Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Feb 9, 2022 11:15:05 GMT 1
I just ground a wedge shaped end on a piece of welding wire. Made a loop on the other end to stop it sticking into my hand, and that was it. I have half a dozen, because they vanish every time you put them down.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Jan 20, 2022 11:00:39 GMT 1
The main reason that I fitted an M Unit on my hybrid is that everything is so different on the electrics and electronics side that there was no prospect of any form of standard wiring loom working was zero. The thing is so simple that it can be wired point to point really simply. The wire from the horn button goes to the horn input, the brake light switch to the brake light connector and so on. In fact this is the second one, because the only problem I had was when a cable from the gear indicator, that has metallic shielding braiding on it for heat insulation touched the live terminal on the M Unit, and shorted it out. It did not work after that! As you see from the picture, the battery terminals on the unit are in the open. I moved the braided cable, and made rubber caps for the power terminals out of a couple of little rubber bungs. And yes, I do have a gear indicator on a YPVS. Cheers Dave
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Jan 13, 2022 10:28:14 GMT 1
Tried to start it, but the fuel was not getting through. Plugs were bone dry and no smell of petrol. Made plans to strip the carbs and finally sort out the sychronisation, then got cold and went back in the house and had a cup of tea.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Jan 12, 2022 10:34:34 GMT 1
I've used Dynasurf for years. They are in Sandbach in Cheshire, and were quite quick about it last time I sent them a couple of sets. Dave
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Dec 28, 2021 11:30:01 GMT 1
I had a reply to my signing the petition, so I'll repost it here.
The gist of it is that the measure is aimed at the cowboys who remove the particulate filter from diesel powered cars' exhausts. It specifically mentions that it is not intending to outlaw custom builds or aftermarket parts- unless the parts themselves are dangerous. So I was right in thinking that the story as presented in MCN and other papers was another example of journalists following the rule of "DO PANIC! DO PANIC!" which is the tabloid headline almost every day.
Having said all that, we need to keep our eye on the ball to make sure that the exact wording of the Bill does not slip in some extra killer clauses. Governments have a habit of doing this, and this gang of Borris Dancers are especially likely to try it.
Cheers
Dave
We are not proposing that all modifications be prevented, and we recognise there are legitimate reasons why a vehicle owner or business may want to modify a vehicle. Our proposals are not intended to hinder activities such as motorsports, restoration, repairs, or legitimate improvements and alterations to vehicles, or indeed do any damage to the businesses involved in these activities.
Nevertheless, certain modifications can negatively affect the safety and health of the vehicle owner, its occupants, other road users, and the wider population.
Tampering activities that prevent a vehicle’s emissions system from operating correctly, such as the removal of the diesel particulate filter from a vehicle’s exhaust, can significantly increase a vehicle’s harmful pollutant emissions.
Therefore, as vehicles become increasingly automated, we want to prevent alterations to a vehicle’s integral software and sensing technologies which could create safety and security risks. A badly modified vehicle has the potential to kill its occupants and other road users. It is also essential that we ensure modern vehicles remain cyber secure throughout their lifetime, and that any modifications do not make them vulnerable to malicious cyber-attacks.
The MOT test is an important part of ensuring that vehicles on our roads are safe and roadworthy. However, we must also recognise that the MOT test is fundamentally an inspection of a vehicle as presented at the time of a test and can only be a simple check.
There are risks in relying solely upon the MOT test to tackle harmful tampering. For example, it only includes basic checks for the presence and/or function of certain emissions control equipment and is not proof that the relevant emissions standards are being met. It is therefore important that we also have the powers to target and prevent tampering activities that negatively affect road safety, vehicle security and the environment.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Dec 5, 2021 11:06:11 GMT 1
I looked mournfully at it, and wished for warmer weather!
