Im frequently asked how i made the crankshaft for my Kawasaki Z1 1396cc Super Six, so I have made this short video explaining some of the techniques i use.
Not only is he making amazing projects he makes a seamless and very easy to follow video of what he is doing. Great editing and narration. Lighting was spot on too. Truly a man of many talents.
Tom McLellan When I was 16 I was helping to strip, service, modify and update the main compressor on the biggest aero engine test rig in the country! I was unbelievably lucky. Having won one of the last old style mechanical engineering apprenticeships at the world’s most renowned aero engine division, due to start in December, I had six months to kill. So my Dad got me a holiday job with the firm. I ended up on the test site. Within days I was part of the team. After two weeks, they let me scrape the white metal bearings, using blue to witness the high spots. Then I went to the training school, which was valuable in many ways, but l learned more empirically during those six months than I ever did during the next four years.
Absolutely stunning, as always. You make it look like you´re just reassembling something that already exists, if all else fails, watching your videos makes a rainy day brighter. Thanks for sharing, best wishes from Sweden!
That's absolutely brilliant, amazing what can be achieved with ingenuity, a lathe, a milling machine and press. Thanks for taking the time to film, edit and upload.
"People often ask me. I do it at home, in my small garage at home". . Creating the most astonishing bikes I've ever seen. "In my small garage at home". . Unbelievable this man and his creations. Genius.
This is senses-staggering...and the casual, unassuming and modest manner in which Allen describes his astonishing achievements makes them all the more mind blowing. I love the description of taking a crank web out to the garden to clean it up with an angle grinder - the most natural thing in the world!
Allen brilliantly shows the difference between a machinist and a craftsman. A machinist can operate a machine perfectly to produce exacting work. A craftsman then takes that machine dismantles it, reassembles it with extra bits and makes it do a job the original builder had never even considered. Are we mortals even worthy of such videos?
WOW..I've been a machinist 33yrs. and I wouldn't have touched that with gloves on. Magnificent engineering! Who would down vote this? The man is brilliant!
Woke up this morning and thought - I know let’s see how a Z1 Super Six crankshaft is made. Remarkable, Allen makes it sound like a walk in the park (remember that !). And here I am trying to problem solve changing a headlight bulb on my Guzzi LM!
I follow your work at classic motorycle mechanics but this video showing how you assy the crankshaft is amazing. I hope you will do more videos showing your manufacturing process. Thank you!,,
I tip my cap sir. Utmost respect to you and your gift. Your world, my mind can't begin to enter. I can ride and build them... but mechanics I avoid completely... let alone your level of engineering insight. Thank you for this riveting entertainment! Bless you my friend. 👍
It’s incredible you can solve all the problems of building a crank at home. Yet you can’t stop the bloody press pump squeaking! Good work sir. British ingenuity at its best.
Re-assembling the crankshaft to run true, in your shed, is pure craftsmanship. I wouldn't have believed it was possible until I watched your video. That old workmate bench looks like it has seen some work! Many thanks for posting the video, regards Paul.
I saw many video's people modifying engines . But nobody came close to your quality and difficulty of job . You beat all of them and you take a crown .
I used to work in a gargantuan machine shop. Three buildings, about an acre under each roof, plus a plating shop. Modern machines (lots of WWII machines too), HUGE machines: Niles, Mesta, etc. They pretty much let me do the jobs I wanted, writing programs for CNC work, finding better ways to do recurring jobs, building fixtures & special tooling - I got to move around all over the place. My favorite thing about working there was you could bring in your own stuff off-hours (three shifts running) and use any machine you were competent with. Although I never even went in the plating shop, everything else was mine! If only I had seen Allen's videos 30-40 years ago. Since the 70's I've had enough Z1 parts go through my hands to make some real monsters... Just didn't have a clue these things were possible. Kawasaki 900/1000 parts are now gold. By the way, Kawasaki only stopped making that engine (1015cc) a few years ago, which was sold in police bikes all over the world. Probably more of them around than any other. Certainly the longest production run of a motorcycle engine. (Original engine style, not the "J" model.)
I'm impressed. Always wanted to see an old Mercury outboard inline motor adapted for motorcycle use but Allen has better ideas . Excellent workmanship !
I was sorely tempted to do that with an old tower of power straight 6 block that I had but like so many other things I couldn't find time for it. I thought a 150hp outboard engine with decent expansion chambers would be a fine thing to behold.
I know many other comments reflect my utter disgust at those Thumbs Down votes. I know we are entitled to our own opinions but to those who think they could do better I really would like to see what you have created. I am 100% convinced you can’t show me anything to top this great man’s work. It’s just my opinion but you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves. I am 72 and have never seen anything so beautiful, ingenious and stunningly wonderful as the work of Allen Millyard.
Alan - you’re an inspiration. Small garage - minimal tools - and most importantly a ‘can do’ attitude. The answer to any problem exists - you just need to figure it out using what you have - and then get on with it. Being a genius helps
Hot oil catastrophe - my grocery-getter is a Honda CM450 with a big box over the passenger seat. It was due for an oil change. I usually change the oil after it has cooled down. One day I didn't. Couldn't find the 12mm socket that fits the little oil filter pan, so I used a 1/2 inch. A bit bigger. I usually unscrew the bolt with the ratchet, hold the whole thing in the socket, and tip it into the drain pan. But the 1/2 inch socket was a bit bigger... Loose. It all came out, including the half cup or so of very hot oil. Landed on my hand and forearm. I KNEW that was gonna be way beyond scalding. It didn't take long - I was wiping the oil off in the grass next to my driveway and pouring water on from my dog's water bowl. Call quick action, call it luck, call it a miracle. No flesh burn or scarring, and if there was any pain I didn't notice. Next time I'll look harder for that 12mm socket.
