We Bought an Abandoned 1972 Sears Roper Mini Bike, Will it Run & Ride Again?

[@grntitan1]

I’m guessing the mini bike had an engine(not original to the bike) with bottom oil drain plug. So they cut an access hole. Just a guess.

[@papatomsthoughts]

my guess as well..

[@JohnWheels]

Same

[@bradleyj.fortner2203]

That's a good guess.

[@mortneff4674]

Right there with the same thought!

[@loddude5706]

I prefer to think they were running too rich on a good batch of vintage moonshine when the piston & rod struck oil : )

[@CarsandCameras]

Big things happening in the shop! Stay tuned!

[@Yohosun]

And more room for new employees? I’d love to work there

[@mikesbarn1858]

I already said I’d work for pizza and donuts.

[@timteecvhn]

I think the bike probably had an unlucky encounter with an owner that didn't know what they were doing and tried to assemble an engine that just blew up on them as soon as they tried to start it or something.

[@Rattus-Norvegicus]

I really am looking forward to the next Mini Mayhem, I've been looking for something new to bring.

[@evilbeetlekustomscreations4965]

Anyone familiar with the little Indian two-speed mini bike I just picked one up it's all original it's been sitting since the 70s in a garage I've been trying to buy this mini bike since I was 12 I'm 39 now and they finally sold it to me unfortunately the old man passed away Story Goes he took it from his grandson for riding it to school and it never moved since

[@BuildBreakRepeat]

Good seeing you fellas at Pate's! As a Texas Resident I can vouch that it is tradition around here to bust a hole in the engine plate to add some extra cooling

[@petemartus8876]

Still 😎 cool

[@OrangeApeOutdoors]

Texans are cringey

[@Icantball67]

I think it’s time John and Charles get some weight vests so they “weigh” as much as Ike when they race each other. Make it fair across the spec side and leave it completely up to the driver

[@Rattus-Norvegicus]

So boring like Nascar?

[@Duckyninja50]

It would be more dangerous if they were to crash wearing it.

[@amazinggamer1942]

Or Ike wears a suit with helium so he less

[@ToyotaGuy1971]

@@Rattus-Norvegicus Not *THAT* boring. I mean we're not talking about driving in a circle for an hour yet.

[@Rattus-Norvegicus]

@@ToyotaGuy1971" ...yet" Lol, they did have the Dust Bowl last year. Now they got timing lights. All they're missing is a black driver and some subtle racism and they're good as gold.

[@JohnHill-jm7tm]

Another great video guys 🤚. This Old Man always enjoying your videos on my 70 inch TV in the ManCave. Love you three. 🛵🧔💝💝💝

[@erickvond6825]

Just in case you didn't know and to save others future frustration I have the following tip. When inserting an inner-tube into a tire, it goes a lot easier if you put a little air in it. With it all vacuumed out to make the tube pack into a smaller box the sides stick together and it makes it a little more difficult to position. In some cases you can also get a twist in it which is bad and you'll find out why when you try to inflate it. So to make life easier just give a short blast of air into the valve stem. One stroke on a bicycle pump is enough. You'll be surprised how much easier the tube will be to install. Thanks for the great content guys. It's really been a blast watching.

[@kevinsellsit5584]

I also like to powder the tube with baby powder.

[@kevinAuman1]

Agreed I always breathe a little air into tunes on any tire before I put them in the rim, it just makes life a whole lot easier....

[@hutchersonhomeremodel8771]

Yep, it’ll save you some money!!

[@a.j.sgarage9637]

I had the same green paint problem on my 1973 toyoco beta 400, I just don't know why people paint over goregous original paint.

[@TLKjoe]

Cars and Cameras: Buys land, builds gigantic shop, still working sitting on the floor.

[@bhutch5097]

It’s the only way to work lol

[@crazyeyez1502]

Track updates? Bunch of hay bails, and did the water crossing get changed again? I know they did the concrete while back, but this looks more then before...

[@ziggassedup]

Here's a tip when fitting a new tube....Talcum powder lets the two rubbers settle and doesn't let them slip on the rim like soap does...

[@jamesmcgee9279]

John- "If there's anybody who can make five horsepower look like a lot, it's our boy Charles." Lmao! You guys are hilarious.

[@yohannmessersmith102]

I like how he's in love with what you guys do he's a keeper and you guys are awsome for treating him like family wel done

[@josephwade3241]

Let's get Charles a racing sponsorship..... sprint cars? Dirt track midgets? Baja maby we can hook him up with Mr. McFarland. Yea brother!

