What have you done with your bike/s today?

[Butch (cb)]

No BSA action for me this weekend. Loaded up and headed down the way to an informal Guzzi camp. Travelled incognito with Jaws the outfit and the Swiftmobile.

[Black Sheep]

"Didn't sound like it had done much damage. Is that an advantage of a side valve and the cylinder being on its side?"

Yes. Valve heads were prone to let go until metallurgy caught up. With a side valve the valve head just sits well away from the piston and does no harm. All early motor bicycles (love the term) had toolkits with a spare valve ready to fit. A quick and easy job at the side of the road, allegedly. Having fitted new valves, I don't think I would want to try doing that. 

[Greybeard]

Me too. All fore and aft Duggies remind me of the amazing exploits of father and son (I think) Body about 30 years back, with their unbelievably fast vintage sprint bike(s). Brilliant guys, brilliant machinery!

Bill Body and brother? I thought they only did cars.

[Sav]

Off to the VMCC Kent Mid Summers day Run today. First serious outing on the M23 for almost two years.

[Sav]

135 miles later, mostly on 'Cornish Motorways', I'm back.

She ran fine once I had remembered it's slack wire retard and not slack wire advance on the older bikes, and got it started. stupid old git!

[RDfella]

Been almost 30yrs since I drew up a plan for a 1,000cc vee twin. Well, now it's startable on the road thanks to the recently fitted starter, today I took it for its first ride. Have given it the odd ride over the last 6mths or so, but only along the private road beside my workshop. Today was a 3 1/2 mile run - not too far in case it broke down and not too mad until I'm more confident in it.
Apart from a rattle (sounds like the chain touching the chainguard) no problems. Front brake is good (twin disc) but not outstanding (guess I was expecting the same as my Firestorm, where a handful of front brake lifts the rear wheel). Gearbox (plunger type) was sweet. Engine lugs under 2,500 but getting near 3,000 and beyond - wow! Oil pressure fine at constant 55psi and charging (kubota alternator) shows c. 8A after starting, rapidly reducing to near zero. Didn't thrash it, but from its sheer grunt I'd guess it makes around 80bhp - about where I was expecting.

[Greybeard]

Fantabidozi! You must be ecstatic! 👍👍👍

[BSA_54A10]

Not quite such an engineering feat but I finally managed to replace the rotted brass filter on the end of the fuel tap with some longer stainless steel ones soldered into place .
Next step is drilling the 3/8 BSP solid brass plugs & tapping 10mm to take modern fuel taps .
Had enough of paying $ 50 for taps that leak, fall apart or just break 5 minutes after fitted .

[Colsbeeza]

A bit of fettling today after 6 miles total after rebuild. Checked the primary chain tension and found it slightly tighter, some 1/4" slack. Reset and increased the rear chain slack from 1-1/4 " to 2". Some Forum members find that 1-1/4" is not enough.
Going over the bolts, I found one of the frame bolts loose several threads near the gearbox. Apparently overlooked by me.
Drained the chaincase to check and got 125 mls. There had been no sign of leaks. I had added 190mls, so figure that most of the difference is retained by the screw boss castings inside the chaincase. Next time I have the chaincase off I will try to work out the retained oil volume.
Col

[RDfella]

You're right, GB. Been a bloody long haul and almost gave up a few times, but the end product is a real joy.

[Greybeard]

The clutch on Emily has been slipping under hard acceleration.
First job was tidying up the shed; I am rubbish at keeping things tidy. My shed gets used for home DIY jobs so my workbench had tools and drill bits and lumps of machinery all covered in sawdust.
I pushed the bike out and set to. After a bit of effort the shed now looks much better.
On the bike, I removed the primary cover and gave the clutch spring nuts one complete turn each. I then checked that the pressure plate was still running true. The clutch lever is now harder to pull in but as long I've had me Wheatybangs for breakfast I can manage it.

[Peter in Aus]

Not quite such an engineering feat but I finally managed to replace the rotted brass filter on the end of the fuel tap with some longer stainless steel ones soldered into place .
Next step is drilling the 3/8 BSP solid brass plugs & tapping 10mm to take modern fuel taps .
Had enough of paying $ 50 for taps that leak, fall apart or just break 5 minutes after fitted .

Sounds good, what taps do you use and where do you get them, may I ask.
I use the BAP taps, they are good, BUT are made of sh*t metal and brake off easy, not good in a prang.
Peter

[BSA_54A10]

Off Made in China dot com
They are for cheap & nasty Chinese off road 250's
The design is a Honda stationary engine knock off so they take the Honda rubber seal
I have been using lawnmower taps for the past 5 years
Again 1/8" BSP and about $ 5 wholesale.
I did use plastic Victa taps for a year or two but the bodies crack from the vibration.