Built up cranks are getting so rare these days, I'm not surprised that many didn't realize how you made this work. Between admiring your work and reading lots of Kevin Cameron's exploits in his younger years building and racing 2 strokes in the 70's, I have a whole new appreciation for how motorcycle engines have evolved and changed (for better or worse)
I watched the whole video thinking there was a special edition Z1 with 6 cylinders. Damn, that's special. Would you mind sharing with us all the challenges you faced when making it happen? Made my day!
I just stumbled upon this video. I like how you use voice-over instead of trying to talk while working. It makes a real difference in the clarity of the explanation about what's going on. As for the craftsmanship, it's brilliant. Bravo!
Allen I'm so impressed by your skills seeing the finished crank spin so freely is a testament of your talent, please more videos, greetings from Australia
Great work Allen- I remember a comment of yours from many many years back in a magazine featuring an amazing build- When asked how you did it you replied - "Plan your work and work your plan" It is a very useful guide to getting things done . You continue to be an inspiration !
This amazing video has answered so many of my personal questions about crankshafts in general. My ideas of how cranks are made were way too complex. Mr. Millyard uses his tools so well it allows him to do so much. It brings an understanding of how things work you cannot get anywhere else. hands-on in the most technical ways. so damn cool man!!!!!
Superb content Allen, its a work of art that crankshaft, could be straight out of Kawasaki's factory Would love to see much more of this, i could watch this stuff endlessly Thanks for sharing and stay safe
Another Millyard video I just happened upon and had to watch all through. I have just come back out of my garage, just split apart a Suzuki Stinger twin 2 stroke crank, got 3 more to do. Been pondering for a year or so how to do this after rebuilding a couple from the basket cases i bought.....thinks, Alan he will know!. Just watched the Honda 90 degree twin video and yes its that simple when explained so thoroughly on this brilliant channel. My 10 ton press will shift the webs apart and ill chuck them in the lathe to center. Hefty copper hammer is going to get some welly (erm avoiding thumbs and A&E)! Really appreciate the clarity and commonsense approach you have Allen coupled to exemplary video work that can only be done by someone that knows exactly the critical view required to explain the process. A triple stinger may be in the making!
Fantastic stuff Allen. Thanks for showing this stuff and taking the mystery out of it. I am amazed at what you have achieved over the years with relatively simple tools...
This is engineering. The ability to foresee it in your head and then the talent to transfer it into solid reality, without stopping and rethinking and remaking it. No this is Art actually. What a decent bloke as well, informative, not a bit patronising and obnoxious. A gentleman.
Maestro Sir, Finally I get to see you at work...........years ago I was and fascinated with your fabricated engines, turning singles and four, sixes into v engine, yep I remember the V12 kwaka, thats the name back in the day. Thanks Allen, you the machining Boss, from nz originally Slough uk
Pure intellectual and mechanical genius. Your skills are a tribute to a lifetime of curiosity and practice of design and fabrication skills. I have always had interest in the type of work you do, but have not acquired a fraction of the skill you have. I am inspired!
Handy these pressed up roller bearing crankshafts for your purposes. The high precision of the standard parts makes these jobs possible.The whole process from beginning to end,text book. top job!
I cried a little for those slips. Was hoping you’d protected the ends with thin bits of brass. Otherwise, I’m in awe, jealous of your kit, and already rehearsing how I’ll be rebuking myself when I start to doubt I can complete my projects. Thank you for sharing your secrets.
Outstanding work , we need to see more of these skills , I always wondered what magic went into making the 6 cylinder engine run . You are a true mechanical genius , thanks for sharing this insight into your engineering .
This man builds one after the other amazing projects the rest of us can only dream about. I am truly amazed and so pleased there are still craftsmen like yourself around. Legend!
Alan you are amazing ,I've had the pleasure of seeing and hearing many of your creations over the years and I'm always impressed .You make it look easy .Thanx
Brill. Many thanks for sharing. I had a mate who did the same sort of thing with two triumph motors, he said, he raced it at Santa pod in the early days. Tales of blowing pistons and casting new ones in flowerpots, I learned a lot from him. God I'm sorry he's gone. I really envy you guys only being self taught I hope you will share more
engineering genius right there i will never get tired of your videos great stuff you need your own program get your mate mr henry cole to sort that out
I had a mate who was a toolmaker and he'd always block my view when he was sharpening a drill bit so I couldn't see how easy it was..... KUDOS to you!!!
Great stuff , really nice to see the process , many thanks for taking the time to share . Be very interesting to see the block and head too . Pressing cranks is like fitting tyres , you know the bang is coming , but no matter how many times before ,,, you still jump.
Stunning level of engineering skill, I've seen a few of your bikes on RU-vid etc but seeing you perform this is stunning. Thanks so very much for sharing with us all. You are gifted 👍
This was a great insight to how you make one your crankshafts...Then i noticed your black thumb nail. Oh you are human after all....We need to see more of your How-To's.
Seen your creations at a few bike shows now, I'm always in awe like "It's gandalf of the engines!" God I'd love to have the space and time to mess with that level of engineering, precariously rebuilding a stock engine is probably the pinnacle of my "know how". Keep making the videos man, it's fascinating - something to aspire to
