classic motorcycle forum

If it's more than 40 years old I think you can just change the taxation class to "Historic Vehicle" on the V5C. I've just gone throght the process of first registration of a 1958 bike and it was relatively easy. Don't be scared of DVLA - there's a lot of uninformed scare stories about them.

I have never understood why the Amal tuning procedure starts with the main jet, which as you say isn't used until wide open throttle. I always start with a main jet I know to be too big and go through the process of setting up idle mixture screw, cutaway and needle in that order before even considering main jet.

People wlays talk about increasing main jet size when they fit a less restrictive exhaust system but unless they go everywhere with the twistgrip on the stop - and by the sound of it many do round here - that seems a bit pointless to me.

If you do as suggested by R and use a pencil or such through the plug hole you'll find that there are 2 top dead centres. One of these should have a clearance on both valves (the end of the compression stroke), the other should have no clearance (end of the exhaust stroke). Make sure you're checking on the right one.

7mm full advance doesn't sound  much to me - but you can wrtite what I know about these bikes on a postage stamp.

I really don't think you should be trying to imitate the original stamping as (a) it could be considered fraudulent and (b) it's unlikely it would pass any but the most cursory inspection. You say it's a replacement engine so presumably you still have the original. If the crankcases are unusable then I suppose you could use the number from them and stamp your replacement - but not trying to emulate original. If they're OK then why not build the engine up using them?

The days of merrily stamping odd crankcases up are long gone and possibly a good thing too.

RC arrived at my local library yesterday. Remarkably uninformative (and uninformed) as usual from Mr Miles - eg the comments about banana forks (those fitted aren't) and that only certain frames are suitable for Triumph engines (all the pre-65 or so frames are OK). I was hoping for some useful hints & tips.....

Slowly cracking on with dry engine build while I wait for date confirmation documents so I can register it. Yesterday I ground in the valves and was rewarded by no leakage when all assembled. I did have to remove some pitting from the exhausts by putting them in the lathe and using a hand-held dremel with a small grinding stone.

Thanks John, I might try that. I've tracked down all the Britton articles and compiled them into a word document. He does make heavy weather of some things, and much of it is frame stuff which has no interest for me but useful all the same.

Something else I've found really useful is a set of youtube videos by a bloke called Michael Waller. He built a Triumph Otter so rebuilt the (500cc unit) engine which again is very useful to me. He's here: https://youtu.be/Q4tNS8rHKmY

I've weeded out the Triumph parts. I've found almost enough to build a 350 engine and have sold a fair bit of surplus on ebay and elsewhere. I'm taking the residue to HJ Pugh who will include the bits in their April auction.

In other news I've been visited by a Greeves Riders' Association machine examiner who's happy my bike (with its Villiers engine) is pukka and the club is in the process of issuing a dating certificate so I can register it. I need to keep it more or less standard until I've gone through that process.