Leon Bollee 1897

Leon Bollee 1897.
Yesterdays motorcycles. Netherlands.
ca 1897 Leon Bollee Tricar-Tricycle .
Single cylinder ca 800cc 4-stroke engine
Automatic/atmospheric inlet valve
Hot tube ignition, so there is no spark plug used for the ignition.
Instead of a spark plug ( not yet invented/perfected in 1897 ) there is a hollow tube outside the cylinder head as an extension of the combustion chamber. An external gasoline burner heats up the tube to red hot and this provides the heat/spark to ignite the compressed air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.
There is a 3-speed gearbox which works remarkably well.
Flat leather belt drive to rear wheel.
Braking is by moving the complete rear wheel with drive pulley forward against the brake block.
This also reduces the tension on the drive belt and the belt will run free on the front drive pulley.
By moving the combined hand lever / gear change lever backwards the belt drive will be tightened ( clutch ) and one is on the move again.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Motorfiets
• Yesterdays
• Leon
• Bollee
• Tricycle
• tricar
• old
• motorcycle
• veteran
• vintage
• hot
• tube
• 1896
• 1897
• gasolene
• burner.
• automatic
• inlet
• valve.

[yesterdaysnl]

Max speed is approx. 50km/h or 30mph.

It really is fun to ride, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.....!!!

[yesterdaysnl]

The starting procedure was a little difficult as the hand crank tried to rip my arm off repeatedly. It was a little embarrassing and was damaging my ego, so I left the starting procedure for what it was..........lol.

[moisiemo]

Absolutely fantastic! And thanks for the detailed explanation of the workings of the machine

[animebsd]

very nice i want one! lol

[kingsleysp65]

Great.. Loved the starting process with hot tube ignition, a gap Robert Bosch identified and the rest is history

[bestblack94]

I am downward of Leon Bollee

[latrays]

amazing acceleration 0-10 in 10 min looks in great condition good job!

[sacadosjaune]

This car was also called in France " le tue belle mère "

Apparently you are using a gaz bottle for the ignition system, who is use to heat the spark plug in platinum, if my memory serves me well. For the engine, is it petrol, or gasoline ?

Congratulations for the restore quality !

[devilred1971]

@yesterdaysnl it's a killer trike just it's age alone makes it respected by me!

[vetttech1999]

Thanks for such a great video,,id get it out monthly just to show it off if i had it

[RichieNOLA]

now that's back seat driving in it's original form.

[douro20]

On what kind of fuel was it made to run?