From:Doug Miller e-mail:radarsprint-A-yahoo.com
Subject:RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: 1959 165 STU Date:Sat Jun 9 20:12:30 2012
Response to:17476
In answer to what parts each model has, the parts book lists the years each part was used but not the model on which it was was used. Personally I like Martins solution of assembling the bike as is then inventorying the rest of the parts needed (and what you have for trade) then make your choices.

You can look for someone in your area to give you a hand and get a manual & parts catalog while you're assembling what you have. Don't worry about the exact engine mounting bolts or such but if you're trying to start it it needs to be well fixed in position.

First goal have a good time. Doug


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Title :
I know in Montana there is a what is called a "Break in Title" procedure,where,You go to the courthouse and explain to them tht You have this machine,the title was lost many years ago and the owner ca`nt be reached.Our courthouse people will then hand You a vehicle inspection paper,You have an LEO come over and inspect the numbers on the bike,or car,and the LEO {sherrif,H.P.,or local cop}will write those numbers on Your paper and sign,You then take that paper to the courthouse and hand it back,they will then charge ten dollars and send Your papers in,It will be about a month and voila,You are setting with a brand new title for Your machine.
You might give that a try in Your state/county and see if they have the same type of services.

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Jerrod,

The problem with a bitsa basket case is that you don't know what you've got - and what you're missing.

The Model 165 (ST or STU) uses a battery and an ignition switch. There's no place on the Hummer (B) frame for a battery, and the Hummer gas tank does not have an ignition switch.

Can you tell if the bike was ever actually running with the ST engine? Maybe the engine was just thrown in with the rest of the basket case!

If it was running, perhaps the former owner also swapped in the ST gas (with ignition switch) in addition to the engine. Maybe the B's wheels were rusty and the ST wheels were swapped in also. Almost everything from one bike will physically fit on any other bike.

One important thing ($-wise) is the condition of the engine. Can you get it to start and run? If so, a title's about $100. An engine might be $1000.

It might turn out that it's easier (and less expensive) to turn it into an ST instead of a B. You need to do a thorough inventory of all the parts and see exactly what you've got - then you'll know which way to go.

One way to do this is to just assemble the bike - rust, flat tires and all. By the time you run out of parts, you should have a pretty good idea of what's there - and what's not there.

Dave


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I got a stripped early frame and reattached all the tab that had been cut off. I replaced the foot pegs with an early foot peg mount that I got from Duane at "Taylor Classic"s. He let me measure a frame to get the tabs in the right place, size, and thickness. Its nice to have that resource near me.

The pictures in the members pages will give you lots of clues to the 59B. Note the coil mount and the horn tabs like you are aware of. Also not that the frame is near the universal replacement (#8). The STU engine you have wasn't made much and might easily been placed in this frame 1n the late 50s but the frame mounted stand remains a conundrum. Doug

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In the "how to restore" section at the top, in the frame section, my frame looks like number 7. The jiffy stand is mounted in that fashion, just inside the left foot peg. If this is a frame that a 125 would have been built on I would prefer to find a correct engine. Where would the best place be to search for one? Is there someplace that would list what the 1959 B would come with. i.e. speedo, bars, grips, what type of horn and where it would be mounted, i guess i need any and all info to start this project.


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Titles are becoming more and more of an issue. In some states there is no problem. In fact there are some states where you don't need a title for anything earlier than a specific year depending on the state. If you google Broadway Title they used to keep an updated list of the "bad" states and what the issues were. My 81 year old mother went into the Illinois DMV to request a replacement title for a Henderson my dad bought in the mid 40's and they told her she was screwed as they didn't keep records that far back.

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Jerrod,

You may have a bitsa. The engine a STU would be a "low horsepower" 165 (it'll has a shroud around the carburetor). A frame with a side stand mounted on the frame would be a 1948 or 49 frame, but that would have a toolbox & horn mounts and the coil would hang below the top tube. You probably have a -Modified- bike. So what clean it up paint it ride it - have fun. or trade for the parts you want, your choice. Again have fun. Bitsa = bits of this - bits of that.

Title is another question, not easily answered. What state do you live in? No, I know you live in the state of eternal optimism, beyond that --. Someone just posted issues with getting a title in Wisconsin. Maine is reputed to be willing to issue a registration for old vehicles with only a bill of sale. In Oregon I got a title with bills of sale for piles of parts.

The stand? how is it mounted? the original was bolted to a plate behind the footpeg, this plate has vertical slots each side of the bolt. If yours isn't like this its an aftermarket stand.

Doug

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I just picked up a basket case bike. It was half together and half in a box. The problem is i dont know what i have. Is it a 125 or 165? I received some documents, some state that its a 1959 Hummer B, some state that its a 1959 ST. But the engine stamping shows 59STU3308. My jiffy stand is part of the frame and not part of the peg. I dont have tabs for a tool box or horn on the rear left and right side. I have done some research over the last couple days on many sites. I guess i am just really confused as to what i have here, could it be a 125 that someone replaced the engine with a 165? Did they do a 165 with no tabs for the tool box and horn? Once its figured out what i have, is it hard to obtain a title?