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Messages - iansoady

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406
British Bikes / Re: 1952 Norton ES2 spark plug
« on: July 19, 2018, 10:04:02 AM »
Many thanks all.

I agree 5/8" does seem a lot - it equates to 42 degrees or so but I'll try it at that and see how it goes. Possibly after breaking my ankle......

The plug issue came to light when I bought one from the Green Sparkplug Co, which was short reach which I wasn't expecting and then checked in the manuals. I have a suitable long reach item to use. There was a thread in the NOC forum but it petered out with no firm conclusions.

I'm taking my time over this (and holidays and enjoying good riding weather keep intervening) so it will be a while before I can show any improved photos. This is the tank (before and after) which I painted and lined during the winter. I have fixed the slight bleeding of the lines!





407
British Bikes / 1952 Norton ES2 spark plug
« on: July 18, 2018, 05:43:02 PM »
I generally consider myself quite competent with old bikes but confess to being flummoxed here. All the handbooks for my ES2 including the one by Edgar Franks who was responsible for much of the design detail, suggest that it should have a 1/2" reach plug (Lodge H14 etc). However, the threaded hole in the head is 3/4" long and a standard long reach plug fits fine without hitting piston crown or valves. Cast iron head by the way.

I can't imagine that such an error would have been perpetuated (but having written user manuals myself I know how an incorrect statement can be carried over from version to version). But if I fit a short reach plug, (a) the spark will be happening far from where the mixture is, and (b) the lower threads will get caked in carbon.

I'm still at a fairly early stage with the engine and have just correctly timed the ignition (which was 5/16" BTDC instead of 5/8"). I haven't run it with this setting but when I started it on the 5/16" position with a short reach plug there was lots of missing. Not carburetter as I've gone through that carefully.

Any observations?

408
British Bikes / Re: Need New Head Gasket
« on: July 18, 2018, 11:00:09 AM »
That would be OK with an OHV engine with an annulus but I don't believe it would work with a side valve.

Copper (well annealed) would be my route, as well as making sure that all the head studs and nuts were in good condition. It may also be worth flatting the head (I assume cast iron) on some fine wet and dry neld on a flat surface (I find MDF is flat enough).

I also use a very thin coat of Wellseal despite people telling me I shouldn't. It was the only thing that stopped the weep from the pushrod tunnels on my Commando.

409
British Bikes / Re: Misfire on Triton
« on: July 15, 2018, 10:05:34 AM »
I'd start with the usual - swapping components from one side to the other to see if the problem moves with them. I don't know about RITA but Boyers were notorious for problems with the connections to the pickup coils, especially on Commandos. But that showed up on both cylinders rather than just one.

410
European and Other Bikes / Re: Griffon G80 (Peugot P108)
« on: July 10, 2018, 04:30:12 PM »
C&D Autos when they were in Acocks Green used to sell big bags of nuts & bolts that seemed to have found their way under the fence from Armoury Road.

411
European and Other Bikes / Re: Griffon G80 (Peugot P108)
« on: July 10, 2018, 10:48:35 AM »
Even so, got to be better than the fake patina that seems fashionable these days.

eg: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kawasaki-w800-Brat-Style-Custom-Cafe-Racer-Bobber-Scrambler-Kevils-Speed-Shop/113140599970

And using metric fasteners is increasingly common in this country. I have no idea why as the proper stuff is easily obtainable and no more expensive.

412
British Bikes / Re: Losing power when in high gears
« on: July 03, 2018, 10:08:01 AM »
I agree with Rex and TR90GB (ps I preferred my 2.5PI with manual /overdrive - when it was running!). It's probable you've actually got it timed on full retard. I would guess (but check the manual) that it should be of the order of 1/2" BTDC when fully advanced.

413
British Bikes / Re: Best use ever for an old Indian Enfield?
« on: July 03, 2018, 10:03:28 AM »
Only if he can make a profit out of them.......

414
British Bikes / Re: Best use ever for an old Indian Enfield?
« on: June 30, 2018, 10:10:33 AM »
I was in the dentist's waiting room the other day and there was a TV with one of those "money saving" type programmes. Someone was chucking away a lovely Woden 6" bench vice. What did the "expert" team do with it? Turned it in to an (exceptionally ugly) wall lamp........

415
Japanese Bikes / Re: spark plugs
« on: June 25, 2018, 10:21:43 AM »
Interesting article.

416
Japanese Bikes / Re: spark plugs
« on: June 24, 2018, 10:09:23 AM »
As I understand it, older plugs had a "gloss" finish to the insulator nose inside the body of the plug, which allowed for cleaning. Modern ones have a matt finish and once fouled are almost impossible to clean so are effectively scrap.

417
British Bikes / Re: b.s.a.c15 gearchange spring anchor bolt
« on: June 15, 2018, 05:22:19 PM »
A thread gauge will only cost you a few quid and is invaluable for this sort of thing. Together with a cheap digital caliper you can be sure about what you're dealing with.

418
British Bikes / Re: what is the purple oil in my BSA RGS
« on: June 10, 2018, 01:31:38 PM »
When I drained the gearbox oil from my Guzzi V50 I was shocked to find it a violent pink colour. Apparently it was some very expensive shock-proof stuff which I'd never heard of before.

Refilled with ordinary gear oil and it seems fine to me.

419
Japanese Bikes / Re: yamaha ds5 engine
« on: May 16, 2018, 12:30:20 PM »
Aren't they pegged? Ring gaps on 2 strokes can be misleading.

420
British Bikes / Re: 1970 750 oil Pump Removal
« on: May 15, 2018, 09:55:28 AM »
Interceptor. Come on lads, wake up.

You assume we actually pay any attention to the posters' names and remember what else they've asked......

He did see fit to put the year & capacity in the heading so it would have required little effort to include the model.

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