This should possibly be in "what i did with my bike today" section but others may have had similar issues so worth starting a new thread i reckon.
So, the back story, About 2 years ago, pre pandemic, i arranged to meet up with GB at the South Wales BSAOC rally. The day of departure the A10 started missing really badly. I remember coughing and farting around Bristol on the hottest, sweatiest day of the year trying to get hold of some new spark plugs. After abject failure i managed to get home to discover that the maggy slip ring had lost its grip and was the cause of my troubles. Being inept at such trifles i abandoned the trip much to my disappointment. GB seemed to cope quite bravely and had a fun time by all accounts. Please bear in mind my bike has generally been pretty reliable and attended many ride outs including long distance rallies.
Letting previous experience go i make plans for this years event. Quick PM to GB and he supplies me with accommodation and rally contacts in Wales (thank you). When i ring the pub to book a bed i am told the only available space is the bunk bed in GB's room. I explain to the lady that i'm not that kind of chap especially on a first date!
I do manage to book a room for 2 nights at another venue and innocently expect to turn up as a nice surprise to GB at the rally. Little did i know of the curse that lingers.
So, to today's adventure, Having nailed back the front end with sidecar springs (long story and not for the faint hearted) i do some shakedown runs.
Lovely run out to Monmouth up the Wye valley and back over the hills today, On the way i notice a loss of power (?) at the half way stage but seems to pick up and onwards i go. On the return journey it comes back then goes away again. Dodgy fuel says i and opening the reserve fuel tap seems to cure it. Blocked tank filter says i and reckon i'll make it back no worries. Then that horrible feeling as the beastie dies half way up a steep hill near Chepstow, Blocked jet says i, push it up the hill to a less dangerous spot and set to work. Feeling quite zen at this stage forgetting all about the "curse"! Having stripped and cleaned the jets (the needle jet was properly blocked) i start kicking to no avail. Best to check the spark, nothing!
Upon opening the end cap a small screw (the one that holds the points) falls out with lots of ally debris from where it has been rubbing on the cap.
International rescue are called, basically the mrs who has to empty my van and try to find me, bless her. The return journey of 45 mins involves me crouching in the back of my van, which only just gets the A10 in diagonally, with my nose on the filler cap trying not to get squashed under the bike on the corners, roundabouts and pot holes!
So, the end, at last i hear you say. Having cleaned out the debris and replaced the screw the bike runs ,but not right, more to do timing wise i think. So the Welsh rally is still currently on the table but being over 2 weeks away who can say?
So the moral of this fable is- Check the screw tension in your maggy and avoid Welsh rallies!
In the words of esteemed member Berger " thank you for listening"
