Post by: MarkCR750 on March 09, 2019, 10:19:48 PM
Post by: Johnwebley on March 09, 2019, 10:24:28 PM
I had a 197 Fanny Barnet.
Prone to seizing if thrashed.
Have fun.
Just check all you think
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Post by: Nurse Julie on March 09, 2019, 10:39:54 PM
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 09, 2019, 10:52:56 PM
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 :)
Post by: MCTID on March 09, 2019, 10:53:36 PM
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.
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 10, 2019, 07:01:22 AM
Post by: K2-K6 on March 10, 2019, 09:13:48 AM
You're brave going to Croydon, even more so staying there! :)
Post by: Laverda Dave on March 10, 2019, 09:31:26 AM
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.
Post by: royhall on March 10, 2019, 10:13:49 AM
Post by: taysidedragon on March 10, 2019, 03:23:38 PM
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. 👍🔧
Post by: Moorey on March 10, 2019, 04:03:43 PM
Post by: Spitfire on March 10, 2019, 04:21:33 PM
Cheers
Dennis
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 10, 2019, 06:02:30 PM
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!
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 10, 2019, 06:06:31 PM
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 :)
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 10, 2019, 06:16:44 PM
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.
Post by: Moorey on March 10, 2019, 06:19:59 PM
Post by: Moorey on March 10, 2019, 06:25:59 PM
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.
Just get a bog standard old charger and put it on to bring the voltage up until your clever charger can see it. even a 12v charger will do just keep an eye on the multimeter until the battery gets up to 6v then put the smart charger on and it will more than likely bring it back.
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 10, 2019, 10:29:41 PM
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 13, 2019, 05:31:04 PM
Post by: Johnwebley on March 13, 2019, 05:35:32 PM
Or is the kickstand pawl engaged?
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Post by: taysidedragon on March 13, 2019, 05:37:29 PM
I’ve noticed that in gear with the clutch in and on tickover you can’t move the bike backwards, the clutch operates well in normal use but if you try to “paddle” the bike backwards it won’t move, I wonder is this normal?, has anyone had a similar machine?.
It's a very early version of Hill Hold! 😊
Post by: davefirestorm on March 13, 2019, 05:54:33 PM
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 13, 2019, 09:49:04 PM
Have you got clutch drag?
Or is the kickstand pawl engaged?
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Hi John, I haven’t had any time to really investigate, been in France with work since picking it up and grabbed an hour on it on my return this afternoon, I don’t think the clutch is dragging, the Kickstarter works normally as far as I can tell, I will get a better look at the weekend, I’ve posted the question on a few forums so hopefully we’ll get a current owner of one that can say yay or neigh.
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 13, 2019, 09:50:15 PM
Ha, I thought the same.I’ve noticed that in gear with the clutch in and on tickover you can’t move the bike backwards, the clutch operates well in normal use but if you try to “paddle” the bike backwards it won’t move, I wonder is this normal?, has anyone had a similar machine?.
It's a very early version of Hill Hold! 😊
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 13, 2019, 09:54:02 PM
I had a James Commodore 250 few years back,couple strange facts regarding James motorcycles is that there is no owners club ( well there wasn’t in 2003) and James motorcycles sold more bikes in America one year in the 50s Than Triumph did..................I’ll get me coat (anorak) 😆There is now but their forum/web page doesn’t seem to operate correctly, I’ve posted on there or at least attempted to :(
Being an anorak is positively encouraged here Dave.
Post by: philward on March 14, 2019, 07:59:54 PM
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?That's a great gift for your dad Mark! And a lovely bike - quite fancy having a go at a small Brit bike myself.
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Post by: K2-K6 on March 14, 2019, 08:29:37 PM
If you pull it backward until it stops, then try to push the kickstart down, you'll feel if it's holding it.
Gearbox problems can be risky as if they sieze they usually have the ability to lock the rear wheel, and you can't correct it by pulling the clutch. Worth investigating to make sure it's safe to ride.
Post by: Seamus on March 16, 2019, 09:08:45 AM
( http://www.britbike.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/forum_summary )
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 16, 2019, 07:00:38 PM
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 16, 2019, 07:02:22 PM
Post by: Moorey on March 16, 2019, 07:10:55 PM
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 16, 2019, 07:13:01 PM
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 16, 2019, 07:16:25 PM
Did your battery come back up.?Ah yes forgot to say, I’ve put it on the 12v charger several times, checking it with the multimeter so as not to overcharge, and finally today it’s holding 6+ volts so a success, thanks.
