classic motorcycle forum

Sorry Bomber.
A mean trick really!
It is actually a scrapped Triumph Vitesse which I re-bodied back in 1984. Just because I like the looks of those similar MGs. (TF model)
With a 2 litre engine it is still a match in performance for most modern cars of its dimensions - and a hell of a lot more fun!
Even many MG enthusiasts get confused by it.
Which reminds me. It is due for its 39th MOT in this guise at the end of this month.
Jim.

Of course it is a Morgan!
How anyone could confuse it with a Riley is beyond me!
Jim.

Thanks very much L.A.B.
Of course the coil will need swapping anyway and these days they are usually marked + and - rather than CB and SW as they used to be.
I realise the ammeter wires will need swapping over too if changing earth polarity. I have in the past changed earth polarity on many cars with dynamos, but never a motorbike with a permanent magnet alternator with lighting switch controlled output.
The only reason for considering -ve earth is to permit easier wiring of LEDs in order to ease the load on limited alternator output so that a more powerful headlamp bulb may be fitted.
I very much appreciate your reply. You have helped me out before. But not recently because a year of mishaps, starting with a stroke and culminating in seven broken ribs caused by driving into the side of a car which tried to execute an un-signalled "U" turn as I was overtaking it. Severely curtailing my motorcycle activities and also visits to the forum.
A  lesson learned there! Fluorescent jackets seem to be invisible to some people!
Jim.

Also watch suppressed  plug caps on mags they can give problems

Many people seem to think that a spark at the plug in air is a good enough test.
In fact many times that voltage is required to cause a spark at the plug electrodes under compression. Suppressed plug caps and supression plug leads increase the required voltage even further. Air gap testing tools are available. A typical airgap test for a car is around 1cm. Your B31 is probably quite low compression ratio, but I have no idea of the minimum air gap required to test.
Jim 

A thing to remember here is that probably every classic bike manufacturer (and probably moderns too) did not make ball and roller bearings but simply BOUGHT IN AND USED BEARINGS ALREADY LISTED FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
So. Quite commonly, any decent bearing stockists can usually supply a matching bearing if you have the old one with numbers on it.
As far back as I can remember, I have never bought kits of bearings or bearings etc. packed in vehicle manufacturers boxes (including cars). If you do you are adding another agent (the vehicle manufacturer) into the cost.
The latest bearings bought from my local (general) bearing stockist include Triumph 5TA (1959) front wheel bearings, A Triumph Herald (1968) gearbox bearing and wheel bearings for a 1951 Austin FX2 Taxi. Oh. And a few oil seals too! Surprisingly cheap as well. The same man once supplied me with a water pump bearing for a 1.5 BMC diesel, unobtainable at any price from BMC dealers (though a kit was available for about £50 and a re-conditioned pump for £110). He charged me £9!
Jim.

I have decided to have a convalescent holiday (after my bike crash) and rather fancy Madeira. The scenery looks stunning, but since I cannot yet walk too far, some kind of transport is desireable.
Any advice about hiring a two wheeler (or perhaps even four wheels) welcome.
I realise that Madeira is Portuguese and will probably have regulations similar to Portugal, but s there anything I need to be careful about?
Jim

Well Jim, I thought you were coming to Spain, presumably you never made it?

That was when the bike packed up. Only five miles from home (having done over a thousand trouble free miles in the previous two weeks). I was absolutely distraught.
However, two days later I had a mini-stroke which landed me in Hospital. Perhaps a good job I did not make the ferry. Though very disappointing.
Since then I have been back in hospital with a lung infection and then again with the broken ribs. All in 3 months! The broken ribs robbed me of a weekend in Wales with The Ariel Club too. That would have been my third year with a splendid group of chaps.
Not a good year!
Thanks for the thought.
Jim.

I was thinking of Construction and Use Regulations (or whatever they are called now). not M.O.T. testing.
There definitely used to be regulations regarding protective measures over exposed road wheels.
Jim.