Jack Piner Identification

[Randy Lamp]

I just got the Penton bug again a few weeks ago. It has been over thirty years since I purchased my new 175CC Jack Piner and raced it for two motocross seasons. Thanks to some of the POG members,I have been able to locate a few Jack Piners that are for sale in the area,but I am having trouble figuring out what year my bike was.

In the past few weeks ,I somehow came to the conclusion that only the first year ,1972 Jack Piners had black engine cases? If that is true then my originall guess was correct. I thought my Jack Piner was a 1972 model and after looking at some old photographs, that was confirmed in that it did have black cases.

So my first question is, was my original assumption about the black cases accurate?

I also wanted to know if there is anyway to trace my old bike down, or at least find out what bike I had? I wondered if the dealers submitted information to the Penton factory on who purchased their bikes just in case they had a recall of some sort or a product up date bulitin to send out.When I quite racing ,I  got rid of everything.

I guess there is always a chance that my old bike is sitting in someones garage or someplace and that ,I could actually find it someday,if I only had the serial numbers.It is a long shot ,I know ,but it is a piece of my history that would be really great to have back.

Even if I don't end up with a Jack Piner of some sort in my garage, I really enjoy the POG site and the members have been very helpful.

Randy Lamp

[firstturn]

Randy,
  The '72 Jackpiner had a "all" black engine that included.  The best ways to learn the difference is go back to the home page and look under production years and it is the best souce for learning the Pentons.  As to dealer files I don't think you will have any luck unless you find the original dealer and they still have their files.  I know your thought pattern about legality on updates and recalls, but since technically Penton didn't sell street legal bikes the federal government didn't require mmuch in the way of National Traffic Highway documents.  Good luck on finding your bike and remember it doesn't hurt to try and back track the area you bought or sold it.

Ron Carbaugh

[Randy Lamp]

Thanks for your post Ron.The cycle shop is still in business,in name at least. I purchased the bike here in Ohio at Mathias Cycle Sales in Dover Ohio. I called today and they were very helpful.They said they would  have a look and see how far back their records go. I guess you never know,but they are pretty much a BMW dealer only at this point so I am not holding my breath or anything.

They told me the original Mathias dealership started in 1973,but I suppose they could have still had a first year Penton Jack Piner on the floor.  Maybe mine was a 1973, I can't be sure ,but it did have an all black engine.

rhl

[firstturn]

Randy,
  I will tell you after helping people try and find a bike a show of appreciation such as stopping by with donuts, fresh cookies etc. for everyone in the shop or some other type of thank you to let them know trying to find the records is appreciated.  Tell your Friends about the shop for their kindness.....kindness has a way of being contagious.  My think my Father always tried to have me take the high road and this dealership is Pro Active.[8D]   Oh, and by the way looking thru old records isn't any fun.

Ron Carbaugh

[crash carden]

Hello Randy, the 72 & 73 Penton Jackpiners both had the black engines with full side covers. In spring of 1973 I bought my first Penton a new 73 Jackpiner, raced two seasons and In the fall of 1974 I sold it. Then 28 years later thanks to the POG website I found my original Jackpiner, and it was only 25 miles from my home stored in a clean dry heated basement. It was completly tore down but it was all there and in good condition. So I bought it back and did a complete restoration and it started on the thrid kick!  The bike was in the 3th owners hands and I ask who he bought it from and it was the guy I had sold it to back in 1974.The guy I sold it to lost the title but he  never plated the bike, so when I went to get plates for it the title was still in my name. So don't give up you may well find your old bike and beleive me it is a cool thing to have your first Penton back in your hands again.[8D] As you might guess I will never sell this bike again. I hope you are able to locate your old Jackpiner,good luck. Crash Carden GO TEAM PENTON!

[Rocket]

Randy
Probably the biggest difference in the 72 and 73 models was the 72 had the Amal carb and the 73 had the Bing.  The 73's also came with plastic fenders and the kickstand mounted on the side of the swingarm instead of underneath.  I would imagine some of the first 73's still had some leftover 72 equipment on them, carb, fenders, etc.
Oh yeah, welcome to the "group"!!
Rocket

[Randy Lamp]

I took Rons advise and looked at the production information on the POG site. It confirmed that both the 72 and 73 Jack Piners had balck engine cases but that only the 72 model came with the aluminum fenders. I would also guess that some left over parts ended up on 1973 models as well. My bike had aluminum fenders but it still could have been a 1973 model.

Thanks for all the help. I now know of two people that were able to find their old Pentons after twenty or more years.Crash Cardens being the second story like that.Maybe someone will see my post and remember buying the bike from me and contct me with more information. The internet makes it a very small world when it comes to this sort of thing.

rhl