Customizing a Dnepr

I have two Dnepr motorcycles with sidecars, an MT-10 and an MT-11.
Only the MT-11 runs. However, it can attain 50 mph max, making it
usable only in town.

I bought the MT-10 with the intention of modifying it for better
performance. Meaning a more powerful motor and probably a mod
for chain drive.

My purist friends are scandalized at the notion of "ruining" such
a vintage classic. I believe the word "butchering" was also used.
However I've never heard them express such negativity at the practice
of making a hot rod out of a 1932 Ford (as in "The Little Deuce Coupe"
by the Beachboys). A yellow one appears in _American Graffiti_.

Meanwhile I have a Triumph swing arm that looks like it would fit
the Dnepr frame and a derelict Yamaha XS650 with a running motor
(which is rated at about double the horsepower of an MT-10).

ps. My preference would be to put a diesel motor in the thing.
I've seen pix of exactly that on the Net. However I'm not certain
how to go about it, and if there's too much involved I'd be
satisfied using the Yamaha motor. Any advice appreciated.

TIA, Sean Quinlan

 

It should do a bit better than that, but not a lot. There are mods
including better carbs and higher compression etc available but
dont expect massive improvements.

It would probably be a lot simpler to drop a BMW boxer engine in.
Whatever turns you on .......

 

It might be, as the BMW engine has the same mounting bolt
pattern. Then there's the problem of matching it to the Soviet
transmission.

Using the Beemer tranny creates another problem -- the driveshaft
spins in the wrong direction for the Dnepr's rear hub.

SQ

 

Easy - just put it in reverse gear.

 

So use a BMW hub and wheel. Which will lead you to the next gotcha.
Whichever way you go you are going to lose the 2WD drive to the chair.
Maybe you could find a modern russian 2wd combination which has
been written off as a donor for a complete drive system.

 

So the engines rotate in different directions, and one has a 2- and one a
three-shaft box, then? It's the only way I can see that problem occurring,
unless one has some really weird bevel box arrangement.

 

I honestly don't see how the driveshafts can possibly turn the opposite
way, assuming they are on the RHS of both bikes. That's assuming normal
style gears with the pinion at the front of the final drive, not worm
gears.

 

A swift Google suggests that the bevel is on the right on at least some models
of both BMW and Dnepr. Can only be number of shafts if true - actually,
2-shaft is unlikely because you wouldn't get enough offset to clear the wheel,
but maybe 3 vs 4 shaft arrangements, unless there's something truly weird in
one gearbox.

I'm intrigued.

 

Cheapness didn't mean shite, back then, from the USSR. Their goods
were sold in the West to obtain foreign currency and often were the
best of what came off the production line, designated for export.
Look at Russian lenses.

 

There was something along those lines in the Museum of East German Life.

'What do we do with all the quality control rejects?'
'Sell them on the domestic market.'

 

http://tinyurl.com/ural-harley

 

Really wondering WTF they did for a clutch.

BMW hangs the clutch mostly off the flywheel and
crankshaft, while Harley hangs it off the gearbox.

Not sure with stuff this old, but if it's anything like
newer stuff, I can't quite figure out how you'd
marry the Harley engine and BMW gearbox.

 

Someone's finally found a use for a Shovelhead motor

Bill_h

 

Agreed, but the type and location of the clutch are still
not clear. Doesn't look like it's big enough to accommodate
a BMW single plate clutch and it looks a little tricky
trying to hang a multi-plate clutch between the Harley
crank and the Ural transmission, considering that
neither one was designed to accept it.

 

All the boatanchor market is saturated.

 

Well, it *is* underwater, you know.