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Topics - Orcade-Ian
1
« on: May 15, 2026, 03:40:59 PM »
I was looking at my Ashman steel toe-capped motorcycle boots the other day and felt that perhaps they should be replaced. They have been fantastic boots for over 25 years but I couldn't seem to find any suitable replacements. The left boot sole was quite worn - I always stop with left foot down, so that was to be expected.
Whilst idly trawling the web, I came across the 'Boot Repair Company' in Hunslet, Leeds and sent them an email with pics. Immediate reply came - just parcel them up and send them, we'll re-sole them and re-stick that gear-change pad. New Vibram soles, £79 plus post. They quoted upto 4 weeks turn around - they took NINE days from posting in Orkney to receiving back home!
Seems a really good option, as these boots have been really comfortable - even for fairly lengthy walks.
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Ian
2
« on: May 08, 2026, 06:03:05 PM »
The battery on our 5 KVA standby generator has never been brilliant and needed charging every month or so. As a temporary measure I fitted the Motobatt from my 400/4 - a noticeable improvement in speed of starting - it's a Honda GX 270 single engine. Looking for a replacement - I was quoted £110 plus post and vat. A friend showed me an article in a bike mag from a company called 'Biker's Toolbox' who had a Sodium Ion battery on test on a big BMW and were very impressed with its performance. Difficult to believe that it's only a 3AH rating BUT has 300 cold cranking amps as opposed to the original BMW one of 200 CCA.
I ordered one (£51 inc del to Orkney) and it arrived today. I can't believe how little it weighs! Under 1Kg. Fitted to the Genny it flings the thing over faster than the original battery ever did, or the almost new, fully charged Motobatt.
It would easily fit the 350/400 and 550 fours I have and has dual terminals.
I'll see how things go but apparently they do not suffer the problems associated with lead acid batteries - time will tell but worth a gamble to me!
Ian
3
« on: March 02, 2026, 09:30:00 AM »
Spring cleaning again! I have a metal based 'Jumbo' seat for 72/77. I believe they were an option from Honda back in the day. Wider than standard. Scruffy looking, rusty but not rotten base, cover damaged. It's quite heavy so postage won't be cheap. Twenty quid would buy it, plus post.
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Ian
4
« on: January 04, 2026, 01:14:22 PM »
Tried using the search facility without success and unless I dreamt it, someone posted a link to a source of a heavy duty HYVO primary chain (was it for a Kawasaki?). I'm doing my spare 350/4 engine and thought I might try one - not sure why really as a new genuine Honda one will easily see me out!
Ian
5
« on: December 05, 2025, 04:58:48 PM »
I was contacted recently by someone I didn't know, via a friend, who had found a dismembered motorcycle in the loft of a building in Shapinsay (one of the smaller Orkney Isles to the north of Kirkwall). His intention is to try to reassemble it but leave it with the proverbial 'oily rag' finish - something I certainly agree with in this case. It's a 1937 Panther 350 and according to the owners club is one of only a handful known to exist.
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My task is to see if I can reassemble the engine, which has been stripped completely.
He sent some pics of what it looks like and an old tax disc shows 1951 - no pressure then! If it could be made to run, that would be a huge bonus - I see no good reason why it shouldn't.
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Christine and I had a trip out on the ferry last Saturday to view this inanimate pile of scrap but I came back with quite a few parts to de-rust, clean and assess. It actually looks more promising than I first thought. A couple of frame parts are tied together with a Scarths label, which was a well respected engineering company here, sadly no longer with us and many of the skilled folk who worked there have also shuffled off.
Ian
6
« on: September 26, 2025, 01:22:09 PM »
Having just won a bottle of whisky for being the oldest rider at 76 on last week's charity ride, it reminded me of the old chap who had just had his check up at the doctors. 'Can I still have sex at 82' he asked. 'I don't see why not' replied the doctor but knowing the chap was single said 'But why do you ask?' 'Well' said the chap 'It's getting bloody difficult crossing that road to number 67'
Ian
7
« on: September 22, 2025, 10:26:23 AM »
A good friend here in Orkney is wanting to sell a bike from his collection. It's a 1976 Kawasaki KH 400 in original unrestored, unmolested, near perfect condition - as are all of his bikes. It has covered fewer than 7000 miles. He is asking £6500 and delivery could be arranged at cost using our excellent couriers. If you or anyone you know might be interested, if you PM me I'll put you in touch with Leslie for further info.
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Ian
8
« on: September 07, 2025, 08:56:16 AM »
I don't think this fits into the 'humour' category - it's too near the truth!
