I had a hop-rod in the 70's. I started out with the recommended 20%nitro glowplug engine fuel. I could get 7 or 8 feet. 40%, the highest available back then, got me a few more feet. I was a daredevil, had no fear, raced motocross professionally and the bike shop where I worked after school sponsored a top fuel motorcycle drag racer so of course I had to try 100% nitro with just a touch of castor bean oil for lube. Holy shist! That bordered on scaring me. After a couple of bounces to build heat and compression, I could see over our ranch-style home's roof. Starting and stopping was interesting too. I had to hit the ground at an angle just in case it didn't start but when it did fire, it was like a sledge hammer! I'd go off at about maybe a 30 deg angle but then have to get myself oriented vertically before the next stroke. The only time I got thrown off was when I failed to achieve the vertical. Getting stopped was interesting too. I'd bend my knees to absorb some of the thrust so that I achieved less and less altitude until I was down to 2-3 feet. Then just step off and hope that the loss of mass wouldn't compress the mix enough to ignite the mix on the slight compression. If it did fire it would toss the thing out of my hands. The only major problem was the piston stop damper. the stock material was a donut of some kind of hard rubber that fitted over the shaft between the piston and the cylinder base. With nitro, it would pound out in just a few minutes. Our senior engine builder, a fine one-eyed man (playing GI-Joe with BB gunes) named John Davis designed something that lasted. I don't recall what he came up with, being 16 or 17 and interested in far more interesting stuff - like girls :-) His attempt at making a new head with 2 carbs, one running 100%nitro and the other hydrazine is a whole 'nuther story. To make a long story short, the cylinder burst. John
I was told by some guy from Chance Manufacturing to use white gas aka Coleman lantern fuel. It turns out the “engine” was made by Aermacchi, the Italian company that made the smaller Harley Davidsons. If I ever resurrect mine, I’ll try some “cox” fuel. First, I need to improve the ignition as it is so unreliable. I will probably use an arduino with an accelerometer to force it to fire after TDC.
@@bretfuzz925 An arduino on a hoprod? Man, you'd complicate a BJ, wouldn't you? All you need to make a Hop Rod run reliably is the correct fuel and a clean and adequately lit glow plug. The flashlight batteries of that era were not capable of driving the glow plug adequately. I solved that problem by paralleling 2 Mallory (now Duracell) alkaline D cells. These were the good ones before they removed the mercury. That setup would light the glow plug a bright orange.
@@neon-john haha! Thanks for the reply.. The “glow plug” in mine was damaged and when I rebuilt it with a friend at a place we worked at. I made a similar spring out of a piece of guitar string. Perhaps it was meant to be nichrome wire and would retain heat and act as a glow plug so you may be on to something there. The “flapper valve “ in the piston was not working so we took it apart and cleaned it. Also replaced the bumper with some different material as we worked for Gabriel (shock absorber) company at the time and they had special materials for that purpose. I haven’t looked at it since 1991 but I recall a coil at the bottom of the stack of batteries and figured it was meant to throw a spark after TDC when the piston is moving away and the circuit is broken as the tip of the spring touches the piston before TDC. Perhaps someone else on this thread can put in their 2 cents but these things are kind of rare and there is little to go off of.
I used to have one of these back then. Took a few hops to get it warmed up. Sometimes it would fire a hair late and just about break your ankle. They were pretty cool.
My GOD, a Springloaded Jawbreaker powered by a Two-stroke Engine! The equivalent of multiple fast uppercuts if the feet slip off the pegs. Damn! LMAO 🤣
Big difference with the fuel. I do not remember the commercial. But,I did try to use a Pogo stick,looked like this kind. Did not have fuel. So, I hopped maybe 6 times. Good video!
I found this after watching 1 being sold on tv show auction kings reminded me of when I had one in the late 60 I was around 12 and I found one at the side of the road I asked for the instructions yes they had it I gased it up and was in my back alley first jump fired off I went high next time broke my ankle still hurts today arthritis in my left ankle If I had it today I could get 300 bucks but my parents put in outside back then free be careful dangerous. Man those were the days
I have more busted capillaries in my arches than you would believe from one of these. And that was from 35 years ago. One of the biggest problems was that the ignition was very unreliable. If that had been sorted out they still would have been unsafe.
