What have you done with your bike/s today?

[BigJim]

Attended Bristol bike show today (yesterday, it's after midnight) on my A10. Great show hooked up with some mates. Had a major issue when it came to leave. Couldn't get the bike into neutral. The kickstart would not push down even with the clutch engaged (disengaged?). Was able to move bike so knew clutch was fine. Have had problems with the kickstart quad jamming and usually frees up by putting in gear and rocking bike. Not today! Being convinced that i am stuck in third i think why not give it a go and see if i can make it home through the busy city traffic. A nice gentleman on a t......h gave me a push to jumpstart, popped my lid on my head, put my gloves in my pocket and wished me good luck. Off i set through the crowds revving like mad and slipping the clutch. Managed to find top gear (my brain had melted at this point)  Pulling away from the lights and roundabouts was fun(?). Was only when i got onto a clear, fast road that my idiocy became clear. Guess who forgot which way the gears go? TWAT (seems to be the word of the day). All the time i had been failing to find neutral i had been in top stamping downwards (looking for 5th?). Stopping and starting became a lot easier when i worked out that i could find lower gears just by lifting the lever up a notch! Serves me right for considering taking an alternative vehicle (bmw). Will be checking primary chain tension on the morrow. Needed a few beers to help me learn to continue living with an idiot (T..T).

[muskrat]

Good one Glen.
Modern grips are for modern bikes that don't vibe let alone shake!

Went for 200 mile ride for lunch at Bermagui Pub. Guess what I forgot to do before leaving home??? PUT IN MY TEETH!!!!! Good job fish was on the menu!
Cheers

[RoyC]

PUT IN MY TEETH!!!!!

You'll have to change your handle to GUMMY BEAR.   

[Black Sheep]

Put in a couple of hundred miles in the Northern fastness but then got a puncture. Didn't quite have all I needed to fix it. Had to call out the recovery Van of Shame. Must review toolkit!

[RichardL]

Filling in for yesterday: adjusted valves, fitted valve covers, emptied sump.  changed oil and filter, dressed wires and hoses, trimmed one plug wire to correct length after discovering the plug cap was falling apart, replaced plugs, cut new rocker banjo gaskets from gasket stock, replaced tach cover screws and lock wire.

Today: wahsed and polsihed, rode 20 miles to local vintage bike show.

This moment. siitting inside the Triumph dealer where the show is happening and waiting for the judging results. Prediction: 2nd place BSA of nine, assuming one of the original or survivor A65's will win out over my bike, which some might think of as tarted-up.

LJ, are you sorry you asked?

I'm going to post some pics in a few minutes.

Richard L

[RichardL]

Update: did not place in show. Three places taken by A65s because they are so rare and hard to keep going. No, not bitter at all. I voted for the B50

Richard L.

[beezermacc]

Just starting my second project of the year. I thought I might build the engine first so had a good look at the crankcases, nothing to see really.... until I saw some PO had sawn the end off Popeye's pipe! I wasn't aware that there is a shortage of 5.5mm ball bearings! Why else would anybody do this? I spent half an hour on the lathe making a new end and brazed it on with 5.5mm ball installed. Will be sourcing a crank tomorrow, and helping a mate with squeaky fork springs so will spend the afternoon removing mice or slapping grease all over the place. Will report which was required tomorrow evening.

[kiwipom]

hi guys, beezermac can you explain( PO had sawn the end off Popeye's pipe!) cheers

[KiwiGF]

hi guys, beezermac can you explain( PO had sawn the end off Popeye's pipe!) cheers

I’ll have a guess.....the sump pick up pipe?

[beezermacc]

hi guys, beezermac can you explain( PO had sawn the end off Popeye's pipe!) cheers

I’ll have a guess.....the sump pick up pipe?

Correct! The bottom 4mm had been neatly sawn off so the ball bearing was missing but the horizontal bar which stops the ball bearing getting sucked up the pipe was still in place. I've no idea why anybody would do that. It was a good job I spotted it before assembling a bottom end without the anti-drain valve in place. For those who aren't aware, the purpose of this is to prevent the return side of the pump draining into the sump whilst standing. If the return side of the pump dries out completely there is the danger that it won't suck when the bike is started, a common problem on new rebuilds if you don't prime the pump properly.

[LJ.]

Nice to see this topic so busy, not sorry I asked at all. I find it a real source of encouragement to get on and do things, and you guys seem to be doing that just nicely.

What have I been up to? Well.... Nothing much with my A10s as they are in good fettle but will check over the Blue A10 later this week before Missus and I go away in campervan with bike on trailer, want to go to the Brighton Ace Cafe run next month, will be posting pictures of that on the day.

Meanwhile in shed.... M21 gets a paintwork touch up, been doing that for the last couple of weeks. I'm using a Landrover brushing cellulose paint and it's fantastic stuff to work with, nice and thick, easy flowing. Will be done in a day or two and ready for the Wimbotsham classic bike show http://www.fenmanclassic.co.uk/

Anyone with one of these bikes will know of the quick detach rear wheel which is kinda 'frighteningly so'! Just one long spindle bolt and one nut is all that holds the wheel on. 

[Greybeard]

Anyone with one of these bikes will know of the quick detach rear wheel which is kinda 'frighteningly so'! Just one long spindle bolt and one nut is all that holds the wheel on. 

Same as my Plungie then?

[coater87]

Mounted speedo and cable today.

 First time since I have owned it that the bike is in one complete piece.

 Lee

[Greybeard]

Yesterday I took part in a VMCC ride of 60 miles around Banbury, Oxfordshire. Some great machines took part. Sorry I have no photo's.

[Butch (cb)]

Rode out on my Loop frame  Eldorado – ‘Jug’ to The Trip Out up in the wilds of Suffolk for the weekend. Camped out on the Saturday night amongst the psychedelic weirdness of it all. Bike ran very nicely, it is more a state of mind when out and about on that one. Single sided TLS on the front is awful though, I put new shoes in but next up will be rearranging the lever angles and making up a stouter cable.

The pal I went with did comment that I don’t seem to use my A10 much. I guess I just don’t ride that much generally, and I have a few other rides available.