I was at our Science festival gathering yesterday, where the Vintage Club put on a display of tractors, cars and bikes opposite the Cathedral in Kirkwall. There was a a lady and her son nearby and she asked the lad 'What do you want to do when you grow up?' 'I want to be a motorcyclist when I grow up' was his reply. The lady then said 'I'm afraid you can't do both'
Ian
9
« on: September 05, 2025, 07:48:49 PM »
A strange one!
I got a call from a friend here in Orkney who has got involved with his friend's classic car - it's quite a nice 1937 Standard Flying 10. He bought it from a dealer South and had it shipped up to Aviemore and had a few drives in it around there before driving it home up to Orkney. I think the long climb up Berriedale might have started the problem but as he got about 10 miles from home it really started knocking - he had it recovered and now it's on my friend's two post lift with the sump off.
The sump has stacks of 'shrapnel' pieces in the bottom and on removing the big end caps there are no traces of big end shell, except on rod 4 with this piece stuck to the rod - ALL others have disappeared!
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You can actually break chunks off this shell with your fingers!
There is very minor scoring on the big end journals which are already 30 thou undersize. We removed the centre main bearing cap which has traditional bi-metal shells with steel backing and looks almost as new with no damage to it or the journal.
Has anyone come across this type of shell which appears to be just one material - possibly sintered? Or perhaps there are some cheap shells made from Chinesium?
He has found a set of -30 NOS shells which just MIGHT get it running but a full rebuild will be on cards soon, I fear. If these fragments of soft bearing material have found themselves elsewhere (highly likely) then they may be soft enough not to cause further damage.
Ian
10
« on: May 11, 2025, 06:17:17 PM »
Glad everything seems to be back working - many thanks Steve!
Anyway, I decided to bite the bullet and order a new CDI unit for this CBX250 with no spark - everything checks out ok but the readings for the CDI are nowhere near. CMSNL web site had a 'hurry, only 2 left' message so I pushed the button. A few days later (after taking my money from Paypal) I got an email saying 'out of stock, refund due'. About a week later, the refund arrived but was around £11 less than I had paid. A couple of bullshit email replies later, I'm still about £11 out of pocket (exchange rates, Paypal commissions etc)
I don't think payment should be taken until the item is existent and ready for dispatch, so be very sure when ordering from these people that they ACTUALLY have stock before parting with card or Paypal details. If that had been for a £1000 plus order, you could be at least £50 out of pocket!
By the way - their web-shite still shows 'last one left'. I think if it had been a larger amount, I might have contacted a Solicitor.
Ian
11
« on: March 23, 2025, 08:51:54 AM »
Hi folks,
Does anyone know if there are any companies who can re-anodise alloy rims? It's a silver Takasago rim from an 80's Suzuuki and of course they are unobtainable. It's not in bad condition - just a few scratches and general marks. I know chemically it's not just a simple process - they have to know the composition of the alloy I believe.
Ian
12
« on: January 30, 2025, 01:14:34 PM »
I've had a grotty looking CBX 250 RSE for a good few years - unloved in a far corner of the shed. In a moment of madness I cleared the bike bench and put it on. I knew it didn't have a spark right from first getting it but too many other jobs intervened. It has the radial four valve DOHC unit, like an XBR or GB 250/400/500 but with 2 carbs on a single pot with twin exhausts.
There is some kind of 'exciter' or igniter behind the r/h engine cover with two wires. They read open circuit between the two wires. If its just a coil, then I would have expected a reading. If it's some kind of other sensor, maybe it only changes state at point of ignition. Anyone had any experience of these rather scarce machines? Needless to say, new parts are unobtainable!
This is what they should look like - mine's a red one!
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Ian
13
« on: December 06, 2024, 06:58:02 PM »
Well unfortunately we had to go down from home in Orkney to a funeral of a great mate in Hull who we've known for over 50 years. Every cloud has a silver lining though and apart from visiting a few relatives and friends (naturally reducing in number as the years go by) a good friend and I managed a trip to see Ash - a very well respected forum member and after a well needed brew and a right good yarn, we had a chance to see just a fraction of his excellent collection and progress with his many projects - many thanks Ash, top man! and for the donated mudguard stay!
Ian
14
« on: November 04, 2024, 10:59:27 AM »
Am I missing something?
I have been using Araldite since I was an apprentice in the Aircraft industry in the 1960's. In those days it was in 2 separate tubes and equal amounts were used - simple! Then a new system was introduced to dispense the two parts equally, which took out any possibility of error - a great improvement. Unfortunately, this system has been 'improved' yet again with 2 only nozzles with mixing chambers, which are then left full of unused and unusable product. Am I missing something, or am I now expected to use the whole package with only 2 applications? I have always just dispensed the required amount for the job. Perhaps they are following the Colman's Mustard model who made their fortune, not from what people consumed but what was always left at the edge of the plate!!
Ian
15
« 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
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