Hercules Last Boy

Sachsmotor 50/3 MLFB with three-speed gearbox

With a trailer in the postal service

The Hercules Lastboy is a transport moped that Rabeneick had developed in 1958 and was taken over by Hercules . Hercules built around 1200 Lastboys from 1966 to 1984 with minor changes compared to the original version.

engine and gears

The first Lastboys had a single-cylinder two-stroke Sachs engine 50/2 MLB with reverse scavenging and airflow cooling, displacement 47 cm³, power 2.3 HP, two-speed twist grip and pedal crank. In the later versions from 1969, it is an engine Sachs 50/3 MLFB with fan cooling, also 47 cc displacement and an output of 2.6 hp in conjunction with a three-speed draw key transmission , foot switch and kick. Both versions have a two-plate multi-plate clutch in an oil bath. The engine power is transmitted to the rear wheel via a roller chain. The maximum speed is 40 km / h.

frame

The Lastboy has a pressed steel frame. The front wheel is guided on a pushed short swing arm with coil springs, the rear wheel on a long swing arm with spring struts, both swing arms are maintenance-free. The frame and rear wheel are covered.

A patented support frame with luggage rack is attached to the fork to accommodate a transport basket, which can be removed if necessary in order to use the Lastboy as a normal moped. The headlight, which is usually attached to the left under the luggage rack, must then be moved to the steering head. In addition to the relatively large front luggage rack with transport basket (57 × 47 × 27 cm) for a payload of 31 kg, the Lastboy has a rear luggage rack for a payload of 8 kg, which can accommodate a small second basket if necessary. There is a flat lockable compartment for tools under the rear rack. For the front basket, Hercules supplied belts with so-called belt tensioning devices to secure the load in the postal service. Leg shields were available on request.

In order to safely park the loaded vehicle, it has a large folding stand on the front wheel in addition to the center stand. In the operating instructions, under “Other”, it is expressly stated that the moped should only be started or kicked while standing on the wheels, otherwise the stands would be overloaded.

The Lastboy's front and rear wheels are the same size at 23 × 2.25 inches. In the last version, the wheels have Sachs full-hub brakes with a diameter of 115 mm; the rear brake is operated via a rod instead of the original Bowden cable .

The tank is placed diagonally on the frame in the manner that has long been common on mopeds. It holds 6.5 liters, of which 0.7 liters are in reserve.

Technical specifications

Hercules Lastboy (from 1969)	Data (from 1969)
engine	1-cylinder two-stroke gasoline engine, removable light metal cylinder head , cast iron cylinder
Rinsing method	Reverse rinsing with flat flask
cooling	Air cooling by fan
Displacement	47 cc
Bore × stroke	38 × 42 mm
power	2.6 HP (1.9 kW) at 5000 rpm
compression	1: 9
Carburetor	Bing , single slide carburetor ø 12 mm
Engine lubrication	Two-stroke mix 1:25
coupling	Double disc clutch
transmission	3-speed gearbox with foot switch
frame	Pressed steel frame
Front suspension	Short swing arm with coil springs
Rear suspension	Swing arm with struts
wheelbase	approx. 1200 mm
overall length	approx. 1850 mm
wheel size	23 × 2.25
Brakes	Full hub brakes, ø 115 mm
Empty weight	80 kg
maximum weight allowed	180 kg
tank	6.5 liters, of which 0.7 liters reserve

Advertisement for the last boy

Hercules praised the vehicle in advertisements “for quick business of all kinds” for “bakers, butchers, plumbers, reading circles, newspaper messengers, cliché establishments, etc.”. It also said: “The transport issue is always topical, also for you. You don't need the wagon all the time, small goods often have to get there or there very quickly. Yes, on two wheels you are really in the lead even in the heaviest traffic. ”And another advantage was highlighted:“ ... but use the chance that a Hercules Lastboy can be driven by any apprentice, the moped is enough - Driving license 5. “Despite the offer to different traders, almost all Lastboys were delivered to the Deutsche Bundespost.

Others

In the postal service, the Lastboy was also driven with a trailer.

Remarks

↑ The information on tire size varies depending on the source.

Individual evidence

↑ site Postmoped.de . Retrieved July 25, 2020.
↑ Data sheet 2-speed engine . Retrieved July 25, 2020.
↑ site Postmoped.de : The post practice 8/1968 and magazine of Posts and Telecommunications 22/1969. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
↑ Sachs data sheet No. 315.12 / 3, 3-speed motor . Retrieved July 25, 2020.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e operating instructions for HERCULES transport moped "Lastboy", print number 600 668 u.
^ Post-technical information freight moped, make Herkules [sic!], Type Lastboy, February 1968, edition B.
↑ Hercules Lastboy sales brochure . Retrieved July 25, 2020.

[7] The information on tire size varies depending on the source.

[1] site Postmoped.de . Retrieved July 25, 2020.

[2] Data sheet 2-speed engine . Retrieved July 25, 2020.

[3] site Postmoped.de : The post practice 8/1968 and magazine of Posts and Telecommunications 22/1969. Retrieved July 25, 2020.

[4] Sachs data sheet No. 315.12 / 3, 3-speed motor . Retrieved July 25, 2020.

[Anleitung-5] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e operating instructions for HERCULES transport moped "Lastboy", print number 600 668 u.

[6] Post-technical information freight moped, make Herkules [sic!], Type Lastboy, February 1968, edition B.

[Prospekt-8] Hercules Lastboy sales brochure . Retrieved July 25, 2020.