CB Performance Linkage Ball Bearing Upgrade

You can do this yourself with the "heim joint" upgrade. Lots of us did that one, and it's less expensive. I still didn't like it and ended up with Sync-Link. 

Hey Stan do you have any pic's of this upgrade /install or can you steer me to a link?

Thanks,

Pete

Pete:  Check your private messages.

gn

Oh... I just realized I had a set of heim joints I purchased from Gordon N. last June to do just this upgrade... somehow i dropped this from my winter to-do list.  ( i actually do keep a list)... 

.. and just found his parts and install instructionss in my  " parts for to-do project shelf "... yes I have one of those as well in the garage.

i now have a fun project to try out this weekend.  Thank you for jarring my memory.

i have considered th syncs link for years, but since I run heater boxes  ( I drive the car ar year around in Seattle... and it's cold up here in the mornings ). I was under the impression it would not install well/ fit.

thanks gain.

cheers

Pete has been promising a Sync Link kit that will fit a shroud with heater box tubes for quite a while.

I noticed that a similar sync link kit is now available from VdubEngineering in Canada.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/cl...etail.php?id=2041924

Thanks Gordon,

Sent you a response.

LFEPARDO,

Can you post pic's of what Heim Joints items you have?

Ron O,

Not sure of what you wrote. "Pete has been promising a Sync Link kit" Pete who?

Not me. 

Thanks,

Pete

@mtflyr. Sorry for the delay... busy weekend w/ the kids skiing/ soccer/ ballet, and a little garage time tonight.

here is the shot of the heim joint kit Gordon put together for me.

pictured, one.. kit contains two;

Also,  a picture I got from  another SOC thread years back showing it installed;

Ok, cool! Thank you LFEPARDO and Gordon.

Gordon sent me a list of the parts and instructions but the instruction pictures were not clear enough to see what was going on. I wasn't sure of how the expansion was addressed. Now I can see it, thanks again.

Pete 

Boy, those "Five Cent Racing" guys - - - - What an operation!  

Air cooled, Water cooled, upgrade kits, Specialty Shop Tools, Service in the (show) field and motel parking lots, Event promoters, Daytona Spotters and Purveyors of Craft Beers - They do it all!

I stopped offering the Hex Bar upgrade kits because I had set a price-point of $50 bucks as the top end of a sell-able kit and my price for the parts was creeping up and making the kit (IMHO), too expensive and unattractive to buyers.  The parts I used were Aircraft-quality and/or stainless steel and were meant to last a lifetime or 50,000+ miles, whichever comes first.  I've now seen the $110 price for what looks like a lower-quality set up on the Samba, so maybe my kits have been a bargain all along.

While poking around the Interweb for Heim joints for Pete, I found a couple of places offering "Aurora" MM-5 Heim joints, the same as offered in my kits.  If you are interested in those, be aware that they may not be "Aurora", nor may they be aircraft-quality.  Aurora also sells "commercial-grade" parts which may wear sooner.  Yes, they cost less, but you get what you pay for.

The best place I've found on the Web is at "Aircraft Spruce", a place trusted and used by thousands of small aircraft owners world wide and they offer true Aurora parts at a decent price ($8.50 per side):

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/...pages/aurorabrng.php

Make sure you get the male threaded end for adjustment purposes.

I might be interested in making up a few more kits, if the demand is there (I have nothing in stock right now) but it would have to be after Carlisle (I doubt that I could get the Heim ends in time to make a Carlisle delivery, but'cha never know).

Let me know if you're interested - Price would be $50 per kit, delivered USPS lower 48.  

Yup, it's the low-cost and accurate way to go. I know some guys really love their $ync-link($$$$ on purpose!). I chose to fix this my way, back in 2006. 42,000 trouble-free miles and still going strong. 

Back then, I was but a Weber neophyte. After only 3k miles, my CB hexbar was shot. Destroyed with sloppiness. Carbs wouldn't stay in sync, and we can't have that!

One night, I had an idea. Then I hatched a plan, got some heim joints from a local bearing shop, some steel rod, springs, and some washers. Only difference from what Gordon does is I used female heims for a cleaner (but non-adjustable) look. Cut the darn ears right off the air filter bases. Funny thing is, another guy on Spyderclub did the same exact thing 3,000 miles away in California, Mark (can't remember last name).

