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Messages - Mark M

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31
Japanese Bikes / Re: Honda cb175k6, 1972 re-build
« on: September 25, 2020, 10:44:04 AM »
That sounds like late 6 volt Lucas systems fitted to British bikes with alternators. The alternator can only produce alternating current (AC) by design and batteries must have direct current (DC) to charge so the designers make the alternator feed all the rest of the electrical system via a rectifier which turns AC into DC. The variation in output as alternator speed rises isn't very great on a 6v system so the bulbs and horn can cope with the small potential over-voltage. This is doubled in a 12 v system so more likely to blow bulbs and boil batteries, therefore the need for a regulator to prevent over charging. Designers could use a CVC (Compensated voltage control) box as on cars of the era but these were better suited to dynamo systems as well as expensive and don't really like being in the hostile environment of a motorcycle! Semiconductor electronics had yet to arrive of course. So they did it on the cheap by balancing load to supply and losing the excess current as heat via the battery and bulbs.
Warning! Some parts of this explanation have been simplified!
REgards, Mark

32
Japanese Bikes / Re: Honda cb175k6, 1972 re-build
« on: September 23, 2020, 01:22:04 PM »
Thanks for that explanation, I'm not planning anything similar but all restoration tips are useful!
Looking forward to the finished result,
REgards, Mark

33
Japanese Bikes / Re: Honda cb175k6, 1972 re-build
« on: September 23, 2020, 09:08:28 AM »
Very good work, congratulations. Out of curiosity, was it necessary to make the silicone mould box so complete, ie with such high sides? Or is that because you had to fully immerse the original and then cut it out?
REgards, Mark

34
Identify these bikes! / Re: My grandfathers bike
« on: July 29, 2020, 08:36:59 AM »
Looks like a Noxal sidecar, a pretty much identical one sold by Bonhams in 2006 here: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/14255/lot/575/  although Bonhams cautiously say 'make unknown' as 30s sidecars can be difficult to identify.
REgards, Mark

35
I seem to recall "Rasselas" who used to write in The Classic Motorcycle (or maybe it was Titch Allen,) saying that the BF series came out in the 30s and many owners rejected it because BF (bloody fool) was quite a strong insult at the time? Or maybe that's a load of BS - these little bits of social history can be either rubbish or quite illuminating! Certainly the BF series was commonly used a few years back as an age related number for pre-War machines that were either victims of number plate strippers or otherwise re-registered.
REgards, Mark

36
British Bikes / Re: Part Suppliers for 1969 Meriden Triumph TR6
« on: June 13, 2020, 08:44:06 AM »
I'm with you 33d6. I volunteer for tech help in a one make club. The enquiries I get are (so far at least) are genuine but the dearth of information supporting the question is shocking. I don't want to spend my evenings typing yet another email asking for basic info. It's almost as if the questioner has made their mind up about the answer and doesn't want you to question their judgement! The price they are asking for some unseen bike they are 'thinking of selling' for instance...
REgards, Mark

37
British Bikes / Re: T100 68 lighting problem
« on: June 02, 2020, 11:33:36 AM »
What did I say???
REgards, Mark

38
British Bikes / Re: T100 68 lighting problem
« on: May 21, 2020, 10:19:16 AM »
I wouldn't assume the ammeter is working properly, I recently had one that only showed a discharge and wouldn't move above the 0 mark into the + zone. It came from my box of electrical parts which is stocked from garage clearouts and the like so I've no idea of it's age or provenance I'm afraid. I didn't bother to open it, after substitution proved it was faulty I threw it.
REgards, Mark

39
British Bikes / Anyone recognise this footrest?
« on: May 15, 2020, 07:37:02 PM »
I have a handed pair of these folding footrests that I think may be Enfield. The multi-hexagon fitting at the frame end certainly says Enfield and is the right 1/2" size. The pedal part, I'm not so sure. The rubbers are Enfield India ones but discount those. I'm hoping to fit hem (or something more correct) to a US export Scrambler model made in small numbers so no parts books and only the usual low resolution catalogue pictures to go on.
Any ideas please!
REgards, Mark

40
British Bikes / Re: bsa c15
« on: May 15, 2020, 08:56:28 AM »
Holes like these are usually for some sort of bracket or rubber grommet for the front brake cable to stop it rubbing the paint or chrome, or getting trapped when the forks compress. (I found this out on a Trials bike once.) Japanese bikes with front wheel speedo drives usually route the speedo cable the same way.
REgards, Mark

41
British Bikes / Re: Anyone recognise this TLS front brake?
« on: May 14, 2020, 09:07:28 AM »
Well I think Andy has it. All the details look correct with the exception of the cooling scoop slots. These are explicable though, there appears to be a screw-on cover plate on the roadster model and this might easily hide the slots underneath. Similarly, Norton TLS brakes were fitted with a blanking plate inside which could presumably be removed by the go-faster set!
Thanks Andy, (and everyone else,)
REgards, Mark

42
British Bikes / Re: Anyone recognise this TLS front brake?
« on: May 13, 2020, 08:58:41 AM »
R, I wondered that too but didn't have enough experience to go on
REgards, Mark

43
British Bikes / Re: Anyone recognise this TLS front brake?
« on: May 11, 2020, 08:47:14 AM »
R, yes, it's not standard that's for sure. I did find some pictures of Honda twins in classic racing in the US fitted with this brake and they implied (but weren't specific,) that the brakes (both front and rear,) were race kit items. I know what you mean about Grimeca but the beautifully cast on torque stay says that it was intended for specific fitment, I'd have expected a more generic stay mounting stud for an accessory item. Anyway, owner hasn't come back to me, I'd expect the castings to have an HM logo or Honda wing motif somewhere? Did they do this in the 60s I wonder?
REgards, Mark

44
British Bikes / Re: Anyone recognise this TLS front brake?
« on: May 10, 2020, 09:08:33 AM »
The owner has now been informed that it is a Honda brake from a racer. I did a bit of Google-ing and iindeed, that does seem to be right, it seems to have been fitted to the CB77 but whether this was a race kit item I can't establish.
REgards, Mark

45
British Bikes / Re: Anyone recognise this TLS front brake?
« on: May 09, 2020, 09:12:31 AM »
Good thinking R. That does look similar. I think the design looks Grimeca but what makes me think it is a specific fitting is the beautiful cast on torque stay. You'll note the amateurish strip steel replacement in the picture! It came fitted to a Continental GT and the owner wants to restore to standard. The GT wears an 18" front wheel (not sure if this rim actually is,)  if that helps for scale. There are no markings on the outside, the owner is stripping it to examine the interior. I will post again,
REgards, Mark

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