[@GooseGosselin]

Awesome episode. Cool vintage bike revived and hotlapped, even the suspension worked. A shop update, the door is a smart addition and it looks good, plus a lil Jeremy Clarkson vibe at the end. I can say for sure I will be at Pate next year by the way, long drive from Canada, but looks like fun!

[@Jalen_Knight8526]

This is my absolute favorite KZbin channel. I love this channel. Keep it up. Y’all are doing good. Keep on uploading and making the best videos. 🚗&📷

[@danthemowermedic4444]

That hole on the bottom of the frame is where the scrub brake is mounted on the frame. Sweet old bike there. I've never owned a classic or had a go-kart or minibike growing up but I sure do have a few now. I have a Kmart Doodlebug from the 90s with a tilly 212 Hemi that's worked to a 223 and ported head with the small valves still. I have a 1979 CM400 and an 82' CM450A. Those were restoration projects of mine and I recently picked up a Yerf-Dog Spiderbox 150. It needed a new rear axle, sprocket, and Chain with a battery, and she's proper again! Sorry for the long rant. Love what you've inspired me to do!

[@kevinsellsit5584]

Not sure what you would call that ... An anti-rattle-can de-restoration??? A brake clean restoration??? Whatever, it worked awesome, and it looks so much better! Bam, hit the like button! P.S. There is a high-quality sealed roller (ball) bearing with a built-in precision ground lip to replace those cheap stamped wheel bearings. I don't know the number off the top of my head, but if you need it, I'll grab one out of my storage and get the number for you.

[@ericwilson2585]

Yeah you guys, everything I do I have to do out in my front driveway. And way up here in da nordern michigan, it can git a little bit fustratin eh? Lol... Love what you guys do keep up the good work.

[@brandonfloyd6321]

Y'all need one of those old mini bike merry go rounds from the fair.

[@davidjessee7701]

I'm 55 years old... some of my most fun times was when I was 9 10 11 years old riding my old mini bike and go cart..

[@penpon9960]

I got a 70s Sears Puddle Jumper mini bike. Complete with the original tank and motor. Love that bike.

[@spyder7758]

Call it "Mr. Roper" Come and knock on our door, we've been waiting for you Although the tripple bike could have been "Three's Company"

[@VMPLAYSonYT]

That thing needs a clear coat, guys. I'm thinking that the Open wheel project might be powered by a Silverwing or a BMW. I'm excited about that.

[@tristanmcnabb2741]

Big hi to John great work 🌟🎉 I love watching your vids 💕 and love the mini bike so cool allsome work from cruzermans inventions 😁🎉👍😃

[@adrockey]

Great buy Charles! Cool looking minibike.

[@docink6175]

a low powered "race" shows the operators skills off better, Charles is a LOT lighter than Ike but Ike is older and wiser.. although charles might have done better on a second lap with the bike running better

[@jfolck1886]

I'd like to point out the fact that you built this beautiful garage....with a work table....so you didn't have to work on the floor anymore....see where I'm going with this? 😂

[@jasonpetrich4141]

Love this bike, the sissy bar is super sweet you really scored a very nice bike Charles. Great job guys

[@elesjuan]

Damn John, that c10 is looking SEXY!! You all did a fantastic job restoring that truck!

[@josephfrost2798]

You probably know, but the cross bar under the engine should be the scrub brake. At least on my sears . I also don't have front forks. Sent from: Carolina beach, N. Carolina

[@Derf1313]

Remember a mess of those kinda bikes : "Monkey" Wards, Western Auto, etc. Who knows who actually made them. Then the Boonie Bike came along, lol. Nice score tho !

[@chrishorst6993]

The Roper looks so much better with the green removed. Good find Charles

[@rockcustoms1695]

Yall should try sos pads to clean the chrome.. I use them to clean the old chrome for my 57 belair....works great .

[@kennystinebaugh6984]

I’d say the original engine was a Briggs with the drain hole on the bottom of the case with an extension to one side and someone decided that it was better to have a plug in the bottom to get all of the oil out without tilting the bike.

[@Joshers2077]

That side car with the bronco type frame would be so cool

[@TJBrennan58]

You guys should buy the Odyssey from Grind Hard. Rebuild the snowmobile motor and rip it round the GP. Its for sale.

[@kuyajohnny8506]

Look Boys ya gotta give her the Beans! Charles what a great find. Like alway good times! I picked up a old mini bike frame and the kids and I got a new project.