So Mark and I came up with this idea 11 years ago, search OLD posts on Spyderclub.com by DannyP, pictures are there.

Yup, Danny and I must have been konked in the head on the same day 3000 miles apart by twin hiem joints from outer space.  I have 26,000 on my spyder now.  My 2332 is way, WAY over carbureted with Dellorto 48 Tri-jets.  Trying to hit an off-idle sync with those was a challenge on new stock hex bars; it was impossible when the hex bars were even slightly worn  --  which happens quickly.

Since doing the heim joint conversion (11 years ago, really?) I seriously NEVER need to touch the sync balance adjustments unless I've entirely removed the linkage for unrelated reasons (like removing the carbs).  Even then, the if adjustments need any touching when reinstalled, it will be very slight.

Once a year I clean the air filters.  Before I put them back on I'll start the engine and drop the snail into the vent stacks, just for the sake of curiosity.  Once a year my curiosity is satisfied  --  don't touch anything, screw the filters on.

OK, I have one taker for a hex bar bearing kit and am looking for two or three more before placing the order for the Heim bearings.  Get your order in before Friday and I might be able to squeek them out and bring them to Carlisle.  the kit includes everything you'll need for the upgrade except tools (you supply those):  

Parts List  

1. (2) 5/16" ID aircraft quality Heim Joint Bearings   

2. (2) 5/16" X 24 Nylok Stop Nuts                                                                                            

3. (2) 5/16” X 24 Jam Nuts

4. (4) 5/16" flat washers

5. (2) 5/16 X 2" steel Dowel Pins

6. (2) 5/16" ID X 3/4" spacer tubes

7. (2) 1/8” X 5/8” Roll Pins

8. (2) 3/8" ID X 1-1/2" Springs

9. (1) 8-page, Detailed Instructions on CD-ROM

Price is $50 including shipping to the Continental US and includes aircraft-quality parts.  Email me for shipping cost adder if overseas/Canada - the kit doesn't weigh much, so that cost is low.

As Danny and Mark wrote, these are pretty easy to install - It requires cutting off the hex bar support on the air filter baseplate and drilling a hole in the plate - That's the toughest part.  The carbs are never removed from the engine, just the air filter plates.  The conversion can be done in an afternoon with plenty of time for beer afterwards.  Lots and lots of satisfied users the World over.

Gordon @ Five Cent Racing  

I'm all in for one of your kits Gordon.

Pete

Thanks, Pete!

Gordon-Put me down for a hex bar kit-I'll pay you at Carlisle and pick it up there if its ready-Joel

You can put me down as a very satisfied Five Cent Racing customer.  El Gordo provided me one of his kits a few years back, and I have been running with same ever since.  Great upgrade to the gawd-awful little ball/socket things that come with the cars and are sloppy even when new.  And I have no idea what a Sync-Link is,

OK, Joel, and thanks.  I'll be ordering the Heim bearings tomorrow afternoon so if anyone else wants one (especially for Carlisle delivery but I can ship, too) just let me know.

Yup, as Kelly says, these kits tighten things up for zero bar slop and your carbs, once sync'd, STAY in sync.  It's a beautiful thing.

Gordon

Gordon I'll also see you at Carlisle. I'll pay in advance though if you do PayPal.

Thanks,

Pete

Gordon Nichols posted:

OK, Joel, and thanks.  I'll be ordering the Heim bearings tomorrow afternoon so if anyone else wants one (especially for Carlisle delivery but I can ship, too) just let me know.

Yup, as Kelly says, these kits tighten things up for zero bar slop and your carbs, once sync'd, STAY in sync.  It's a beautiful thing.

Gordon

Hello Gordon, I'm in if your still taking orders with delivery to Carlisle and pay via Paypal if that works for you.

Thanks, Michael

Thank you Mike.  I don't do PayPal (really bad experience with them, once) but cash at Carlisle is fine (ATMs are everywhere) or I can ship.  Please email me at speedstahguy at gmail dot com and we can go through the details.

I currently have three orders for Carlisle delivery and looks like I can make it.

Thanks, SOC'ers!