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Topics - Drew400
1
« on: March 22, 2020, 08:50:19 AM »
Hello all,
When I rebuilt my 400/4 some years ago, I didn't quite seal it properly so I have oil weeps from most of the major split points (i.e. cylinder head, block base, etc.). They're not bad enough to worry much about, I just wipe it over every time I use it... it's hardly old British bike territory!
However (you know what's coming), this enforced isolation business is a good opportunity to spend time in the garage fixing it.
My question is this:
I would like to buy all the bits I need to do the job IN ONE HIT (especially as some of it will come from David Silver and so I'd just like to pay one lot of postage please)! Is there anything else I need on my shopping list in addition to these items:
- Gasket set
- Oil seals set
- Head bolts (with oil seal washers)
- Hylomar or some such
Thank you, D.
2
« on: February 06, 2020, 04:44:48 PM »
I have Boyer Bransden electronic ignition on my 400/4 with standard coils. It pre-dates my ownership of the bike and so the system is at least 10 years old.
In the last year I have had two or three occasions when the bike wouldn't start after a few weeks in my garage (dry & heated and battery mate used constantly). The cause = no spark. So off with the timing cover on the assumption of condensation. On the first occasion that was enough to sort it. Fine.
On the second occasion, I ended up removing the blue & yellow wires that attach to the stator plate. Touching them together with the ignition on forced a spark and, after re-fitting, the bike fired/ran with no problem.
This time (lovely warm February day tempted me out to test my new helmet) all suited and booted but no spark. Off with the timing cover, etc. This time still no spark after the previous exercises so I contacted Boyer Bransden. They replied almost immediately (that's always a good sign).
Their first tip was use an ordinary hair dryer to warm the ignition unit that resides under the seat. So I borrowed my wife's hair dryer and, hey presto, big spark and the bike running fine again.
I don't know of any blokes who own their own hair dryer, but I'm going to become one, if only to keep in my garage.
I couldn't see any evidence of this being posted before suspect I'm not the only one to have experienced this 'phenomenon'.
PS - I rang Boyer Bransden to ask why this worked. They said something about chemicals in the capacitors responding to heat. Fair enough!
3
« on: February 16, 2019, 09:35:05 AM »
Perhaps they're commonplace and it's just me.
This one was in Hoi An, Vietnam.
4
« on: July 22, 2018, 10:44:21 AM »
Hello all,
Can anybody out there identify this? It's clearly some kind of transformer with interchangeable rates for voltage. It's also clearly old and British (possibly military?). I've been clearing out my late father-in-law's house and couldn't throw this away!
It wouldn't surprise me if someone on this site knows exactly what it is, after all we like old machinery, etc.
Dear Forum Master... feel free to delete this post if you think I'm abusing the forum. That's not my intention and I wouldn't want to dilute the effectiveness of the forum as a result of this post!
Thank you all,
D.
5
« on: July 23, 2017, 06:02:42 PM »
Hi all, I noticed this advert that makes claims about the authenticity of a Phil Read Rep for sale. Whilst I'm no expert, I can't help noticing that the ignition keys are sticking out from the middle of the handlebars, rather than being tucked away in the left fairing as they should be. http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C794627I'm sure that people on this forum know more about such things than me and can add their comments hereto! Cheers, D.
7
« on: June 26, 2017, 10:22:24 PM »
Apologies to anyone who doesn't get it, but I find this sort of thing rather satisfying...
8
« on: April 10, 2017, 10:27:25 AM »
Although I think they're both sublime... and no, the other one isn't mine!
9
« on: February 17, 2017, 06:25:20 PM »
Today I managed to take out both bikes on fairly salt-free roads and in lovely weather.
Hope you managed to do the same (and have now tucked it/them away in a nice snug garage/shed)!
Cheers, D.
10
« on: January 18, 2017, 05:07:55 PM »
Hi all, My wife loves bikes, bikers (Ok, only me, I think) and MotoGP. So I made her this for Christmas. She was delighted! If you want to see it in action, here's my 9 second video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwFf6ZfMXRIWith more time and smaller paint brushes I could have been more accurate, but that wasn't really the point! Cheers, D.
11
« on: January 04, 2017, 07:11:21 PM »
Hi experts,
I have decided to refurbish my rear brake master cylinder. However, having removed the awkwardly stuck circlip, I can't get inside it.
As you can see from the picture below, the circlip is out. I’m guessing (from the exploded parts diagram) that the 'this bit' marked in the picture should ease out (under pressure from the spring behind it?) and is only held in place by the circlip. However, it's not moving after some very gentle persuasion and WD40 soaking.
Any hints or tips on how to progress or explanations about what I’m doing wrong?
Thank you,
D.
12
« on: December 14, 2016, 08:17:12 PM »
Hi all,
It's been a while...
I have noticed a very small pool of brake fluid underneath the 750's brake pedal when parked up in my garage (coz I ain't going far in UK winter!) .
I suspect it's from the master cylinder that probably needs a refit of plunger rubbers, etc. It might simply be the jubilee connectors from the hose.
As you can tell, I haven't yet started to strip any parts to take a proper look, but it occurred to me that some of the experts on this forum may have experience and tips where to look first, what not to touch, etc.
Any thoughts much appreciated as always.
Cheers,
D.
13
« on: August 23, 2016, 05:18:57 PM »
As our expert readers will know, the Phil Read Replica came with no mirrors or indicators. However, being a standard 750 F2 underneath, it was always ready to receive them (albeit there's no chance of fitting handlebar mirrors in the usual place).
I have introduced both to my bike without cutting any holes - which for me is important in terms of keeping the bike as original as possible.
The mirrors are a must. I bought a pair of pedal bike bar-end mirrors from Halfords (£6.99 each). Having cut off the bit that goes in the handlebar (at an angle), I could then use a longer bolt to fasten it to the windscreen in place of the plastic nut/washer. See pics.
Not only do they work fine (without any vibration nor struggling against wind) they can be folded flat out of the way if necessary.
Part 1 of this story (fitting LED indicators is on my previous thread "LED Indicators (anyone fitted them?)" in March this year. The post-script to that story is my MOT garage man loved them!
Hope that's useful to someone.
Cheers, D.
14
« on: June 20, 2016, 11:30:59 AM »
Saw this at the Bath Festival of Motoring (but didn't find the owner to chat to).
15
« on: March 15, 2016, 05:26:16 PM »
Apologies to all of the experts out there who probably know this already, but for any others like me who'd forgotten...
A useful way to catch and then decant old engine oil is care of a large hole cut into the side of a 5L plastic bottle. Once engine emptied, unscrew the top and pour into your recycling receptacle.
Cheers all, D.
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