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Messages - TrickyMicky
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286
« on: July 27, 2019, 06:37:33 PM »
For what it's worth, I have 400 with fixed rear footrests, closed ends swinging arm. Nut is on RH (brake) side, when assembling, push spindle through from sprocket side and when enough thread is showing start turning nut and use this to pull rest of spindle through. On the spindle I am using at the sprocket end it has a hole whereby you can use a small tommy bar/screwdriver to hold the spindle while you tighten the nut, would not be able to use this if it was at brake end. Little bit of care needed when inserting split pin into castrated wheel nut. Sorry Julie, but speaking as one who made an absolute pig's breakfast once of trying to fit shox that were too long, that's when everything fouls up. Always carefully measure between fixing centres of shox before trying to fit, can't give proper measurement at moment, as it's absolutely precipitating down outside, and the pizza and beer are ready. Regards, Michael.
287
« on: July 24, 2019, 09:44:24 AM »
"Big Whoopsie"!!! When all else fails, as a last resort, read the instructions, (or member's address!). On my way back to The Sunnyside Home for The Terminally Bewildered, I happened to notice that Vintage Tyres use UPS for worldwide deliveries. Am I eligible for forgiveness?
288
« on: July 24, 2019, 09:10:32 AM »
18" Rim tapes in stock @ Vintage Motorcycle Tyres of Beaulieu, £2 each plus VAT. Good service, this is where i bought mine along with Dunlop K81 tyres (TT100 lookalikes). If you're in the mood for a nice journey, I think you will find they even offer a fitting service, phone call first ay? I found the rear tyre an absolute B=====d to fit because the standard rim has a very shallow dish, cost me a second inner tube and professional help! Have fun. Regards, Michael.
289
« on: July 08, 2019, 03:20:10 PM »
I was thinking more about the opportunistic scrote to whom noise and time can be a hindrance to them. If a group of professional toe rags decide that your bike or car is the one they want it will be targeted and they will pick the time and the place, and you will only be able to stop them by blowing their frigging heads off. Or is that illegal?
290
« on: July 08, 2019, 11:36:38 AM »
Unfortunately, regarding security, you must stop thinking like a 'nice guy', and start thinking like the rat who wants your bike. Forget about the steering lock, when the rat decides he wants your bike, he is not going to ride it away, it will be him plus a couple of mates in a van and they will just lift straight in and be gone. They will worry about the steering lock when they are in their secret 'lock-up'. I also have a bleedin' ugly great chain and strong padlock which goes with me and bike. I just loop the chain into a figure of eight, secure the two ends with the padlock, and it travels on the pillion seat held on with aerolastics using the lifting handle and right hand rear indicator. (No carrier!). When reaching destination, the bike is secured to something immovable making sure the chain goes round the frame tubes or front forks, not just the front wheel. Remember, the chain might look ugly, but it's a lot prettier than returning to and empty parking space. Be lucky, Michael.
291
« on: July 02, 2019, 07:52:45 AM »
Hiya, meant to say that while you've gone to all the hassle of removing the carbs, (full set of knuckles and clean vocabulary?), the items which gave me the most problems were those tiny little spindles that the floats pivot on. What with modern fuels and having stood so long, mine were all gunged up meaning that the floats were sticking. Remove them and give them a good polish. While you have them out, it is well worth replacing the jets which will have suffered the same fate. Hopefully then, you can fit and forget!! One of the modifications which I purchased, but haven't used yet until the carbs have to come off, is a set of small allen headed bolts for the float bowls, which means they can be removed/replaced without too much heartache. I have a good memory, but it's very short, which means I cannot remember where I bought them, every chance it was someone on Flea-Bay. Regards, Michael.
292
« on: June 30, 2019, 11:33:51 PM »
Hiya, I left my 400 for about the same length of time while I carried out some jobs on the engine which only took 2 days. No questions allowed!!!!! When I finally returned to the bike, the engine was fine. (It had been covered over with a cotton dust sheet, along with the tank and side panels). Over on the other side of the shed, where the rolling chassis stood, the felt had disappeared off the roof, the mudguards, handlebars, brake pedal, gearchange, and chainguard had changed colour! Toadstools were growing up the centre-stand and I had left the fully assembled exhaust laying on the floor. 1st step, new exhaust, fortunately OE was still available then, all the other bits still possessed good metal so were treated to a good helping of British chrome plating - Bloody Magic! Upon re-assembly safety then took over, the tyres had been on for 200 miles and then stood unmoved for 13 years. Off they came and a hacksaw put through them to stop anyone chancing their arm with them. Replaced with Dunlop K81's. All brake seals and pipes were replaced, bike started straight away using a car battery, and I was rewarded with fuel peeing out of the carb overflows. More swearing and grazed knuckles to remove, clean out, and replace all jets, AND! replaced the fuel pipe from tank to carbs. Purchased new battery, quick trip round the block and booked in for MOT. (This was in 2002). It passed with no problems! But the very nice tester told me to keep an eye on the front forks as there was slight pitting on the hard chrome, which he very kindly removed for me with a small jewellers file. No need to relate what happened about 3 weeks later, but by this time I had invested in a hydraulic lift to ease the job of replacing the fork tubes. The only other age related issue which caught me out a few times was its ha bit off blowing the main fuse, on one occasion it necessitated me having to use a PZ2 bit out of one of those screwdriver bit sets, they are a perfect fit even if it's a bit dicey, but the homing instinct was very strong. I looked everywhere for a possible short circuit until one day someone asked me had the fuse blown in the middle of the glass or at one end. When I said it was at the end, he said it was struggling to pull current through, and I should check the block connector behind the fuse box. Lo and behold, all the copper terminals inside the block were a lovely shade of green. It was my turn to go and purchase a set of jewellers files. All clean and shiny and replaced with some thin insulating tape round the block to weatherproof it. Has been ridden ever since, not a show model unless there is an award for best patina! Regards, Michael.
