buggy look low in the rear. On level ground it set's quit level. Mel you may have hit the nail on the head with your advice about the brakes. After I read your reply, I had a friend follow me walking beside the buggy as I turned the corner. He said it sounded like it was comming from the brakes to him. Then I remembered reading about changing the front and rear brakes for better stopping power on the buggy, So thats what I done. The rear shoes may be too wide for the drum. I will check it out.

:rock: Nice looking buggy !!

[QUOTE="L0084MC"]Then I remembered reading about changing the front and rear brakes for better stopping power on the buggy, So thats what I done. The rear shoes may be too wide for the drum. I will check it out.[/QUOTE] You're only supposed to swap the wheel cylinders. Put the large diameter ones on the back and the small up front.