Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - JFerg

Pages: 1 ... 8 9 [10] 11
136
British Bikes / Re: Battery exploded and set my bike on fire.
« on: June 09, 2010, 07:36:07 AM »
Oh dear oh dear oh dear.

You have my deepest and most profound sympathies; my Guzzi Le Mans self imolated some time ago after a backfire, so I know what it's like.  Mine was a total, abject, complete and utter loss.

What sort of ignition system did you have?

My Guzzi had a very exotic and expensive ignition system that ran at crankshaft speed, providing a lovely fat spark at the fixed advance point before the top of the exhaust stroke, as well as on the compression stroke.  Of course "valve overlap" means that the inlet valve opens before the end of the exhaust stroke.  In my case, I primed it, cranked it, and it didn't start, but came to rest with the left cylinder at the top of the exhaust stroke.  The spark ignited the fuel-air mix in the chamber, which blew back through the part open inlet valve, causing the very rich mixture in and around the carb to ignite, blowing the filter off and spreading flaming mixture everywhere.  Furious engine cranking would not come close to sucking the inferno into the hole, so I hastily dismounted.  Ultimately it burnt the tyres off the rims, and the only casting apparently unaffected was the rear bevel box.  The engine and gearbox, castings melted,  could be described as comprehensively rooted.

This is not a new phenomenon.   It is a special feature of crankshaft speed ignitions when used in conjunction with the Otto cycle.  No, Bob, this is not supposed to be a Villiers advertisement!!  My 1933 New Imperial uses (as did many lightweights of the thirties) a crankshaft speed ignition, but was also fitted with a flame trap from new.  Although technically called a "Strangler" for starting purposes, it is in fact a Davy Lamp.


JFerg

137
Identify these bikes! / Re: What is this 3 wheeler ?
« on: May 30, 2010, 07:35:48 AM »
The giveaway here is the tiller steering.

This looks like the remains of an invalid carriage.  WW1 saw the first use of high explosive ordnance, and produced thousands of returned servicemen with missing limbs.  Custom built invalid carriages gave these blokes mobility.  They were either manual powered or used small engines and were geared for walking speed; a forerunner of the modern "mobility scooter".

Doubtless there were major players in this market, buy I suspect that many were locally fabricated to suit teh specific needs of the local returned man.

JFerg

138
Identify these bikes! / Re: Identifying a Matchless bike
« on: May 07, 2010, 04:52:09 AM »
Rigid, black painted forks, iron head, pressed headlight brackets make it a 1949 model, either 500 or 350cc.

And it looks quite new.

JFerg

139
European and Other Bikes / Re: Moto Guzzi novice
« on: May 02, 2010, 10:16:07 PM »
George,

With later Guzzis identification is easy, and information prolific.

Engine and frame numbers are the key.  They won't match as such, but should have the same prefix.  A Le Mans MkI is in the range VE 11111 - VE 17311, while a MkII is VE 17312 - VE24086.

MkI Le Mans are sought after, and always have been.  As a result, very often later models are "onerised" to make them look like Mk Is.  Mechanically, and externally, there is not much obvious difference.  You need to be very careful to correctly identify it.  Mind you, if it's cheap you can't go too far wrong.  All of the "round fin" Guzzis are externally similar, and plenty of touring model SP have been made into MkI look alikes.

Early V twins are long-lived, with 500,000km not uncommon without huge work.  Engine rebuilds are usually a matter of new barrels and pistons, an easy job done sitting beside the thing on a box.  Original 850cc barrels are not so easily available any more, mainly because the larger bore 1000cc barrels are a direct fit.  More torque, re-jetting required, and not as sweet running, but easy and relatively cheap.

cheers, and good luck,
JFerg

140
British Bikes / Re: brooks saddle
« on: March 29, 2010, 09:17:39 PM »
My New Imp has a Dunlop rubber saddle.  These are a moulded piece of rubber in the shape of the saddle, supported across the rear by a frame section and at the nose by a hinged assembly.  These two frame sections are joined together (or more probably held apart) by a "V" shaped wire spring.  Loops formed in the ends of the "V" bolt to the rear frame section, and conventional saddle springs bolt to plates close to them.  It's a very comfy seat, and didn't leave me with black clothes as I expected it would.

