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Topics - Orcade-Ian
1
« on: July 25, 2024, 06:32:13 PM »
One of the friends who participated in our recent motorcycling adventure to Austria and Germany (Leslie) was born on the small Orkney island of Egilsay (ask Mr Google) and as a youth, somehow managed with another friend to get hold of a 1958 AJS 350 to thrash up and down the few roads and tracks. It had already had a hard life and was missing its tank but something from another scrap bike was pressed into service. This bike was bought new from Cheynes in Aberdeen by Tom Bain in Westray, another larger Island further to the North. Eventually, following a few more owners, it fell into the hands of another former Egilsay resident, Karl Moar and was dismantled with the intention of eventual restoration. Unfortunately, this never happened and Leslie, who had tried to buy it years ago, was offered it for free one day when he was standing in a queue at the fish shop. He has joked a few times that it was the most expensive fish supper he has ever bought!
Following a sleep of nearly 50 years, I somehow got the job of restoring the engine, gearbox and primary drive - a bit of a challenge after many bodges had been carried out in the intervening years (will I ever learn?) I tried hard to 'engineer out' some of the shortcomings and rectify some of these er, 'modifications' and try to keep it oil-tight. If you ever see an old British bike without a few drips of oil underneath, there's probably none in! So far this has been mostly successful - apart from the badly sized kickstart shaft seal, which was a good fit on the shaft but too small on the O/D - now rectified, we hope!
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Original pic by George Burgher
Leslie has made a wonderful job of the cycle parts and paintwork but in view of the advancing years of the original owner, we had to get a move on so that he could see it finished! The intention was for a few of us to have a trip to Westray to take an 'up to date' picture of the restored bike in the exact location where it had been taken when new.
When a predicted 'weather window' seemed likely, Leslie booked the Ferry for 5 bikes and 7 people, not always easy at this time of year with the inevitable influx of tourists filling the ferries.
So we set off on our magical 90 minute boat trip to Westray, firstly to where the original picture, with George Burgher, the original photographer, had been taken and then to the farm of the original owner whose Wife put on a wonderful spread for lunch - something we have experienced many times when visiting folk almost anywhere in Orkney. There were 5 of us on 4 bikes - Leslie and Karl on the restored AJS, Johnny Wood on his 350 Matchless, Leslie's Wife Karina on a CB 200 from Leslies large collection and I took the CB 550 F1 with the top box to carry spare jumpers and the like - just in case. Unfortunately, the other AJS belonging to Stuart Wiley decided to mis-behave before we reached the Ferry, so he couldn't join us - hey ho!
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It was great to be a part of this story and to accompany the restored bike to this lovely island,
Ian
2
« on: July 08, 2024, 05:34:55 PM »
I had to deliver posters for our forthcoming Classic Show today, so I dragged the 550 out for a run around the West Mainland (of Orkney). Sorry about the rack and top-box if they offend the purists but I had other stuff to carry too!
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This is looking west towards the Kitchener's Monument
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....and then north west towards the Brough of Birsay about a mile from home.
The Classic show is at the Orkney Auction Mart on Saturday 3rd August and Sunday 4th August where there will be cars, bikes, tractors, commercials, implements and an indoor display. Obviously lots of food too!
Ian
3
« on: June 14, 2024, 01:16:17 PM »
Hi Folks,
It's time I got on with this unloved 250 RSE (only the A is missing). I've had it some years and it's relatively unmolested apart from a 2 into 1 system. Quite a rare machine - DOHC, one pot, 2 carbs! Anyone able to point me in the direction of rocking horse dung? AKA pipes and silencers.
It will soon be tax exempt (unless the new gov knock that on the head) so ought to be allowed to live to fight another day.
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This is a pic of what they look like - mines a red one!
Ian
4
« on: May 02, 2024, 09:21:59 PM »
Managed to cut the grass first thing, so felt that I had earned a ride out. Passing a friend's place about a mile away, he was just wheeling his CRF Rally out, so with nowhere in mind we set off together and went out around the north of the Mainland (of Orkney) via Costa and Evie, into Finstown and on a whim (thought you said it was a 550?) headed for the Barrier View cafe just by the first Churchill barrier. Suitably fed and watered, Les led us out via the Airport, back through town and then had a gentle pootle back home. Really enjoyable impromptu ride of just under 60 miles.
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Ian
5
« on: May 02, 2024, 05:58:47 PM »
Hi folks,
I've been using the picture resizing facility when posting but it seems to have disappeared now. I usually take pics with iphone or ipad which are often over the 3Mb limit and in the past you were able to choose a smaller size after you had selected the desired image. Is there an easy way around this?
Ian
6
« on: April 13, 2024, 12:51:45 PM »
Just a quick note to tell you of a workaround. I needed to reface a very badly pitted exhaust valve from a Fairbanks Morse stationary engine - 7/16" diameter. I didn't want to use a 3 jaw as I knew it would chatter (slightly worn jaws) but only had a 12mm 5C collet. Slid some heat shrink sleeving on the valve stem and warmed it up to shrink it. Fitted the collet perfectly and produced a lovely finish on the valve seat face! The heat shrink sleeving is so thin and the collet has so much radial contact that it was a very rigid set up.
I used to be an engineer but I'm OK now!
Ian
7
« on: March 23, 2024, 04:17:24 PM »
Just got the silencer back from Quality Chrome in Hull - this is the one I got from Simon last year which was battery acid stained. They have made a great job of it and it fits well with the overall condition of the rest of the bike - never meant to be a show piece but a rider.