[@FJ80Coop]

Remove the guvnor,clean the carb,adjust throttle for max twist,install new plug and the run the hot laps..

[@GeorgiaRidgerunner]

As much as i hate to admit this Go carts and mini bikes were almost a thing of the past in todays happy sue world mini bikes and go carts are to much of a risk for manufacturers but thankfully china came through so the kids of my generation will get to have fun on a go cart and or mini bike and also gotta thank china for introducing an adult size mini it means now the kids and the mamas and papas can go riding and not have to spend 40k plus for rideons for the whole family

[@TheDock_]

Are you guys gonna have AC in the new shop? Working in humidity sucks lol (coming from a Floridaman)

[@badcompany3057]

Good stuff guys. Question, are Fox and Rupp minibikes from the same manufacturer?

[@issacdaniels942]

Remember fast7 when the evil guys in the armored bus and black sedans were chasing dom they jumped the side of pikes peak and hit the tree trunk which took out one of the bad guys I think the OG owners of the Sears jumped it over a big jump and a tree trunk hit the motor plate

[@coffeehouseforge5632]

When my dad taught me to weld. I had to first master the Oxy-acetylene Torch and coat hanger, before he would let me touch the old cracker box👍

[@anthonyrogerson6863]

if you want a montgumary ward full suspension ill give you mine. edit: if any vewers see this and live near silverdale washington jut respounf and we can get in touch and you can come pick it up and ill give you an old comet tourqe converter with it

[@JNC1973]

So why not start modifying that motor if you don't wanna replace the Engine completely just slap a better Cam in there and get rid of the Governor and whatever other goodies you can add to make it rip !!

[@danf4616]

I had a 1970 Sears mini bike (bought it new, I'm old). Rode the heck out of it. It was just a base model with 3.5 Techumseh and centrifical clutch. Always wanted one with springer forks and torque convertor. Wish I still had it, I'd give to Charles! 😎

[@danieleshelman198]

I had that exact same model of mini bike, I bought it with a dummy engine and that same hole, it had been modified to mount on a ride that sat in front of the krogers store in garland Texas when I was a kid, I bought the mini bike with the mount for the ride still on it, when I put a Briggs and Stratton engine on it I removed it. Rode that mini bike through 3 engines, ahhhhh childhood.

[@ancientfilm]

Was the hole cut specifically to modify it for the supermarket set up?

[@rydplrs71]

HMSK 50=horizontal medium (duty) snow king 5.0hp

[@jamesholt2403]

Seen a few comments already.. but I say an ATV motor that has a bottom drain plug..

[@darploin5071]

Mr. Roper that's what you're gonna call the bike That was the landlord on threes company

[@ToyotaGuy1971]

If it was "abandoned", then why did you have to buy it? That's contradictory.

[@donaldhalls2189]

It's called fussion welding with gas touch and wire, similar to braising, all the best to yous and your loved ones

[@anacronisticcurmudgeonry525]

As cool as the Sears Roper is, I'm still hoping you guys find an old Tote Goat to restore someday

[@darploin5071]

The hole in the bottom of Charles's Mini bike was put there because one of the engines they probably used had the drain plug on the bottom and they wanted to be able to drain the oil. Have a great day

[@darkxxhimxxlight]

*Charles* it's not the "magic touch," it's the *"magIKE touch."*

[@Punkhonda1]

Charles needs a new shirt lol. jk

[@burtmcgurt3584]

The hole was to access the oil drain??

[@chriscampbell1143]

I agree

[@puddlerat]

Can i find a way to bring my roper and compare to y’alls like a built vs bought 😂

[@raymondbrown6311]

Oh Wow this brings tears to my eyes because two of my friends that I grew up with back in 1975 had that same mini bike it was a Sears Roper 5 horsepower what a jackshaft

[@MRMechanicRC]

This may very well be the slowest bike you guys have lol. (Loved the “what’s the time” btw 😂)

[@jonathanabsher1607]

Maybe someone put a different engine on there with a oil drain plug in the bottom

[@raylansall4434]

Thanks guys for all the great stuff 👍🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🤪🤡😎😁👊😀✌️🙌

[@gmoney6347]

“On that bombshell..” I see what you did there John Clarkson 😏

[@wilsondriver654]

Lucky they didn't bother scuffing that old paint and decals

[@BIG_HlCKORY]

Someone prob installed an engine with a oil drain plug on the bottom and needed a hole to access it. Otherwise a texas quick draw done er in

[@Snake.br549]

You can use muriatic acid as long as the tank's not rusted real bad because it will eat the metal put a little in there and slosh it around make sure you got a mask on don't breathe it Don't pour it on concrete then rinse it out or pressure wash it then you can get the motorcycle gas tank sealer or not

[@boataxe4605]

You bought an abandoned mini bike? If something is abandoned it has no owner and is free, if a person owned it and paid money to them for it by definition it was not abandoned.