Reproduction rubber tops are available in the UK.  Mine came through a mate so I don't know the precise origin, but I believe it was a "small trials saddle".

cheers,
JFerg

141
www.thetankshop.com

Beautiful, hand crafted, fine workmanship and he can make precisely what you want.

It might take a year or so.  He is in great demand, but for a good reason.  The wait is worth it.

JFerg

142
The Classic Biker Bar / Re: ALUMINIUM TANK FOR MOTO GUZZI
« on: March 19, 2010, 04:37:52 AM »
I recently had a tank for my Le Mans made by John at www.thetankshop.com in Scotland.

Very, very beautiful work, fair price, but it took a year.  Seems that if you want the handcraft, this is how long it takes regardless of who actually makes it.  By this I mean that I know of several other people who will make an alloy tank, but they all take a year or more.

good luck,

John Ferguson

143
The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Bike purchase and delivery dangers!
« on: February 24, 2010, 01:10:43 AM »
Some of us are ok, in fact probably the very great majority, it's just that there are enough mongrels to spoil it.

I recently bought a bike from Wolverhampton (over 12,000 miles away) on the basis of some email photos, a very happy deal.  The vendor was sort of known to some at the far end of the network, however, so I never even considered the scope for fraud. 

It's not sufficient reason to not trade by correspondence, so long as you are careful, do truly apply "due dilligence" and are not merely smitten and love-struck.

cheers,
JFerg

144
The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Bike purchase and delivery dangers!
« on: February 22, 2010, 11:45:19 PM »
Relatively recently there was a bike advertised, a weird make that was recognised by the cogniscenti as one that had changed hands several years earlier.  Deceased estate, usual perfectly plausible story.  Nice photos, but a bit short on detail, and the further details could not be readily provided because the bike was allegedly in Scilly.  All fairly reasonable; except the bike was not for sale at all.  Some enterprising creep had found photos from when it was sold previously and set up a scam.

I'd be seeing it first if there is any doubt.

JFerg

145
Autojumble / 1929 Lucas H52 Headlight
« on: February 04, 2010, 05:34:43 AM »
I've had this thing for years, and it became surplus to requirements when I acquired the correct BTH.

This is the first variant H52, with the ammeter in the apex and a separate switch.  Quiet good nick considering the age of it.

Anyway, I've just posted it on eBay (Australia) if anyone is interested.

cheers,
JFerg

146
European and Other Bikes / Re: To Britanny...
« on: January 17, 2010, 08:14:30 PM »
Nomi,

Yes, there's lots of us here, it is just that not so many people outside of France know much about early French bikes.

Your Terrot looks like a good get; do you have the tank and front wheel as well?

regards,

JFerg

147
British Bikes / Re: new imperial
« on: December 18, 2009, 01:56:28 AM »
George,

Lucky man having a spring frame model; that's what we're all lusting for....

JFerg
'36 M36
'33 M30
'28 M7
'26 M6A
Founding member, NIOA

148
British Bikes / Re: new imperial
« on: December 11, 2009, 12:51:40 AM »
George,

If you're in touch with the NIOA, then that's as good as you will ever get.  They are a very good and helpful bunch.

JFerg

149
Identify these bikes! / Re: What year is this Excelsior
« on: September 29, 2009, 03:46:49 AM »
What you really need is a Villiers Nutter.
Unfortunately the resident VN, Bob, is still on vacation, but give him a week and you'll have a syruppy waxing of glee from him,  Excelsiors are his especial favourite!
JFerg

150
Identify these bikes! / Re: unknown engine
« on: February 10, 2009, 05:38:41 AM »
I'd put my money on a mower or garden tractor of some sort.

The front pushrod tube would block critical airflow in a bike application, and who would want to set those points when they'd be tucked in behind the front guard?

The real giveaway, though, is the port arrangement.  Quite why you'd go to the trouble and expense of OHV, and then defeat the main advantage of it by using right angle ports, I do not know.  New Imperial tried it once, and quickly abandoned it.  So why do it?  The one advantage that the right angle inlet tract would allow would be a close-fitting cowling around the engine, perhaps feeding around a fan on the flywheel.

Points ignition obviously needs a battery, yet there are no signs of a generator or any mechanism for starting.  Bet they were somehow tied in with the transmission, an electric start.  Any 350cc mower would be a beast, whatever it's from must have had a powered drive.

cheers,
JFerg

Pages: 1 ... 8 9 [10] 11