I am not cheap , really, but have an aversion to forking out $ 50 every 5 years or so because the taps fall apart
Putting up with leaking taps if I don't ride at least 1 day a month .
This is similar
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/333660726760?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D232959%26meid%3D58b3e161c0794944ac18f77f42d2adeb%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D383937890889%26itm%3D333660726760%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv9PairwiseUnbiasedWeb%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum%3A33366072676058b3e161c0794944ac18f77f42d2adeb%7Cenc%3AAQAGAAACADxCogJZ50UDhXSsF%252FLj0pkAmwIwK3OnkLz5%252BECYX0625H6newoi%252FCO14MVXs8fpeCGnOmqxcnrWlZdJGnXLVrxL495upkGOdQeznKNiyFBBw5XphjQktKEvpFscjvAKf3J3yaJN3%252FYIdOo6POOQTvePn3DgTd1Yg2mAUgm5ADsy945rF9iXyuCfOIgnj%252BnAn76Ho5rlaNLR8RiIg7XCnh4i29LED6tgi6slWfuMAszYP74sfntBWAReGCbikyf2c07WH9DHasQlOGrUMqSazub9SR%252Bqj0h2BgqW03BGUOnCRzTiHh%252FvtYYTwTGe1O57ORr0%252FPoFPhvUe2s9aNAiJuWqcGHJqrwJxNfU3ZX1ureuiu0rSzOLOQH8iDkqbsMOAu%252F7efsR0CMwF3t9wpgO7GmXJP%252BlKbtYC%252FV4qWr2%252FkHb%252Bci%252F9EcK%252FZWGYRAqgEx2EPAmtDnmfuKzVDWSK4YfEIucRQdKNiXgkfi3I5DitCeAn3AOI7%252BEX1r%252FRhRNqpOsUdfjNwaF%252FHqHEz1okFTEXqPt4JTqxQvdizQvl%252FdYB7pN4fcRBkkC3ggr4eb7j6%252Fgc79rkfZa8EvhUXSz0jqB23pjNtQpATJ32Rb%252BCDKa9Tq5isjUcAwEwaD2ZV9SqisbSXOZmMJbaBgeL3iq4kY6N3hXifgdHwgEY8IOagfNxg1y%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2047675
They are zinc so will still break if subjected to a heavy blow.
Fit them sideways so the outlet points directly  in
And they have a sediment trap to boot .

[groily]

Me too. All fore and aft Duggies remind me of the amazing exploits of father and son (I think) Body about 30 years back, with their unbelievably fast vintage sprint bike(s). Brilliant guys, brilliant machinery!

Bill Body and brother? I thought they only did cars.

Missed your query GB (sorry), but nah, this bloke, Henry - superstar if ever there was. Couldn't remember his name and was too lazy to check.
https://douglasmcc.co.uk/2021/03/27/henry-body-douglas-sprint-legend-on-bbc/
Bill BodDy with extra D was 'cars', yup - long-term editor of Motor Sport magazine in the days when the also-great 'Jenks', late passenger of Eric Oliver in the world of chairs, was the magazine's  'Continental correspondent' and spent his life tearing round Europe reporting on things that had no coverage back in the day except by someone on the spot. Thought of him when we kept finding ourselves on bits of the old Targa Florio circuit when we were on holiday last year  . . . Different world!

[Peter in Aus]

Off Made in China dot com
They are for cheap & nasty Chinese off road 250's
The design is a Honda stationary engine knock off so they take the Honda rubber seal
I have been using lawnmower taps for the past 5 years
Again 1/8" BSP and about $ 5 wholesale.
I did use plastic Victa taps for a year or two but the bodies crack from the vibration.

I am not cheap , really, but have an aversion to forking out $ 50 every 5 years or so because the taps fall apart
Putting up with leaking taps if I don't ride at least 1 day a month .
This is similar
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/333660726760?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D232959%26meid%3D58b3e161c0794944ac18f77f42d2adeb%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D383937890889%26itm%3D333660726760%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv9PairwiseUnbiasedWeb%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum%3A33366072676058b3e161c0794944ac18f77f42d2adeb%7Cenc%3AAQAGAAACADxCogJZ50UDhXSsF%252FLj0pkAmwIwK3OnkLz5%252BECYX0625H6newoi%252FCO14MVXs8fpeCGnOmqxcnrWlZdJGnXLVrxL495upkGOdQeznKNiyFBBw5XphjQktKEvpFscjvAKf3J3yaJN3%252FYIdOo6POOQTvePn3DgTd1Yg2mAUgm5ADsy945rF9iXyuCfOIgnj%252BnAn76Ho5rlaNLR8RiIg7XCnh4i29LED6tgi6slWfuMAszYP74sfntBWAReGCbikyf2c07WH9DHasQlOGrUMqSazub9SR%252Bqj0h2BgqW03BGUOnCRzTiHh%252FvtYYTwTGe1O57ORr0%252FPoFPhvUe2s9aNAiJuWqcGHJqrwJxNfU3ZX1ureuiu0rSzOLOQH8iDkqbsMOAu%252F7efsR0CMwF3t9wpgO7GmXJP%252BlKbtYC%252FV4qWr2%252FkHb%252Bci%252F9EcK%252FZWGYRAqgEx2EPAmtDnmfuKzVDWSK4YfEIucRQdKNiXgkfi3I5DitCeAn3AOI7%252BEX1r%252FRhRNqpOsUdfjNwaF%252FHqHEz1okFTEXqPt4JTqxQvdizQvl%252FdYB7pN4fcRBkkC3ggr4eb7j6%252Fgc79rkfZa8EvhUXSz0jqB23pjNtQpATJ32Rb%252BCDKa9Tq5isjUcAwEwaD2ZV9SqisbSXOZmMJbaBgeL3iq4kY6N3hXifgdHwgEY8IOagfNxg1y%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2047675
They are zinc so will still break if subjected to a heavy blow.
Fit them sideways so the outlet points directly  in
And they have a sediment trap to boot .

Thanks Trevor, have ordered 2.
Peter