smallframe66

By the way King Kool Funky was the last of many that have contacted me regards these gears!

Sorry, but you were the one that brought into question that he and I had a problem - I just explained it roughly. I have had to deal with several complaints regards the gears as I posted the thread up on here and so people assumed I was in partnership with him. If you have a problem with me then please direct it to me in a personal e-mail ([email protected]) not on here as I don't want to keep writing it. My only concern was simply for the people that have bought the gears (the PX short forth brakes as the case hardening is too hard and it seems from the photos that because the SF 4th is a pressed fit and not welded as the Taffspeed, MB Developments and NFK gears were, that the tolerances are wrong on at least a few. Mr Barlow just seems to have been ignoring his customers which is unlike the person I was once friends with. I saw every stage of the build up of these gears and thought he had everything correct - but as he was relying on outside company's to do the work I guess their tolerances were not as good as Mr Barlow's. The only reason I mentioned Grand Prix Scooters was simply because they too have had to deal with irrate customers of Mr Barlow's. The fact I mentioned my own reason's for taking my engine back was quite simply that he didn't do anything. He is a good tuner I am sure of it as I own his old Cannonball Run "Nelson PK" that has been reliable apart from one timing issue that was my fault, but the guy puts off doing things until he is forced to do it, which I feel is unprofessional and one he has admitted on numerous occasions. The most important thing as far as I'm concerned is that people don't get ripped off by anyone when it comes to bespoke parts. Mr. Barlow knew his PX gears were faulty and I assumed that he had done the SF gears correctly though I wondered why he hadn't welded them when the other companies had. I hope this is the end of the whole sorry tale as I am fed up of being associated with these gears, so please don't shoot the messenger - I simply felt it my duty as a scooterist to let people know what and who they are dealing with.

No vendetta with Harry - He knows what he did and he's paid the price. Grand Prix Scooters and I have had so many people moaning about Harry about his gears breaking because they have been case hardened too hard (both PX and SF) that I'm fed up being the one people contact for help. I have had gears made with the help of a fellow SF racer in the UK with no problems what so ever and a damn sight cheaper than what Harry wanted for them. I've even felt obliged to offer these as a replacement. Just as a matter of fact here.... Harry has had to reimberse several customers regards engines not being done and gears breaking, also he has been threatened with violance by more than one, according to those at Grand Prix. He let Grand Prix down badly over his supposed move to Brighton and although still friends with those at Grand Prix he will know longer be doing any tuning work for them in the immediate future. I fell out with him for personal reasons and because in 16 months of him having my engine he did 10 minutes porting work on it and nothing else. These are the facts and you can either believe them or bury your head in the sand like Harry does.

[email protected] - though I don't know if he'll reply to this. :uargh: personally I found the man a complete waste of space and time in fact I would call him a Hope this helps all the irrate customers who have had problems. His home address is 69 Loxely Road Glenfield Leicester LE?????? UK Please DO NOT get in touch with Grand Prix Scooters in Leicesyer as Harry DOES NOT work for them! Hope this helps

Hi the tree is softened and re-hardened to original. The gear is pressed on whilst the gear is soft so that once re-hardened it can not rotate independant of the tree. Hope this is what you asked as the translation program I use is shit and I'm still learning German. Oh and I'm running one of these trees in my 20PS plus motor with no problems and Chris Voicu has bought one. Mark Hanson "Keeping smallframe racers alive in the UK"

you're quite right, my apologies for not understanding. I am currently taking a crash course in German, so at least I can try and understand what you guys are writing about. Thank you Mark

Sorry don't understand that much German so apologies if you don't understand English, perhaps some nice person will translate it?

Just to let you lovely people out there that the article that myself (Mark Hanson) and Harry Barlow have put together on the 2nd classic scooter race at Nurburgring is now in print in the new issue of Scootering magazine that came out on Friday 17th June. It's a double page spread with loads of your scooters on show as well as your ugly faces. Thanks from all at Team Pro Porting and see you soon at the August event in the Eifel Mountains Soulfully Mark

This is the 37 tooth PX 4th gear that Harry Barlow (Pro Porting) has done for all late model P range (EFL) gearboxes. This does not need a tree due to the corrected profile. Standard P2 use 35 tooth T5 use 36 tooth Price is 85 Euros plus 5 Euro postage to mainland europe For more info contact Harry Barlow on [email protected] Harry will get on the forum soon and wishes to thank all the people who have enquired about the smallframe close ratio gears. Mark Hanson

Hi I meant that the Runner was crankcase induction so my apologies there. Also you are correct that the barrel must be from the original type of scooter so I couldn't use a auto barrel. I'm going Reed valve induction on the Malossi as I want more than 20 bhp. Looking at Chris Voicu's figures Harry and I are sure that 23-25 PS will be reliable, plus Harry has assured he can do this. If we can't then I will buy a Billet barrel off him that he has built which he says will make 30 PS completely air cooled. We plan to be at the August race in the Eifel mountains and I will be running at least one of the engines there. Lastly are you selling these pipes you've made if so how much as I may be interested, if Harry and I can't get one of his to work. Oh and we're going with 2.86 primary now as 2.55 and 2.34 will be just not work with Harry SF 4th. Best as always from your UK friend.

I don't need 10,000 plus if the power is there at lower rpm then great. I would rather have lower rpm, I just need 20-25 bhp. minimum! I may go the way of Chris and use a motocross pipe modified to fit. This is simply the biggest headache for me deciding which way to go regards exhaust. One other question is does anyone know how I could use a barrel off a Runner 180 or Malossi 172 on a smallframe and get good horsepower as they are disc valve induction? I ask as in the British racing rules the barrel has to be a scooter barrel for that model - this means a Piaggio barrel is legal so I could go full water-cooled, any ideas? This would be a special and at present there is no lower ccm class (group 5 - 160 cmm max.) I will have to run against 260ccm Lambretta specials. Mark

I'm not 100% sure but about 20-30 euros I would guess - plus he may reduce the postage - I'll confirm and get back to you.

Hi it's Mark Hanson here (who wrote the piece). The price is 140 Euros for the SF gear. Like the photos of the gear. Just spoke to Harry and he says the following: percentage drops on close ratio 4ths to original (22/46) 21/49 (Zirri - Ape 3rd) is 16% drop 21/47 (Pro Porting Harry Barlow) 19.5% drop 21/46 (Taffspeed - MBD) 21.5% drop Harry also says that he will reduce price if the customer sends a transfer gear tree in good condition and a 3 speed 3rd gear. These will have to be in the best condition possible. either contact Harry direct [email protected] (please write SF short 4th in the e-mail title) or myself Mark Hanson at [email protected] or reply to the forum. Thank you.

Just wanted you guys in Germany to know that my good friend and engine tuner Harry Barlow now has his close ratio 4th gears on sale. These are 21/47 as Norrie Kerr used (and Dave Delaney and I) to race on. These use the 3rd gear from a V90 3 speed machined down with a new transfer gear tree. Unlike the Zirri 21/49 where you have to shim the gear to make work, Harry's can be added as per original. Contact harry at [email protected] for more info. He is also doing a 37 tooth close ratio 4th gear for the PX range which you don't have to change the transfer gear tree.