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Nov 24, 2021 10:48:15 GMT 1
I found the throttle cable a little too short on my hybrid with handlebar raisers, so I took the junction box apart and made a new, 60mm longer cable to replace the front, single cable. I've had a lot of bikes for which you can't get a ready made cable, so I have the inner and outer cables and all the fittings already.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Nov 23, 2021 10:57:28 GMT 1
No feckin Chippies in the USA. All fast food shite. First thing when I head home is a big Chippie feed 😂😂 Used to be a great little chip shop near the Edinburgh Castle Pub on Geary in SF. Fish & chips wrapped in newspaper with newsprint on the fish. Well, at least it was there 25 years ago when I lived in SF. I had quite a decent portion of fish and chips in Nashville, where it is regarded as a gourmet speciality, and priced accordingly. But it was definitely from a Chippie. Mind you, it was up by the University, so maybe they are bit more international there!
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Nov 23, 2021 10:52:28 GMT 1
The London accent should count as a speech disorder. If you are ever bored so badly that you watch "The Wall" , you'll be amazed that they gave the job of presenting it to a man incapable of saying the word 'wall'. "THE WAAW!" he yells. Terrible!
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Nov 21, 2021 10:58:24 GMT 1
We lived on the East Yorkshire coast for a time. They have two types of chip shop there, East Yorks ones, and one for "Wezzies", that's people from West Yorkshire. The difference is that in West Yorkshire, the skin is removed from the fish, in a civilised manner. However, those heathen savages from East Yorkshire leave the skin on. Of course I'm not going to mention which side of the question I would support, and I have to say that the quality of fish is superb there, since it was swimming about a few hours earlier.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Nov 19, 2021 10:59:31 GMT 1
I don't like pubs and I don't like beer.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Nov 5, 2021 14:17:38 GMT 1
I hate to be boring but MCN have a long history of publishing articles based on very little that are just designed to stir up controversy. The thing is that any decent lawyer will tell you that the British (unwritten) Constitution has established long ago that retrospective Law is unconstututional. So if something was legal when it was done, it is legal now. You might not be allowed to do it again in the present day, but it was legal and it stays legal. Secondly, in the UK we have "Historic Vehicles". Many two strokes are already in this category, and soon, they all will be. They don't need to be inspected. Thirdly, a lot of rich people own Vintage and Classic vehicles, including Arch Tory ,Rees-Mogg, and several Royals. I don't think the Government will be making enemies of them any time soon. Our future King drives a Hybrid Aston Martin, after all!
MCN up to it's usual tricks now the race season is over!
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Nov 3, 2021 10:38:47 GMT 1
A V6 with CVT is a good prospect for expansion chambers, because you can treat it as two 3 into ones. A 3-1 collector gives a good power response over a relatively narrow rev range. The length of the three header pipes needs to be calculated to suit the peak torque of the motor, and for that you only need to know the port timing and the peak torque RPM, plus a reasonable guess at the exhaust gas temperature.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Nov 3, 2021 10:27:52 GMT 1
I'd give the same advice that I gave to students asking about the best software. The best software is the one you have and like to use. The best bike is the one you have and like riding. Next best is the one you are used to , and don't have yet. Third is the one you've never ridden but have always wanted. Worst choice is the one that suits somebody completely unlike you- for example if you want a show bike, and the vendor wanted a bike to go green laning.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Sept 27, 2021 11:03:23 GMT 1
I was watching that programme about the Youkshire Classic car auction. They were saying that the prices of pre WW2 and early 50s cars have collapsed, because the people who remember them, and want to re-live those days are in Care Homes now ( or dead!). Cars from the 60's 70s and 80s are 'desirable classics and people are spending fortunes on buying and restoring them. The time will come when the people who were teenage tearaways on their LCs are mostly driving Zimmer frames, and the valuable bikes are the current new models. The only exceptions are the REAL classics. Brough, Vincent, MV, Ducati, successful race bikes of famous riders, or specialised exotica like a Bimota . I could easily argue that the Yam two stroke twins are classic, but the truth is that they are mass produced models and rarely individual enough to be rare and valuable. I reckon that an RD500 or and RG will be worth hanging onto though. Just wish I had one!