Post by: Moorey on March 16, 2019, 08:06:46 PM
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 17, 2019, 08:18:23 PM
Post by: MarkCR750 on March 30, 2019, 08:50:01 PM
Post by: masonmart on March 30, 2019, 09:17:19 PM
Post by: MarkCR750 on April 01, 2019, 04:26:14 PM
Post by: Johnwebley on April 01, 2019, 04:32:34 PM
Thanks Masonmart, yes it’s a nice thing considering it was made as a workman’s commuter back in the 50’s, well the handover to Father didn’t happen!, it ran beautifully on Saturday evening but on Sunday morning it resolutely refused to start, no idea why but the spark was weak, the night before it was very good, so I’m picking up an electrex electronic ignition kit for it on Friday, I had planned to fit one eventually but will do it straight away, also having it rebored, I’ve picked up a NOS oversize piston so I’ll get that done as well, I’ll be good for a few thousand miles then.Cor.those Villiers motors are tough.
Hope it finally gets sorted and the handover goes well
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Post by: masonmart on April 01, 2019, 09:02:27 PM
Thanks Masonmart, yes it’s a nice thing considering it was made as a workman’s commuter back in the 50’s, well the handover to Father didn’t happen!, it ran beautifully on Saturday evening but on Sunday morning it resolutely refused to start, no idea why but the spark was weak, the night before it was very good, so I’m picking up an electrex electronic ignition kit for it on Friday, I had planned to fit one eventually but will do it straight away, also having it rebored, I’ve picked up a NOS oversize piston so I’ll get that done as well, I’ll be good for a few thousand miles then.
The problem I've had with classic 2T's of mine (super 6) is that eventually you can't get them to run well because the crankcase seals harden and fail through not being used. Small 2Ts were amazing then because there were so many different variations. They're difficult to use now because of the performance gap with modern traffic. Still fantastic bikes.
Post by: MarkCR750 on April 01, 2019, 10:10:18 PM
Post by: Bryanj on April 02, 2019, 08:45:48 AM
Post by: Rozabikes Tim on April 02, 2019, 02:56:31 PM
I had this T250 up until a couple of years ago, no problem keeping up with traffic on that as you know with your super six they go like stink!, no wonder so many 17 year olds came to grief on them back in the day, as you say the older 2 strokes are a different story, 60 mph flat out for the James and about a week to get there, worse than that though are the brakes, bloody terrifying by modern standards!Was that basically an off road Hustler?
Post by: MarkCR750 on April 02, 2019, 04:32:29 PM
Post by: MarkCR750 on April 05, 2019, 08:59:07 PM
I seem to remember that the condensers used to fail for a passtime and that could be your weak spark.The condenser is being consigned to history tomorrow Bryan, and the points, and the brass flywheel, I went to Villiers spares in Brierley Hill today and bought an electrex electronic ignition kit, (had a “while you wait” rebore done as well), should achieve CB750 level reliability tomorrow, well almost 🙂
Post by: MarkCR750 on April 22, 2019, 06:57:24 PM
Post by: Nurse Julie on April 22, 2019, 07:04:52 PM
Post by: SteveD CB500K0 on April 22, 2019, 07:06:20 PM
I’m going to leave that picture out for my son
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Post by: Laverda Dave on April 22, 2019, 07:48:36 PM
Post by: Johnwebley on April 22, 2019, 07:52:52 PM
Well the handover to Father happened today, as you can see from his expression he was rather pleased! (Attachment Link)
likes the spitting image of my Francis Barnet,197cc 9E motor,left hand exhaust,
think I sold it for £25 about 1966 !!!
mine never looked that good,hope your dad enjoys
Post by: philward on April 22, 2019, 09:34:50 PM
Well the handover to Father happened today, as you can see from his expression he was rather pleased! (Attachment Link)A picture paints a thousand words!
Post by: MarkCR750 on April 22, 2019, 09:38:35 PM
Post by: paul G on April 23, 2019, 02:48:19 PM
Post by: MarkCR750 on April 23, 2019, 07:06:17 PM
Post by: Moorey on April 23, 2019, 08:38:53 PM
Post by: MarkCR750 on April 24, 2019, 06:32:57 PM
Post by: Moorey on April 24, 2019, 07:33:53 PM