Since I've received numerous emails and PMs about how I did my engine mount/bracket on my cag to reduce vibrations, here are the pics and a simple writeup. The finish of the bracket isn't that great, plus I chose these brackets (you can use either one to fit on the bike), because they're easy to bend by hand. A little weight and force is all thats needed to bend these brackets. I didn't take much time into making it look pretty since this was in the development stage and I definitely would want to make this look better (yes, it may look ghetto), but too many people have asked me about this mod since they've been having so many problems with vibrations using the FCS crank.
Its a very simple mod, with no welding (I would definitely love to make my own engine mount plate and make this prettier, but I don't have a welder) required. Only thing that is needed, is a tool to cut the bracket to make it fit good, and a drill.
A 10 inch metal bracket, drill, and cutting tool is all you need. Lets begin.
1. Cut and bend the metal bracket to fit the bottom three engine bolts, and what I call the "middle" engine mount, which is located close to the exhaust port, on the clutch side. (If you only have two, then you'll have to drill the frame to make one more bolt fit to the engine).
2. Drill holes into the metal bracket and make sure it lines up with the three engine bolts underneath the mounting frame, and also make sure it lines up with the middle engine mount. The bottom three engine bolts are approx, 1 inch apart. Make sure to do some precise measurements before drilling the bracket and frame if needed.
3. Screw in the bracket, onto the 4 engine mount bolts (3 at the bottom, 1 in the middle), and make sure you use some rubber washers to help reduce vibration even more.
4. You're done. Go out, take it for a ride, and be happy that your engine doesn't vibrate as much.
This mod can be done on MOST cag bikes. Some cag engines do not have the middle engine mount that I've talked about. Some cags already have three (instead of two, that I had on my bike), engine mount bolts on the clutch side, so that will reduce your drilling time.
So what was my reasoning, into making this bracket? Well, my **** dellorto carb kept popping off, after I had the FCS installed on my 4 port engine. The vibrations the engine made, was crazy! Every engine mount bolt was popping off, tip of my spark plug loosened up, cracked stock intake manifolds when using the stock carb, etc etc. I even had the flywheel lightened and balanced, and that still didn't help much. So I figured, whats the best way to reduce vibrations? To make sure to isolate the vibrations, not only from the bottom and top, but from the middle as well. The bracket that holds the middle engine mount to the bottom three engine mounts, will, theoretically in my opinion, reduce vibrations by a lot by relegating the vibrations a lot more evenly throughout the frame.
And how does it work? I haven't had any problems with the dellorto staying on (and if you guys knew me before the hack, my big bore kit with the IP2 pipe, produced the same results when used with the dellorto carb...carb kept popping off), engine bolts stay on a lot longer (I still recommend using some loctite on all the engine bolts), and vibrations practically gone.
Also, you can make an engine mount for the top of the engine, using a similar bracket. Sydeshow Mo has shown this. Ask him for pics
Hope it works out for you. If you guys think this is a worthwhile mod to put in the cag how-to's, let me know, and I'll submit it. Thanks.
Eric
