Pick this up in the morning

[MarkCR750]

I’m currently sitting in a crummy hotel room in Croydon having driven a van down from Derby to pick this up tomorrow morning, 1955 James Captain 197cc, it’s a surprise gift for my 84 year old Father, he had one in the late 50’s I don’t think he’ll ride it other than in his garden but I know he’ll enjoy fettling it, I’ll try to get it running better before I give it to him though, the current owner says that it starts easily, runs and rides but it won’t rev fully, I’m thinking that could be a lot of things, blocked air filter, blocked exhaust, timing, blocked jet, needle height, float height, or worst case crank seals, any 2 stroke gurus out there?, any thoughts?

[Johnwebley]

Cor!!
I had a 197 Fanny Barnet.

Prone to seizing if thrashed.

Have fun.
Just check all you think

Sent from my SM-G361F using Tapatalk

[Nurse Julie]

That is a lovely looking bike Mark, I am seriously envious.

[MarkCR750]

Thanks, It’s definitely something different , I love the flywheel cover, gives it a vintage look I think , I’ll get a better idea of what’s wrong with it tomorrow when I get it home, might get lucky and it’ll be a quick fix, but even if it’s crank seals it sort of doesn’t matter as it’ll give the old codger more to do which he’ll enjoy, got it for a reasonable price hence the 3 hour drive to pick it up!.
PS I’ll obviously be the test rider for any improvements he makes so don’t go thinking I’ve come over all generous by buying it for him

[MCTID]

Hahahaha nice touch to buy it for your Pops. Hankies at the ready !

I used to work for a bloke who called things like that.....nice little gestures and unexpected acts of kindness.....'Stacking up chips' !

Always stuck in my mind cos it's something which we old bikers often do but other parts of society seem to have forgotten that kindness cost nothing !

Well done......hope your Pops likes it.

[MarkCR750]

Ha, yes, I just need to confirm that I am indeed the sole beneficiary of his will, if so I’ll see about getting him the Ferrari he’s always wanted 🙂

[K2-K6]

Looks like good bike,  hope he enjoys it.

You're brave going to Croydon,  even more so staying there!   

[Laverda Dave]

That looks tidy, your Dad should have fun with that, it was the Fireblade of its day....... The flywheel cover looks like the saucepan I cook my porridge in every morning!
We'll done for visiting and staying in Croydon, my birthplace and home of the Eagles (but let's not bring football into this!). I had a blue Captain back in the late 70's, I sold it to a guy who converted it to trials trim.

[royhall]

Cracking little bike there. Did it happen to be a Post Office bike at some point or are they all red?

[taysidedragon]

Nice little bike. My surname is James so I've always wanted to get a James bike.
The Captain is the one I'd go for, the 197cc Villiers engine is probably the best one in the range and spares are readily available.
Hope your dad enjoys it. 👍🔧

[Moorey]

Great little thing to keep him occupied. Just a word of warning, if he does work on it just give the fasteners a quick check, as some elderly don't always tighten things up as much as you would like.

[Spitfire]

God that brings back memories, my girlfriend had one but she was riding along quite nicely and the frame broke just under the headstock, she was very lucky not to come off, so it was replaced by a Honda 90S.

Cheers

Dennis

[MarkCR750]

Cracking little bike there. Did it happen to be a Post Office bike at some point or are they all red?

It’s a darker shade than it looks in the photos Roy, more maroon, but yes they were all that colour, apart from the blue ones!

[MarkCR750]

Great little thing to keep him occupied. Just a word of warning, if he does work on it just give the fasteners a quick check, as some elderly don't always tighten things up as much as you would like.

That’s a good point actually, he has definitely lost a lot of strength, he struggled to change a wheel on his car recently because the wheel was to heavy for him to lift onto the studs, he describes himself as having one foot in the grave and the other on a banana skin

[MarkCR750]

I took it for a short ride earlier, it seems to run quite well, once warmed up it didn’t seem to hold back on the revs, I’ll do a bit of fettling over the week and give it to him next Saturday, front brake is pathetic, back is very good, I found that out when I went to change gear if you know what I mean!!
I think the battery has had it, 2 cells were low on liquid which I replenished but when I connected my NOCO battery charger the 6v option indicator wouldn’t select, like it wasn’t detecting the battery?, multimeter shows 4.85v but ref above I can’t charge it!, guess it’s toast.