Recent Posts

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 10
1
The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Using relays to upgrade your headlight.
« Last post by R on July 08, 2025, 11:36:46 PM »
Quote from: Searchguru on July 08, 2025, 03:03:01 PM
Isn't the internet brilliant?

Yes and no ?
Yes in your case.

I was searching for something electrically technical recently. And was 'amused' to see some words (which I had penned)
spat back at me and in complete denial of what I had wrote. Ain't AI wunnerful ??
Its like having a logical argument with a 2 year old, on steroids !

With no way to correct it ?
2
The Classic Biker Bar / Re: Using relays to upgrade your headlight.
« Last post by Searchguru on July 08, 2025, 03:03:01 PM »
I'm about to fit relays to my, new to me, twin headlamped XTZ660 as I bought it converted to twin lights but it's not happy. I've tried to find my wiring diagram but after 18 years I don't seem to have it. I googled motorcycle headlights relay and this was the first thing that came up. Isn't the internet brilliant?
3
British Bikes / Re: Hot Start Problem
« Last post by R on July 07, 2025, 11:58:19 PM »
Good that you found it.
Must have been getting somewhat hot and bothered inside - hence the reluctance to start again.

The final proof will be in the fixing ....
4
British Bikes / Re: Hot Start Problem
« Last post by Billington on July 07, 2025, 10:44:19 PM »
I just put the bike on the lift and tried the old cigarette paper trick. It was not possible to remove the cigarette paper from between the points until the rubbing block was about 30° past the opening ramp! I did not set it like this, but I will correct this.

Strangely the bike does run okay like this, it simply has issues with hot starting.

Thank you again to those who have offer kind advice.

5
British Bikes / Re: Hot Start Problem
« Last post by john.k on July 06, 2025, 01:59:15 PM »
Probably best to be sure the magneto advance diection is still the same direction the maker intended ......I can tell by the change in exhaust note  if ignition advance is right.............the army bike instructors used to do a trick of flooding the M20 carby and kicking the bike on full advance .......the carby would catch fire and they would pretend not to notice ........then when the fire was getting a bit big,retard the mag ,kick the bike and suck all the flame into the carb.......they reckoned that the motor would always start with the carby on fire.
6
British Bikes / Re: Finding neutral
« Last post by john.k on July 06, 2025, 01:45:20 PM »
A late A10 should be alternator with the 4 spring Triumph cluctch....not the six spring pressed tin BSA clutch...........anyhhoo,people replace the clutch with a Suzuki one ,cant recall which ,but the swap is well documented.........Incidentally the dragging clutch will smash your gearbox gears apart.,and sharp gear chips will score the shafts.............To cure this problem ,I fitted an army beezer clutch ,this freed easily,but tended to slip under power.,just had to ride the bike sedately .............Anyhoo,when I sold the bike ,it lasted only one day , and was on the news that night..........he tried to pass a bus on the inside as it turned left .
7
British Bikes / Re: Finding neutral
« Last post by Rex on July 06, 2025, 09:34:56 AM »
I've set the pressure plate run-out with a DTI, and you don't get a squarer lift than that.
Into Neutral before rolling to a stop is pretty much essential on many old bikes.
8
British Bikes / Re: Villiers engine in 1930s Waratah
« Last post by cardan on July 06, 2025, 08:58:13 AM »
First, thanks 33d6. Do we need to know more or do we know enough? Nah, I think we know enough.

My best advice to Waratah owners with Waratah painted on the tank is to not re-paint it, or if you have to at least document the original paint. If your bike has original paint, R, at least we know that that particular bike had a double pin stripe. My guess is the Powerhouse Museum example has been repainted. It may have had a single stripe originally, but without documentation, hard to say.

Finally the "1934" 250. Nice and tidy. I'd question the date, because the alloy-head (three bolt) sports model was "all new" to Waratah in August 1935. So hard to date the "Waratah" aspect of the bike before 1935. But what if it has numbers in keeping with a 1934 Excelsior??? I'm putting that in the "i don't need to know" category!!

Cheers

Leon
9
British Bikes / Re: Finding neutral
« Last post by R on July 05, 2025, 11:31:10 PM »
Are you guys ensuring that the clutch lifts perfectly evenly and squarely ?

If it worse when hot, then things have expanded a bit.
Backing off the springs a shade may be required ?

Are you snicking into neutral in the last bit of rolling to a stop.
And tried changing the gearbox oil....

10
British Bikes / Re: Hot Start Problem
« Last post by Rex on July 05, 2025, 09:52:33 AM »
The OP could do the "quick and dirty" test to see if the problem doesn't lie with the mag or timing, namely set to TDC on comp stroke with lever fully retarded, then move lever incrementally advanced to find the best position and so prove the rest of the engine, carb etc.
If nowhere within that lever range produces a good running engine then you need to look elsewhere.
At full advance of the hand lever the timing will likely be too advanced so will need resetting at some point.
Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 10