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Aug 28, 2021 10:17:37 GMT 1
After a very prolonged running-in period, I wanted to do a quick check to see if the motor would run cleanly up to the 10,000 rpm rev limiter. So, in a suitable place, I did a gradual roll-on in first gear, rode out the power surge and it revved beautifully clean to ten grand; so I changed into second. I can't honestly say I was ready for what happens when you engage the clutch right in the fat part of the powerband in second gear. Let's just say that I saved some wear on the front tyre for a few yards............. Still grinning!
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Jul 20, 2021 10:45:04 GMT 1
I've used all my stock of my ordinary type of two stroke oil, and my stock of Shell special "R" is dwindling. (I use that when I'm going to show people the 'Castrol R experience' as well as two stroke sound) So I've been looking around for a 5 litre can of synthetic or semi to replace the OMC oil. I'm a pre-mixer on a near-standard tuned YPVS 350, which is why I keep oil on the shelf.
Looking around online, I'm stunned by the incredible range of prices, for oils which have the same technical specifications.
Motul full synth:- £44.64 for 4 litres Motul open Road:- £92.21 for 4 litres Millers Oils synth:-£46.50 for 4 litres Exol Full synth:- £23.99 for 5 litres.
So you'll guess what I'm asking........ Has anyone any experience of Exol two stroke oils? The reviews speak very highly of it, but I'd rather ask here.
Cheers Dave
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Jul 17, 2021 10:18:23 GMT 1
engine don't start, and when it do, only worked 2 or 3 secord, with too much smoke.
That is a sign of leaking crank seals. That explains the black oily spark plug too. The crank seals let the engine suck in the oil from the gear box. I think you might need an engine rebuild to change the main crankshaft bearings and seals. When you have done that, it is a good idea to clean out the inside of the exhaust silencer too. If the engine runs with leaking seals for a time, it gets full of oily carbon.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Jun 6, 2021 10:28:11 GMT 1
I followed a Red and white YPVS F2 along Congleton Road up as far as Sainsbury's petrol station on Friday. It was the merest chance that I was on my Kawasaki sensible 650 instead of my very different F2 Hybrid. Anyone of here uses Sainsbury's in Biddulph?
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on May 27, 2021 9:36:32 GMT 1
Apart from the LE Velo - the police "Noddy Bike", there were no other Shaft Drive British small bikes. You are quite lucky to find a complete Valiant. At one time people used to take the engine out and fit it in a homemade hovercraft, so there are not many about. On the other hand I can think of three or four small shaft drine flat twins from small scale European manufacturers, but I've only ever seen them in Museums on the other side of the channel.
As far as BSA Starfires, the B25, are concerned. I bought one on behalf of my cousin. To give it a trial run, I took it for a run across the Pennines on the (then new) M62.On the way back, I was just passing the big hospital outside Manchester when the cylinder flange broke, and the whole top end came off. I'm a two stroke man. Dealing with a sudden engine failure is a well practiced procedure, so I was fine. It needed a fairly radical rebuild before I could pass it over to my cousin. The bigger versions of that motor, the B45 and B50, were the basis for the very siccessful CCM motocrossers.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on May 19, 2021 9:29:30 GMT 1
I had a 1936 Francis Barnett 250 a few years ago. As a result I have Arthur Gent's book "Francis Barnett , The Complete Story" here. The bolted-up triangulated frame is the giveaway. The FB slogan in the 20s and early 30s was, "built like a bridge". And they were! If that bike has a 172 Villiers Brooklands S, engine then it is a Francis Barnett Condor from around 1932. Those engines have an engine number beginning with "Y" If it has a 148cc, Viliiers Mark X111C, it's a FB Lapwing No 27 or 28.
Mine was a 250 Seagull with the X1VA engine. Riding it, changing gear by hand was no problem. You just have to take your time. Cornering was good- girder forked bikes all feel very precise. Braking....... well with brand new liners, cables etc, I can only say it met the MOT requirements, but I dreaded having to stop quickly, because being used to big twin disk brakes it just felt dangerous on modern roads. I sold it because I did not want to ride it. Cheers Dave
PS. There is a full description of an engine rebuild in my book. I forgot to mention that there was another reason for not enjoying the ride. My post war baby boom thigh bones are not compatible with pre war riding positions. I never got off the bike without having a bruise on the inside of my knee from hitting it on the gear lever quadrant. And I've never been more than 5'8". My 6'4" grandson could not get near the bike!
