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Topics - Orcade-Ian
46
« on: May 16, 2021, 05:31:35 PM »
I know this topic has appeared many times but I can’t remember if i’ve posted this before.
Having just completed a couple of banks of carbs - one set 350/4 and the other from my red 400/4 it was now time to set floats. Anyway, many folk complain that it is difficult to set the the float heights while the tang is JUST touching the spring pin. This is the rig I’ve been using for a good while, only made from scraps of wood and a couple of old inlet rubbers - you could use two off the bike if you don’t have spares.
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The board is used to do all the top end stuff and then the ‘inclined plane’ is used to allow the floats to just touch the pins but no more. I experimented with the angle and it came out at 103 degrees which means the bowl flanges are at 13 degrees from vertical.
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Might make it easier for some,
Ian
47
« on: May 11, 2021, 12:55:53 PM »
Been doing a few sets of 350/400 carbs, basically the same but jetted differently of course. One observation of no real consequence is that some choke levers say 'Choke' and others say 'Open' with the arrow pointing the opposite way. It's not that 350s are one way and 400s the other - I have two 400 sets with the arrows in opposite directions - I suppose they could have been swapped in 40 years and many rebuilds.
Does anyone know if there was a change point, perhaps F1 to F2 for instance?
Ian
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48
« on: May 05, 2021, 06:09:02 PM »
I was getting concerned about my age, but I'm OK with it now
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Obviously won't be using an engine from a Kwacker but an 1800 Wing unit should give a lower centre of gravity,
Ian
49
« on: April 29, 2021, 06:26:21 PM »
Just taxed the Wing today for 1st May - £96 (our Honda Jazz is £30) Anyway, there is a feedback/comments box which is probably never even looked at but I thought I'd have a rant anyway. Complained about the fact that they charge buyer and seller for the same thing at change of ownership - if I tried that, say on eBay, it would be called fraud. The other thing I outlined was the charging by the month rather than by the day as nearly every other organisation does - even council tax. Also if you declare Sorn with months left it applies immediately, so again you have paid for something you are then not allowed to use. If you are declaring Sorn with no complete months left, it can be done from the end of the month. We know it's done in their hope that folk forget and suddenly realise a new month has started that they will now lose.
If we sit on our hands and say nothing, it will definitely not change.
Ian
50
« on: March 23, 2021, 06:27:39 PM »
Might be of some use to some folk:
I did a BMW boxer gearbox (80's) for mate recently - new bearings and lots of careful measurement and shimming. When he brought the box round before the work, it looked like new, so I asked him how it was so good. "I use Rub N Buff paste on the castings and as long as they have been cleaned, they end up like this" was his reply. I bought some (about £10 for a tiny tube from ebay) and tried it on this latest bank of spare carbs for a 400/4. You only use TINY amounts and I applied it with an old toothbrush and buffed it with a rag. It's really a craft type product and Silver leaf was the shade used - lots of other colours available including gold and pewter.
Might be a bit too blingy for purists but looks well enough.
Apparently this gearbox had been done years ago and ridden in all weathers and occasionally hosed down but looked like new castings.
Before and after on a carb body
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Ian
51
« on: December 02, 2020, 06:31:06 PM »
I realise that this is a very long shot indeed but do we have any forum members who might know the contact details for the local newspaper in Wolverhampton?
Many years ago I bought a Ducati Elite in a very sorry state
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No documents with it but the rear plate had the ghost image of JW (Wolverhampton series) stick on letters.
Someone had daubed the bronze frame with wedgewood blue and the metallic red parts had been done in a base red.
I thought I might put an ad in the local paper to see if anyone had any memory of it.
