Diesel-Powered Motorcycle

Diesel-Powered Motorcycle FARM HOME recreation 27-5-26 Mick Corse says his diesel-powered motorcycle is twice as heavy as the biggest Harley and has twice the cubic inches. "It gets better fuel mileage than a Harley, too," says Corse. "As I told a Harley guy, when his motor is on its fourth or fifth rebuild, I'll still be waiting for my first." To build the Deutz diesel-powered cycle, he used frame parts from a Boss Hog - a V-8 powered motorcycle made in Dyersburg, Tennessee. The drive is a Gilmore cogged belt. He bought the industrial 180 cu. in. Deutz air-cooled engine from a local Deutz dealership. "I knew the Boss Hoss parts would support the weight of the Deutz engine," he explains. "I didn't need a transmission to multiply torque as the Deutz had more torque at idle than a Harley does at full speed." What he did need was a centrifugal clutch that could be modified. An initial quote was for $3,400 for a clutch that couldn't be modified. An Internet search located a BLM centrifugal clutch for $1,100 in Canada. He mounted the clutch to the back of the engine. "My top speed is about 105 to 108 mph at 3,000 rpm's," says Corse. "The bad thing about diesels is the low span between 900 and 3,000 rpm's. I had to adjust the clutch so I could go slow through school areas." Corse built or modified all other components and cowlings for his Deutz-powered machine. Once completed, it had a German motor, American brakes, Canadian clutch and a front end made in North Carolina. He enjoys pulling in to a gathering of big bikes and walking away for a while. "It's fun to come back to see who is looking at it," he says. Contact FARM SHOW Followup Mick Corse, 7353 Telegraph Rd., St. Louis, Mo. 63129 (ph 314 846-9595).

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