Vintage AmphiKitty balloon tire mini bike

[Matt O.]

The headlight pattern has taken a bit longer than expected but it’s coming along nicely. I have a few changes to make so I can get the body line in the part. I have been using my Saw Stop table saw. I highly recommend these table saws for safety. When in the safe mode the saw will stop and drop the blade if your hand touches the blade. Check out the videos showing them using a hot dog as a “finger”. It is amazing. The only drawback is when you are cutting wet wood, foam, or anything that might conduct electrical current you have to put the saw in safety bypass mode so the saw does not trigger the safety system, so if your finger does get in the blade it’s gone....

 

[Matt O.]

After a fair amount of work I determined my sculpting skills Were not up to the task. So I called in the help of my friend Jeff to help me out. Thank you Jeff for your contribution to the project.

 

[Matt O.]

A big Thank You to B&R Custom Chrome in Toledo Ohio for a great job on my handle bars.

 

[Matt O.]

This weekend I worked on getting the engine to run. I installed a new fuel tank, cleaned the points, wire brushed the flywheel and coil pickups. I mounted the engine on my El Burro to test run it so I wouldn’t scratch the paint on the amphikitty frame. the engine fired right up and ran great! Next I am working on a little surprise engine modification. Hopefully it will go well. If so I will include photos and how to. Stay tuned...

 

[ZR9B]

Very nice!! I have a "beater" version.

 

[Matt O.]

Very nice!! I have a "beater" version.

I like the disk brake! looks like you will need it with that engine. Did your bike start out as an Amphikitty or El Burro?

 

[ZR9B]

It is an El Burro. Im not sure the year, but if I ever find a correct-ish 8HP it will be on there. This motor is fun but I like an original bike.
It looks like two brothers shared it when they got it....kind of cool.

 

[Matt O.]

It is an El Burro. Im not sure the year, but if I ever find a correct-ish 8HP it will be on there. This motor is fun but I like an original bike.
It looks like two brothers shared it when they got it....kind of cool.


View attachment 261998

That tag is a cool piece of history. Thank You for sharing.

 

[Matt O.]

Let there be light! I have successfully added a lighting / charge coil to my 5hp Briggs & Stratton engine. With the help from a few local small engine shops and my friend Mike on the Lathe and Mill. I visited a local small engine shop that has been around for many years and told them what I wanted to do. They happen to have a old electric start 5hp Briggs rototiller that was broke down never to run again. The good news was I was able to use the engine information and buy the parts needed to convert the original Amphikitty engine to have a lighting coil to power the light shown on the original brochure. I bought the flywheel off of the rototiller along with new electrical components. Mike came up with a ring to hold the charge coil in place since the engine I had did not have the mounting standoffs in place. Check out the photos below.

 

[Matt O.]

A big Thank You to Karen who told me we’re to purchase the correct material for my seats! The guy who does all of my production seats for Mudd Ox sewed them up for me. I had him do one for the El Burro I have also. Next step is cleaning and painting the engine.

 

[Matt O.]

A big Thank You to Larry and Mike for helping me get my fenders back in shape and gel coating my chain cover. The headlight cover mold is complete and should have a finished part in a few days.

 

[Rapidrob]

The fenders really turned out nice.

 

[Studeman68]

All I can say is wow! nice work.. As soon as USPS decides to find my my missing paint I'll be painting my Burro lol...
You definitely inspired me to get off my a@# and get mine done...
Cant wait to see yours assembled!

 

[Matt O.]

The fenders really turned out nice.

Thank you!

 

[Matt O.]

All I can say is wow! nice work.. As soon as USPS decides to find my my missing paint I'll be painting my Burro lol...
You definitely inspired me to get off my a@# and get mine done...
Cant wait to see yours assembled!

I’ve owned this Amphikitty for about 5 years and the build off was my motivation to move this project up on the priority list.

 

[Matt O.]

A big Thank You to Larry and Mike for helping me get my fenders back in shape and gel coating my chain cover. The headlight cover mold is complete and should have a finished part in a few days.
View attachment 262502 View attachment 262503 View attachment 262504 View attachment 262505 View attachment 262506 View attachment 262507 View attachment 262508 View attachment 262509 View attachment 262510 View attachment 262502 View attachment 262503 View attachment 262504 View attachment 262505 View attachment 262506 View attachment 262507 View attachment 262508 View attachment 262509 View attachment 262510 View attachment 262502 View attachment 262503 View attachment 262504 View attachment 262505 View attachment 262506 View attachment 262507 View attachment 262508 View attachment 262509 View attachment 262510 View attachment 262502 View attachment 262503 View attachment 262504 View attachment 262505 View attachment 262506 View attachment 262507 View attachment 262508 View attachment 262509 View attachment 262510

To the Moderator: I mistakenly posted duplicates of the fender photos. Can you delete the extra photos and this reply. That will clean up the thread a bit. Sorry for the inconvenience

 

[Matt O.]

This last week was busy and I did not get everything completed I wanted to. Today I was able to get the engine parts primed. Tomorrow will be the final paint if all goes well. Then Monday I can start assembly.

 

[Matt O.]

Woke up this morning with grand plans to paint the engine completely and get ready for assembly on Monday. 90% through the paint process I ran out of paint. I live about 15 minutes from the closest town with a TSC and Wal-Mart to go buy another can of paint. My problem was the color I chose was Pure White and nether store had that exact color. I originally purchased the paint from Menards. Now I’m looking at a few hour road trip. I had no choice but to go. I picked up the paint and returned back to the shop now 5 hours later with some side stops along the way. What was already painted looked great. I was excited to finish it up and assembly tomorrow.
The problem I ran into was it took to long to get back to the shop, my window for applying additional coats had passed. I know this now, did not a hour ago... the finish coat I put on wrinkled because the earlier coat was not cured and to long had passed to apply additional coats without waiting 24 hours. Looks like I’ll be sanding and starting over tomorrow.

 

[Matt O.]

Today was much more productive than yesterday. I started out this morning sanding and repainting the engine parts that the paint wrinkled yesterday. I then moved on to changing out the straight valve stems to 90 degree ones to make it easier to check the air in the tires. Next up on the list was to assemble the thrust washers and pack the bearings with grease then top it off with a new seal on the axle cups.

 

[Matt O.]

Making good progress. Today I have the engine assembled and installed along with the rear tire, jack shaft and chains. My frien Mike also came up with a nice mount for my lighting coil voltage regulator.