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I also re-rimmed the rear wheel and plated the spokes. Unfortunately with one of those heavily scripted DID jobs from DS.
Will do the front one when time permits.
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Also made a qd rack which fits without moving the indicators and can be removed in a few minutes if necessary.
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Ian
8
« on: March 19, 2024, 03:42:01 PM »
The insurance on my latest steed - the Forza runs out mid April but because of this forthcoming trip to Germany and Austria, I wanted to increase the mileage for the next policy and add EU breakdown cover. I logged on to the 'portal' and tried to find contact details - I won't say the company name but apparently you only have to make 'One Call'  - except you can't! They send no reply emails, there is no phone number and if you receive a text, you can't reply to that either. So you request a chat - for the last few days i've been number 48, 37 and today 22 in the queue. I eventually got through (27 mins) and told them I don't want to renew and not to do any auto renewal. They then tried to re-quote cheaper but I gave up and ended the chat before I got abusive. All my classics and the Super Cub are with PJ but they said when I was buying the bike that they would not be competitive - hence a separate policy. After lunch today, 4 minutes after picking up the phone to PJ, I'm sorted and they will include the Forza with unlimited mileage and EU breakdown cover for a very good price. Hopefully I will escape ever having to deal with these 'Chat' systems again where you can feel your blood pressure rising and your life ebbing away! Too many rants used up today, will have to borrow some from next week! Ian
9
« on: February 22, 2024, 03:03:50 PM »
Hi folks,
Finished the stand pivot - many thanks Ash for the detailed drawing. Have a new centre stand spring from DS and can clearly see the attachment lug on the stand (which could be the wrong one anyway!) but can't see the normal curled pin to attach the other end via the half moon plate to attach the frame end of the spring. Hope it's not been snapped off/ground off as the paintwork is nice under there. Anyone got a shot of how it attaches?
Ian
10
« on: February 05, 2024, 01:21:09 PM »
Spring cleaning like many others!
For Sale:
400/4 fuel tank, tap, cap and genuine side panels (no grommets) Tank is good inside, tiny mark on left side top and v small chip where you accidentally bump it against the headstock when fitting. Tank and panels were painted almost 20 years ago in Ford Metallic black with gold lines and big H wings. Not been welded but many small dings filled prior to paint. Side panel badges have bubbles under but lacquer not split.
£180 (won't split) plus post at cost.
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Ian
11
« on: December 23, 2023, 03:54:15 PM »
Still looking for some parts for this CD175 I'm completing for a friend. Some are going to be a real challenge and may have to have bits from other sources fitted. Would like to find an ignition switch with number or key, complete rear lamp and gear lever. I also would like a pic of the centre stand pin (pref next to a rule) so that I can make one and would also like to know what the short projection on the right hand side is for. These are available but only at stupid money for relatively simple pin.
Ian
12
« on: December 04, 2023, 03:07:43 PM »
Hi folks,
I'm just working away at this Sloper for a friend. On the surface it looks OK with fresh paint, chrome and a few NOS parts but when you delve deeper it's a shiny 'throw together to sell' item. He thought it was a minter just needing finishing - how wrong he was. A case of 'all that glitters......'. Anyway it's down to muggins here to get it finished. The engine has been painted (poorly) in one big lump and it's doubtful it has had any work done and my present issue is the peg (or lack of) in the cam which drives the advance/retard unit and hence the c/b cam. I can make one from silver steel but was it originally a press fit to keep it from being thrown out? It ain't going to work without one, that's for sure.
Ian
13
« on: November 16, 2023, 03:52:16 PM »
A friend up here bought an unfinished CD175 project a couple of years ago and has asked if I will make it into a runner. There is quite a bit missing of course and I know some stuff is unobtainium. Although it looks like someone has made a nice shiny job of some of it, attention to detail is poor and it looks like the engine has been painted in one big lump so heaven knows what's lurking inside.
Anyway, on with the pleas! I would like to actually see if it runs before I go much further but it will need a kickstart and gear lever - any out there - even rough ones?
I can rig an ignition source with other 12volt stuff temporarily and there is a reasonably good carb.
Any help would be appreciated. I'll make a list of missing bits later in the vain hope that someone has at least some of it in their stash
Ian
14
« on: November 12, 2023, 04:23:05 PM »
I was round at a friends place yesterday who is restoring an AJS which was bought new in Westray. The old chap who bought it gave my friend a picture of him astride the bike when it was new. Leslie has pinned it up on the wall for inspiration. As I was examining the photograph, I couldn't quite make out the name on the fork shroud, so I place a thumb and forefinger on it to expand it! So used to these ipads and phones these days! Christine thinks it's time I was put down!
Ian
15
« on: November 11, 2023, 08:17:30 PM »
I've been asked to have a look at a few bikes which belonged to a great friend here in Orkney who has passed away, with a view to them being offered for sale. There is a CB500T, a CX500 and a CB750. The first two are no real problem to me but I know 4/5 of bugger all about 750s. All three bikes (and there are others to go eventually) haven't been run for a couple of years and brakes are stuck and the throttle doesn't turn on the 750 so all will need re-commissioning.
Can someone advise which model of 750 this is please? Condition-wise the 750 is good but not perfect but has a full set of 341s, a small dent in an otherwise good front guard and a shallow dent in the tank on one side. A US bike with a big rear light, chrome mount and large indicators?
A ball park figure would help for moving it on - I realise it's only worth what someone is prepared to pay!
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Ian
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