293
« on: June 06, 2019, 06:02:44 PM »
Just been looking at some photos, and it sure seems to be a close fit, but looking closely I see the spring is hooked into the eye of the stand from 'underneath', I would guess that if the spring was hooked in from the top then it would certainly touch the exhaust. Hope it's something as simple, regards, Michael.
294
« on: May 30, 2019, 05:50:03 PM »
Y'know, I can fully understand the temptation of this system. Back in the days when I ran a CB750, the 4 pipe system really swayed me, and proclaimed to the world that you had a motorcycle with a 4 cylinder engine! Whilst I had that bike a chap at work bought one of these new fangled 400's, I had a quick ride round the block on it, and that along with the looks meant I was hooked, so in 1988 I bought one and still have it now. I looked at this advert for the 4 into 4 and thought it doesn't portray any particular image, then I saw the price, and the final nail in the coffin was the fact that you cannot use the centre stand!!!!! Sorry everybody, but I like my maintenance performed the easy way! Regards, Michael.
295
« on: May 05, 2019, 09:21:59 AM »
Don't worry about the steering falling to one side or the other. If you look at the steering set-up, you will see that the forks are forward of the steering stem/axis point, so when you turn the bars the forks actually move round in an arc. Because the steering stem is at an angle, this means that the forks actually drop either side of centre. When it is all re-assembled, take bike off the stand so it is on its wheels, then turn the bars from lock to lock and you will see that the bike actually moves from side to side roughly at the point in line with the front of the tank. This set up is to give the optimum steering and handling response for a road bike. If you look at a speedway bike the forks are very close to the vertical, no good in a straight line but good for drifting, drag/sprint bikes are totally the opposite, acutely angled forks for straight line running.
Just as an aside, if you've ever wondered what keeps your bike so stable, whilst you have your front wheel removed, using both hands hold it up by the wheel spindle and rock it about. Now get a mate to spin the wheel and then try to move it about and you will feel the gyroscopic effect. Be lucky, Michael.
296
« on: May 04, 2019, 03:28:50 PM »
Make sure it's not cables/wires/brake pipes bunching up in one direction.
297
« on: May 04, 2019, 09:41:56 AM »
Whilst you have the front wheel removed, it's nice and easy to check if it is out of balance. Hold/support the wheel spindle, and just give the wheel a gentle spin, when it stops, make a chalk mark at the 6 o'clock position. Repeat this a few times, if it stops at the same place each time, then your chalk mark is the heavy spot and a balance weight should be affixed diametrically opposite, correct weight determined by trial and error I'm afraid! When giving the wheel its slow spin, if the wheel bearings are in good order, you should not be able to detect any noises or feel any harshness when holding the axle. As you have the front wheel removed I assume the front of the bike is supported leaving the forks free to move, Slowly move the handlebars from lock to lock, there should be no resistance or roughness throughout the travel, especially at the straight ahead position. Lastly, once again as the front end is free to move, ensure the bike is secure, then grasp the bottom of the fork legs and push and pull them in the fore and aft direction, if your steering head bearings are good there will be no movement at all.
Eons ago, when I had a CB750, it had a front wheel which was only very slightly out of balance. Did not take any notice until one day when going on holiday, two up with a very heavily loaded rear carrier, i closed the throttle at about 40MPH and took my hands off the bars to adjust my goggles, HOLY SHIT! It went into the biggest tank-slapper I've ever had. Please take those few extra minutes to check those few items. Happy riding, and stay upright. Michael.
298
« on: April 09, 2019, 09:13:10 PM »
Just a random thought - No matter what part of the world, and no matter how many wheels the vehicle has, what system is used to measure the diameter of those wheels? Dry roads to everybody. Michael.
299
« on: March 14, 2019, 10:25:53 AM »
Hiya, with regard to 'which bolt in which hole', when I removed the cam-cover from my 400 many years ago, (1991!), not being an engineer I did not have the faintest idea how to identify bolt thread pitches etc.. (still haven't). So I obtained a nice piece of flat cardboard and used a marker pen to draw a full size outline of the cover, then as each bolt was removed, it was pushed through the cardboard in its respective location, then carefully stored. When the rebuild commenced 13 years later, (you can't rush these jobs), my simplistic brain was not overtaxed when it came to replacing the bolts into their correct locations. Maybe if you are deft of hand this system could be advanced to other fixings. Remember, K.I.S.S. Regards, Mick.
300
« on: March 10, 2019, 10:01:35 AM »
Have just looked at David Silver's website, and he is having a 50th anniversary open day at Leiston on Sat. 28th September. Free entry to the museum, refreshments, and music to suit, plus you can enter for "Best This or That" for each capacity model. Y'know, with a bit of luck, we could fill Leiston to overflowing!!! Regards, Mick.
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