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on May 5, 2021 9:38:48 GMT 1
Just think, In thirty years time, middle aged men will be searching the Hyperweb for mint condition matching numbers 125 Four stroke Hondas. That is what they rode when they were young, and they will be amongst the only internal combustion bikes left. Carpe diem! Yam twins are magnificent fun, don't miss the chance to have that fun while you can.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on May 1, 2021 10:39:19 GMT 1
Yesterday I filled my bike's tank with fuel. It cost £15.00. When I used to fill up my Tiger Cub, it would cost me 15/00. That's fifteen shillings, or 75p! Here's the real fact to blow all you youngsters' minds. I remember having to take a ration book to the shop to buy sweets.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Apr 20, 2021 9:09:13 GMT 1
I can't be worth that sort of money. TZRs are not that rare, and over half the population are women. You could make your own version for a quarter of the price!
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Mar 18, 2021 10:26:47 GMT 1
I know telling you the name doesn't help much, but that's a process called 'Broaching" You can make a light duty broach by taking an old splined shaft and shaping it so that the leading edges of the splines become cutting edges. The easiest way would be to centre bore the shaft, and then use a countersink cutter to make an internal cone shape. That would make the splines sharp enough to cut ally. I know I've done that, but I've no idea what I did it on!
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Feb 13, 2021 11:18:25 GMT 1
There was a cautionary tale on a TV programme a couple of weeks ago. A chap bought an Aston Martin DB4 in a similar condition to that LC. He paid about £12,000 for it. He went to a top car restoration company and, pointing at a gorgeous, fully restored DB4, he asked, "What would it cost to get it like that?" The estimate was £250,000. "And what would it cost to buy that one?" "£250,000" was the answer. I reckon that it costs about the same to do a full restoration on a bike that is would cost to buy a restored one- but the money you paid for the wreck is gone for ever. When people set a sale price on the basis that "It owes me £......" then they are due for disapointment. Restore a bike when you want to ride that bike. You never really get your money back. Do it right and you get the bike you wanted, and you paid what it needed.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Feb 11, 2021 16:56:11 GMT 1
I do know a bit about electrics on bikes- I have to. It used to be my job to teach aprentice bike mechanics about it.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Feb 11, 2021 10:45:57 GMT 1
My bike is so non standard that I despaired of ever making a Yamaha loom of any kind that would fit repositioned ignition switch, fuse box, and battery, Zeel ignition and PV controller, Aftermarket speedo, lights and indicators, running lights and different handlebar controls. - Oh I forgot to mention the gear indicator - that's another six extra wires! That's when the M Unit solved the problem. I bought some colour coded single wires, and just wired it point to point, then made up the bundle of wires into a loom. It does the job of the fuse box, the flasher relay, stop light controller, self cancelling indicators, horn relay, and movement detector. I recommend the M Unit.
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Jan 30, 2021 11:10:55 GMT 1
On the first day for weeks when it was mild enough to be possible to work in the garage without losing sensation in my fingers, I fitted new charging connections to the Yam and the Kawasaki, so I can easily keep the batteries up to scratch without dismantling everything. Did a bit of work on the pneumatic bike lift too. It did not work, but I have plans B,C, D and E ready!
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Dave B
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Post by Dave B on Jan 8, 2021 11:16:26 GMT 1
SR500 at Park Bend by Dave Boothroyd, on Flickr I used to race this SR500 in the Single cylinder class, but when all the Tigcraft 660s came it it was not competitive any more, so it went to the back of the garage for ten years. Then I started thinking that I'd always wanted a Manx Norton, so I made my own. Like this.... This was taken at the Last Northwich Thundersprint. I sold it to a man who had a real Manx, but it a real Manx is worth too much to actually ride on the track! Yam at Northwich by Dave Boothroyd, on Flickr
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