PMZ-A-750 is the first heavy motorcycle in the Soviet Union, which was manufactured in the 30s at the Podolsky Mechanical Plant. It was produced both in a double version and with a stroller. Actively exploited in the army, national economy, public services. Currently of great interest to museums and private collectors.
Development
At the beginning of the 30s, the Scientific Automobile and Tractor Institute (NATI) was asked to develop a heavy motorcycle with a capacity of 750 cm 3 , adapted to the road conditions of the USSR and suitable for working with a sidecar. To develop the project, designer Mozharov Pyotr Vladimirovich, creator of the first IL motorcycles, was invited to Moscow.
The working group reviewed the existing design solutions of the American company Harley-Davidson and German BMW, drawing on a number of ideas. Invaluable help in the creation of the PMZ-A-750 was provided by young designers Alexander Fedorov, Igor Okunev, Sergey Semashko, Boris Fitterman and others. Fedorov later worked as the chief engineer of the Irbit factory. Okunev became the chief designer of the Moscow Engine Plant, and then the AZLK automobile plant. Fitterman participated in the development of ZIS vehicles.
From idea to implementation
The concept of the engine, proposed by Soviet engineers, resembled the "Harley", while differing in many details. For example, the circulating lubrication system consisted of a dry sump system and a two-stage oil pump. It was proposed to place the oil tank in a common casting of the engine crankcase. The motorcycle used a rechargeable battery for ignition, the engine is equipped with a gear transmission.
Firstborn
Work on the future PMZ-A-750 progressed very quickly. Drawings by the spring of 1932 were already prepared and sent to Izhevsk. In May 1933, 4 prototypes of motor vehicles were assembled, called NATI-A-750. On August 20 of the same year, they were delivered to Moscow.
Compared to the production models in prototype motorcycles, the frame design and rear seats have been simplified. On the left side of the front fork was an audio signal, which was subsequently transferred to the steering wheel. The gear lever and clutch pedal are located on the left side, as in American motorcycles of that period. Also in the American style, the driver's seat is made: the saddle is deep, high for the rear passenger. The steps are far ahead, the front and rear wheels are equipped with a retractable stand.
Production
The developers were looking forward to launching mass production, but the workshops in Izhevsk were not yet equipped enough to cope with such a complex product. In 1935, the People's Commissariat handed over technical documentation to the existing Podolsky Mechanical Plant, which was the Russian branch of Singer. The sewing machine factory had 11,000 employees and there were good conditions for responsible production.
The first production motorcycle PMZ-750 left the assembly line in 1935, exactly to the significant date - May 1. When Ordzhonikidze, the People's Commissar of Heavy Industry, visited the plant on July 25, factory workers already showed him nine units of motor vehicles.
Specifications
Motorcycle PMZ-A-750 has the following characteristics:
- The four-stroke engine cylinder, cooling - air. The working volume is 747 cm 3 .
- Power - 15 liters. from. (11 kW) at 3600 rpm.
- The number of gears is 3 (ratio 3.045-1.58-1.00).
- Gearbox - chain 5 / 8x3 / 8 ".
- Tire size - 4,5019 ".
- Wheelbase - 1395 mm.
- The height of the model is 1050 mm.
- Length - 2085 mm.
- Road clearance - 112 mm.
- Total weight - 225 kg.
- Payload - 115 kg.
- The fuel tank has a capacity of 21 liters.
- Speed (maximum) - 105 km / h (without a stroller).
- Fuel consumption (average) - 6 liters.
Reviews
Motorcyclists ambiguously rated the PMZ-750 car. Some praised the frame design and easy access to components, while others considered the device not very thoughtful. In many respects, motorcycle maintenance was different from other models, which introduced certain inconveniences.
A manual gearbox was located in the upper part of the engine, while switching was carried out by a special lever located on the left side of the motorcycle. The clutch was of two types: either double-lever with a pedal on the left side, or a lever on the steering wheel on the left side. During the hot season, frequent oil changes in the lubrication system were required - every 1000 km. Setting up the bike was complicated and time consuming.
Schebler carburetor often created problems when starting the engine. It required precise coordination of the optimal positions of the air damper, ignition (on the left side of the steering wheel) and the opening of the throttle valve (on the right side of the steering wheel). Motorcyclists jokingly deciphered the abbreviation PMZ as "try to get me." Meanwhile, the design was innovative, many interesting ideas were used in subsequent models. In total, more than 4600 units were collected.
PMZ-750 was used not only in government agencies and the army, they were also sold to private individuals. A motorcycle with a sidecar was especially valued . The price by the beginning of 1938 was 7760 rubles, which is very expensive compared to other mass models. For example, Izh-7 was sold for 3300 rubles, “Red October” L-300 was estimated at 3360 rubles.