[@toejamr1]

20:55 “fine” steel wool is 0000 grade steel wool. Been using it for 20 years. Nothing works faster/easier to shine up chrome imo.

[@brentheltsley7187]

She’s a nugget fellas! No smoke and purrrrrs. Suspension looks good

[@marcelwk]

Sidecar go kart is definitely on my wish list. Looking forward to that build!

[@bradleyj.fortner2203]

Yeah, that'll be cool.

[@timwilkinson2797]

YES !!!!!!

[@DefenderoftheTrees]

Sidecar Minibike!!!

[@darrellkelly7614]

@@DefenderoftheTrees won't that side car be really small?

[@DefenderoftheTrees]

@@darrellkelly7614 compressor tank?

[@BadassedRC]

I think they needed a piece of steel and torched the unnecessary plate material. Weight reduction?

[@wilcoautomotive545]

My guess that we're trying to add an engine from a small motorcycle or a 2 stroke that had a lower bump in the Pan / crank case.

[@theunseen8054]

I think at some point there was an engine in that mini bike that had a drain plug and that hole was punched on the bottom to access and drain it… just my opinion

[@johnlorusso1835]

In 1975 my dad gòt me a 1969 Montgomery ward rattler!!!,

[@puddlerat]

My roper was my first real bike too… still have it… watch my videos

[@dabtech7456]

FYI brake clean is just acetone and butane mixed together

[@jamescarney2088]

possibly had another motor mounted on the frame with a bottom oil drain , hole was cut for access

[@philiplibby6360]

I think the hole in the mini bike was coused by riding over Rocky trails and over time it wore a hole and it looks like they added that rod so it wouldnt hit anymore

[@elitecpudoc329]

What's with the massive collection of mopeds behind the shop?

[@darploin5071]

I'll be more impressed if you got 220 service out to the new shop

[@mikeedward2827]

My guess- it was used on an amusement ride and that's where they connected the arm on the merry go round or even on a coin ride.

[@davidblalock9945]

I think there was an oil drain under there on the old engine, and they used a Barrett to make provision to access it.

[@draftwood]

Agree

[@fastmachines500r8]

The best mini bikes were and always will be any of the Rupp mini bikes

[@steveroach4282]

Still gotta do burn out on the minibike , I'm in first part of the video

[@willsullivan6195]

Obviously someone cut it for access to an oil plug on a different engine.

[@Jalen_Knight8526]

This bike did pretty darn good on the Grand Prix even though it was a Pate Swap Meet find. But sometimes the things you find at Pate Swap Meet is actually better than you think they are when you buy them.

[@mandude6938]

It would be cool if you guys built a piece of track to run along that second story

[@2strokesforagoodtime157]

It's be cool to see Charle's 3 sears mini bike head to head on a gran prix

[@erichoffman2479]

I'd like to see you guys hop up the three vintage bikes and make them fast enough to hurt some feelings lol

[@timothymorris8118]

I think you guys should dub it “The Scout” . It is lightweight so easy to load up and off load and use it to “scout” swap meets for more deals .

[@theoldfartschannel3692]

I raided dumps for Tillotson diaphragm carburators off of chainsaws and grafted them to my HS50's when I was a kid in the 70's. Governor removed, porting and milled the heads myself to, advanced timing, my headers were pipes driven into Volkswagen exhaust resonators. Good times.

[@danallsopp7441]

Little cheeky fast and furious quote, inch or a mile

[@darploin5071]

I would take the pull cover off and start that old Engine with a drill

[@timwaggoner3339]

Maybe there was an engine with the oil drain plug at bottom n needed access to it?

[@williamshaver5704]

You need to get a 65cc Benelli from the 70's.

[@EdTheMole]

I think sometime in its past someone slapped a motor on it that had a drain plug in that spot.

[@darploin5071]

When are we gonna get another episode of the clappalack poop devil

[@largelarry2126]

You need to build one that has a micro-NOS kit.

[@brianreese9318]

Wish people would drop mini bikes off at my house

[@jamesmcgee9279]

The hole in the engine mounting plate! I think somebody had a vision! A lights on moment and realized the idea wasn't going to work. Awesome find Charles!