I'm on with restoration of the bike now
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Ian
52
« on: November 27, 2020, 05:24:56 PM »
So the taxi was motoring along fine when the passenger tapped the driver on the shoulder, he screamed, nearly wet himself, swerved across the road and stopped just inches short of a shop window. 'Heck, you're a bit jumpy mate' said the passenger, 'I only tapped you on the shoulder'
'Sorry, Sir, I'm quite new to this job and I've been driving a hearse for 20 years'
Ian
53
« on: July 26, 2020, 04:02:40 PM »
When I got my renewal for the bikes I remarked on an earlier post that they now have agreed value until 2099. Might appear a good deal so we don't have to keep filling in forms and taking endless pics every 2 years. BUT I've never known insurance brokers or companies do anything which benefitted me in the past. The way classic bike prices have been rising in the recent times (including during lockdown!) means that it could be a ploy to catch the folk who just can't be bothered asking for a higher valuation and you can bet your boots the payout will be the max stated on the policy.
When my classic Mini estate renewal came through this week, it seems the cars are still needing pics and info every 2 years as before.
When I renewed the policy earlier this year on our MG RV8 which is quite a rare car with only 300 UK spec cars made, I didn't bother with agreed value as the 'market value' is higher than I had asked for last year. There are no British spec cars with similar mileage to be had anywhere for what my agreed value was last year - averaging about £4k more in fact.
I might be eating my words one day but I think for anything other than a special, then so called agreed value should be the same as market value, so what's the point in jumping through hoops and paying a '£15 fee' every 2 years?
Any unbiased insurance experts out there willing to comment?
Ian
54
« on: June 12, 2020, 01:35:36 PM »
I realise that helmets are very much down to personal taste but has anyone any experience of the Shoei Neotec 2 helmet? My old Shoei Synchrotec has been a really comfortable, quiet lid with space for my Interphone bluetooth rig but now is in need of replacement.
Ian
56
« on: February 11, 2020, 06:48:56 PM »
Anyone know of a source of the white on black HT lead markers? Plenty of black on white available. My coils had been butchered and yellow silicone sections added to a stub of a few inches of the original - hideous! and can’t see how they were ever waterproof.
Anyway, following Ash’s excellent pictorial walk through - many thanks - I’ve nearly done with the makeover but would like some markers. They are a crack over 9mm inside diameter.
Ian
57
« on: January 28, 2020, 08:00:51 PM »
Just building up this red 400/4 and was trawling through a box with clutch stuff. I have a very low mileage clutch from a spare 350 engine and the 400 clutch which came from the red bike originally. The 350 clutch basket (different part number from 400) has the identical top hat centre bush but it runs in a bronze bush, whereas the 400 centre bush runs direct in the alloy basket. Dimensionally identical - and never seen a 400 one badly worn in the bore but as an engineer I’m tempted to use the one with the bronze bush as its as new. Outer pressure plate is different as the 350 uses a circlip to hold the assembly onto the shaft, rather than the locknut, belville washer and lock tab. Any idea why mother Honda changed the design and deleted the bronze bush? Just not necessary perhaps?
Ian
58
« on: March 09, 2019, 05:44:33 PM »
Hi folks,
Just found an ad in this issue of Old Bike Mart for l/h and r/h silencers for K0, says in good condition for £90 each. Just a mobile number 07771 527664 if anyone interested.
Ian
59
« on: February 25, 2019, 06:26:45 PM »
Hi folks,
I realise this is a bit of a long shot but a good mate of mine (in Hull) is looking for his old 550.
We THINK it was registered UAT 138 R and he bought it new from Hull Motorcycle Centre (from the late Stuart Myers) he had it until he chopped it in for a BMW R100RT in 1980. It was fitted with white Craven panniers and top box but otherwise standard - might have had a screen. I realise that the DVLA system is not necessarily accurate but if it is still around (which it appears to be) he would be glad to hear about it, even if it’s not for sale. He bought it by breaking open his gallon whisky bottle containing 50, 10 and 5p coins - almost £900 quids worth!
Ian
60
« on: May 20, 2018, 08:52:21 AM »
New system up and running, so just taxed the 400/4 on line and it knew that it was subject to this 40year rule. Simple yes/no question about modifications and it was done - taxed from May 1st so I have lost 3 weeks of free tax 😂. Will probably get Dr. D in Kirkwall (MOT man) to look over it when it’s convenient.
Ian
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