Pretty sure the recommended fuel, back in the day was - model airplane fuel like the stuff made by COX.Sold mine years ago on Ebay, and got a great price for it.
Where did you get the notion they're banned? The company was simply an ultra-niche one making a limited appeal product. The company failed during the president ford recession. BTW, there is (or maybe was) a NIB Hoprod on sleazebay. Asking $1200.
Actually there is a huge difference. When it reliably fires, you can just balance and it pops you up each time you go down. When it misses, it almost stops abruptly.
Oh .. Auction Kings contacted me for help. I told them last time Discovery Channel contacted me they never sent me anything they promised. Auction Kings stole part of my video and broadcasted it. I know this cause I converted the film and it had imperfections that are like fingerprints. Also the show sucks too .. and the chick the almost broke her ankle / chin would have got a warning from me if they would have been kind enough to not rip my work off. Auction Kings Suck it.
I am a disabled vet I am on heavy medications including morphine . I spent 7 years in the NAVY and would have stayed if I did not take a shot in my spine . Did you do any thing for our country ?. I also have a bad hearing loss and vision . I live off a 100% disabilty . I made over 5000 a month while on active duty . Now I live off base pay do to you lose all special pays when you go out on disabilty. My talk to type does not do grammar very well either. Next time ask before cussing
Thank you for your service and sacrifice. I sometimes wonder about bad grammar but I never thought about talk to type. You have educated me. God bless you.
So' i nearly Sure! If i buy on. Be'cose Not too' much Name: teuer & Open the stuff by porting + ignition ⚡ meby the Hop Go Up. Eany Body oudthere ? Ho think the seme Idea.
Приколы
I had a hop-rod in the 70's. I started out with the recommended 20%nitro glowplug engine fuel. I could get 7 or 8 feet. 40%, the highest available back then, got me a few more feet. I was a daredevil, had no fear, raced motocross professionally and the bike shop where I worked after school sponsored a top fuel motorcycle drag racer so of course I had to try 100% nitro with just a touch of castor bean oil for lube.
Holy shist! That bordered on scaring me. After a couple of bounces to build heat and compression, I could see over our ranch-style home's roof.
Starting and stopping was interesting too. I had to hit the ground at an angle just in case it didn't start but when it did fire, it was like a sledge hammer! I'd go off at about maybe a 30 deg angle but then have to get myself oriented vertically before the next stroke. The only time I got thrown off was when I failed to achieve the vertical.
Getting stopped was interesting too. I'd bend my knees to absorb some of the thrust so that I achieved less and less altitude until I was down to 2-3 feet. Then just step off and hope that the loss of mass wouldn't compress the mix enough to ignite the mix on the slight compression. If it did fire it would toss the thing out of my hands.
The only major problem was the piston stop damper. the stock material was a donut of some kind of hard rubber that fitted over the shaft between the piston and the cylinder base. With nitro, it would pound out in just a few minutes. Our senior engine builder, a fine one-eyed man (playing GI-Joe with BB gunes) named John Davis designed something that lasted. I don't recall what he came up with, being 16 or 17 and interested in far more interesting stuff - like girls :-)
His attempt at making a new head with 2 carbs, one running 100%nitro and the other hydrazine is a whole 'nuther story. To make a long story short, the cylinder burst.
John
Great Story
I was told by some guy from Chance Manufacturing to use white gas aka Coleman lantern fuel. It turns out the “engine” was made by Aermacchi, the Italian company that made the smaller Harley Davidsons. If I ever resurrect mine, I’ll try some “cox” fuel. First, I need to improve the ignition as it is so unreliable. I will probably use an arduino with an accelerometer to force it to fire after TDC.
@@bretfuzz925 An arduino on a hoprod? Man, you'd complicate a BJ, wouldn't you? All you need to make a Hop Rod run reliably is the correct fuel and a clean and adequately lit glow plug. The flashlight batteries of that era were not capable of driving the glow plug adequately. I solved that problem by paralleling 2 Mallory (now Duracell) alkaline D cells. These were the good ones before they removed the mercury. That setup would light the glow plug a bright orange.
