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Messages - iansoady

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691
British Bikes / Re: oil tank cleaning
« on: September 14, 2015, 11:53:24 AM »
Actually caustic soda is still widely available from Wilkinsons etc.

If you'd grown up as I did in the pit villages of County Durham and seen some of the horrendous injuries caused by the lack of a "nanny state" maybe you'd be less flippant about genuine health and safety concerns.

692
Identify these bikes! / Re: what have i got here then
« on: September 12, 2015, 12:01:46 PM »
It's always worth having a chat with Allan Hitchcock as he has used spares as well as all Gander & Gray's and other nos stock. Nice chap as well.

693
British Bikes / Re: oil tank cleaning
« on: September 11, 2015, 10:24:16 AM »
Some years ago I (expensively) wrecked a Triumph Stag engine. I'd foolishly had the cam covers bead blasted and powder coated. What I hadn't realised was that there was a wire mesh oil separator inside one of them. This collected beads to later distribute them through the engine. The state of the oil pump had to be seen to be believed. It's amazing how much damage glass can cause.

Since then I would think several times before having any internal parts blasted.

694
British Bikes / Re: Rare for all the wrong reasons
« on: August 29, 2015, 10:00:54 AM »
I've been to Malvern a few times and it's not that good (mind you very few autojumbles are worth the trip these days).

695
British Bikes / Re: Rare for all the wrong reasons
« on: August 28, 2015, 12:59:43 PM »
I actually think it looks much nicer than the Vincent although perhaps won't go as well....

A pal of mine in the 70s had a Black Prince as well as a Rapide and a Shadow (when they were affordable) and I always prefered the look of the naked bikes.

696
British Bikes / Re: Rare for all the wrong reasons
« on: August 28, 2015, 10:14:07 AM »
Remember the prototype Ariel Leader with a laid down straight 4 engine a bit like the BMW K series (but decades ahead of it)?

697
British Bikes / Re: Vintage white wall tyres.
« on: August 18, 2015, 11:55:39 AM »
I know the VMCC is not popular with some here but their library is a superb resource. They have indexed copies of both The Motor Cycle and Motor Cycling (as well as lots of others) in bound volumes and will photocopy pages for a small fee (not sure if this is available to non-members).

But you do need to be careful with the pictures in the reports - for instance the lubrication system on my Sunbeam is entirely different to the pictures in the magazines and in Bob Cordon Champ's book, although the same as on the two restored examples I've seen pictures of.

698
British Bikes / Re: ariel 500 pistons
« on: August 10, 2015, 09:59:52 AM »
Quote from: mini-me on August 09, 2015, 06:49:36 PM

Also in a well run in  motor STP works well for me, whether its snake oil or not.

But unless you do a true double blind trial you never know if it's working or not.

699
British Bikes / Re: ariel 500 pistons
« on: August 09, 2015, 10:23:25 AM »
I thought the split was at the front as on the firing stroke the reaction from the combustion pressure acts on the rear of the piston / bore. I can't find a reference for this though.

700
British Bikes / Re: ariel 500 pistons
« on: August 08, 2015, 02:19:16 PM »
Dunno about Ariels, but Norton Commandos were fitted with the split type for a while and were notorious for dismantling themselves along the horizontal slot just below the oil ring land.

I believe the vertical split was intended to reduce piston slap.

701
British Bikes / Re: any vintage sunbeam fans on here?
« on: August 07, 2015, 10:05:56 AM »
I agree I would prefer to keep the originals and look forward to the article. Even if I did replace them I would keep the original items for any future owner.

I wonder why you refuse to post in the other place (apart from the usual infuriating know-it-alls of course). My experience is that there are some genuine and knowledgeable folk there.

702
Site Feedback / Re: Classified ads?
« on: August 06, 2015, 01:28:08 PM »
Many thanks. I'd assumed it was within the forum section like others.

703
Site Feedback / Classified ads?
« on: August 04, 2015, 12:12:04 PM »
The autojumble section says use the classified ads section to sell whole bikes. But I can't find it......

704
British Bikes / Re: Is your classic too valuable to use?
« on: July 18, 2015, 03:24:48 PM »
I think the VMCC like lots of clubs has changed over the years as the bikes have become more "valuable". When it started (and certainly when I was first involved in the 70s), most old bikes cost barely more than scrap value. As usual, where there's a scent of money, the vultures move in.

I spent a very useful day at the VMCC library this week researching my Sunbeam - very nice, helpful people whether staff or ordinary members.

There have been innumerable rumours of dodgy this and that over the years but rarely if ever have these been substantiated AFAIK. The only thing I am definitely aware of was Annice Collett's departure from the library which did seem to smell a bit but I see that she has now become an honorary life member so hopefully that episode is over.

705
British Bikes / Re: any vintage sunbeam fans on here?
« on: July 16, 2015, 09:58:33 AM »
Yes it does say declared manufactured in 1931.

It would be nice to have a registration number in the correct format for the year ie XX 9999.

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