@@neon-john haha! Thanks for the reply.. The “glow plug” in mine was damaged and when I rebuilt it with a friend at a place we worked at. I made a similar spring out of a piece of guitar string. Perhaps it was meant to be nichrome wire and would retain heat and act as a glow plug so you may be on to something there. The “flapper valve “ in the piston was not working so we took it apart and cleaned it. Also replaced the bumper with some different material as we worked for Gabriel (shock absorber) company at the time and they had special materials for that purpose. I haven’t looked at it since 1991 but I recall a coil at the bottom of the stack of batteries and figured it was meant to throw a spark after TDC when the piston is moving away and the circuit is broken as the tip of the spring touches the piston before TDC. Perhaps someone else on this thread can put in their 2 cents but these things are kind of rare and there is little to go off of.
I used to have one of these back then. Took a few hops to get it warmed up. Sometimes it would fire a hair late and just about break your ankle. They were pretty cool.
My GOD, a Springloaded Jawbreaker powered by a Two-stroke Engine! The equivalent of multiple fast uppercuts if the feet slip off the pegs. Damn! LMAO 🤣
Big difference with the fuel. I do not remember the commercial. But,I did try to use a Pogo stick,looked like this kind. Did not have fuel. So, I hopped maybe 6 times. Good video!
I like the choice of songs you choose!
The Lawyers would have a Field-Day with this thing if it was sold now.
I found this after watching 1 being sold on tv show auction kings reminded me of when I had one in the late 60 I was around 12 and I found one at the side of the road I asked for the instructions yes they had it I gased it up and was in my back alley first jump fired off I went high next time broke my ankle still hurts today arthritis in my left ankle If I had it today I could get 300 bucks but my parents put in outside back then free be careful dangerous. Man those were the days
I have more busted capillaries in my arches than you would believe from one of these. And that was from 35 years ago. One of the biggest problems was that the ignition was very unreliable. If that had been sorted out they still would have been unsafe.
Imagine going to work everyday with one of those! Lol
Pretty sure the recommended fuel, back in the day was - model airplane fuel like the stuff made by COX.Sold mine years ago on Ebay, and got a great price for it.
White gas aka Coleman lantern fuel
i so want one >.< i am really good at pogo sticking and do stunts and stuff so it would be epic
action kings ftw
It was my site and I have to rebuild it soon .. stay up[dated. Hope u like our video!!!:)
Great video, have always wanted to see one of these (now banned) Hop Rods in action. Where'd the Chance original ad come from?!?! CLASSIC
Where did you get the notion they're banned? The company was simply an ultra-niche one making a limited appeal product. The company failed during the president ford recession. BTW, there is (or maybe was) a NIB Hoprod on sleazebay. Asking $1200.
Part of seeing it is hearing it. Do you by any chance have a vid without music so you can hear the pogo?
here by action kings also haha
@ncrdisabled i came to this video because of auction kings too
Pretty much - Search youtube for "Nissan LEAF: Gas Powered Everything commercial " I would link, but YT doesnt allow.
Doesn't seem like there's too big a difference between firing and not firing...at least not in amplitude.
Actually there is a huge difference. When it reliably fires, you can just balance and it pops you up each time you go down. When it misses, it almost stops abruptly.
is/was everything in America powered by gas?
someone shold try it with nitro methane
Oh .. Auction Kings contacted me for help. I told them last time Discovery Channel contacted me they never sent me anything they promised.
Auction Kings stole part of my video and broadcasted it. I know this cause I converted the film and it had imperfections that are like fingerprints.
Also the show sucks too .. and the chick the almost broke her ankle / chin would have got a warning from me if they would have been kind enough to not rip my work off.
Auction Kings Suck it.
I am a disabled vet I am on heavy medications including morphine . I spent 7 years in the NAVY and would have stayed if I did not take a shot in my spine . Did you do any thing for our country ?. I also have a bad hearing loss and vision . I live off a 100% disabilty . I made over 5000 a month while on active duty . Now I live off base pay do to you lose all special pays when you go out on disabilty. My talk to type does not do grammar very well either. Next time ask before cussing
Thank you for your service and sacrifice. I sometimes wonder about bad grammar but I never thought about talk to type. You have educated me. God bless you.
So' i nearly Sure! If i buy on. Be'cose Not too' much Name: teuer & Open the stuff by porting + ignition ⚡ meby the Hop Go Up. Eany Body oudthere ? Ho think the seme Idea.