Thumper Club Forum

Technical => Bike Problems/Questions => Topic started by: Itsme on October 02, 2022, 01:16:01 PM

Title: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: Itsme on October 02, 2022, 01:16:01 PM
I went to see a mate today and whilst on the way I felt a little change in the way the Mighty Midget was running followed by a lot more backfiring on the overrun. Long story short for those who haven't guessed; silencer had cracked at the pipe joint, frame bracket for silencer had broken and pipe Y-piece had cracked through! Bugger.

On the bright side: with a bit of judicial wiring on the MM got me the 30 miles home ok, and it is an opportunity to convert it to two separate pipes with a silencer each. Might not be ideal, but at least the MM lives again! Hurrah.

Just out of interest what, if any, carb adjustments might be necessary going from a 2 into 1 to a 2 into 2? Judging by how it ran on the way home with everything broken and hanging off, not many. I already don't run an air filter so maybe it will all balance up? Any thoughts welcomed.

Spartacian the noisy.
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: Moto63 on October 02, 2022, 03:57:31 PM
Also on the bright side Ian... eerr sorry, spartacian (the noisy) “loud pipes save lives” and I don’t mind the odd noisy pipe. (As I’m sure you’re aware😉)
Name withheld to protect the noisy
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: themoudie on October 02, 2022, 09:42:22 PM
Aye, added weight to lower the centre of gravity and an ability to produce pretty sparks from both sides, whilst making progress through S bends! Hooligan! ;D

If you are already running without an air filter, I would suggest a plug chop to check the main jet size and maybe a wee richen up (more fuel) to the pilot mixture and hope that the slide mixture isn't messed up. Personally, I would stick with 2 into 1 for simplicity, but understand jury rigging may not allow this.  :)

Good health Spartacian, Bill
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: Itsme on October 03, 2022, 03:09:57 PM
Hi

Thanks Bill and Michael for the comments. I too would prefer to stay 2 into 1 Bill, but talent, cash and availability of reasonable exhausts with no broken bits prevent this just now sadly. I will indeed take readings and be careful how things are being affected.

Ian
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: themoudie on October 03, 2022, 10:09:40 PM
PM'd you!!!!!!!!!

Bill
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: Itsme on October 04, 2022, 07:12:30 AM
Hi Bill

Thanks, I can't see your message yet.

Ian
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: themoudie on October 04, 2022, 12:55:37 PM
OOOps! Should read email, Ian.  :-[  My apologies for the incorrect terminology.

Bill
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: spooky on October 04, 2022, 02:41:45 PM
Complete exhausts are listed from Aliexpress for not a lot of money, it`s a while since i used them but might be worth looking at ?
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: Itsme on October 05, 2022, 05:59:29 AM
Hi again all

Once agin thank you for all the ideas and comments, Bill I don't have an email from you yet. Did you use yamsr400@gmail.com? That is my current email address.

I now have a better plan for sorting the MM out thanks to my wife's friend offering to lend me her Lexmoto 125 for a few weeks. At least I can get to work etc now.I will be taking my broken exhaust to a mate of mine who is a dab hand with his welding plant so that he can patch it back together for me OR if that proves to be impossible I might just buy another CBF500. They are cheap, reliable, I like them and I have most of one left over as spares from when I had my last one.

If I do this I will then treat the MM to a proper re-build and keep it as a spare bike as I like it so much. My issue is that I start and finish work at ungodly hours 20 miles away from home and there is no bus service that would take less than 2 hours to make the journey even if they ran at the times I need. Therefore reliable transport is vital and up to now the MM has been faultless so I don't see a need to get rid of it once it is sorted. Also my previous 2 CBF 500s were both bomb-proof and one of them had 147,000 miles on it.

Does this mean I'm growing up? I hope not.

Spartacian the immature
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: themoudie on October 05, 2022, 10:31:35 AM
Aye Spartacian,

Used the link on the forum, not your published email, so "C'est la vie!", as to where it may have gone and not relevant now that you are re-setting your course of action.

CB500 sounds a good idea, along with a rebuild of the MM, providing there is some Fe to weld and not just FeO2.  ;)

Good health, Bill
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: Itsme on October 05, 2022, 12:11:55 PM
Aye Spartacian,

Used the link on the forum, not your published email, so "C'est la vie!", as to where it may have gone and not relevant now that you are re-setting your course of action.

CB500 sounds a good idea, along with a rebuild of the MM, providing there is some Fe to weld and not just FeO2.  ;)

Good health, Bill
[/quote

Thanks Bill and no worries as I leave the clever bits to Dave and his magic metal skills!

Ian
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: Itsme on October 07, 2022, 10:22:12 AM
Complete exhausts are listed from Aliexpress for not a lot of money, it`s a while since i used them but might be worth looking at ?

Hi Rufus

I've had a look at those exhausts and they certainly seem reasonable. Was dealing with Aliexpress ok? Any concerns about anything whilst buying from them?

I'd appreciate any information you may be able to offer.

Ian
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: iansoady on October 07, 2022, 10:59:08 AM
I used aliexpress once some years ago for a set of tyre pressure monitoring devices to fit my car. I fitted them as per instructions - next morning one tyre was flat. Pumped it up, fitted cap again scrupulously following instrctions but no joy.

I tried for ages to get my money back but the seller just kept pretending he/she didn't understand what I was aying, so in the end gave up. I'm sure other people have better experiences but I won't use them again.
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: spooky on October 07, 2022, 12:46:15 PM
I bought intake rubbers and some other small bits off aliexpress for a GN a few years ago, can`t remember any hassle apart from delivery time was a bit long....
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: Itsme on October 07, 2022, 12:54:55 PM
Hi guys

Thank you for your replies they were helpful. Still thinking of all my options for the Mighty Midget.

Ian
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: Moto63 on October 07, 2022, 07:55:41 PM
Evening Ian, not sure if you remember our mate Robert who went out with us when you came up in your Enfield. (Cracking run out that by the way, thoroughly enjoyed it👍) well he used aliexpress a couple of time but the items he bought both time were complete junk 👎
Personally I wouldn’t buy anything from them on the strength of what he received through the post.
Cheers, Michael
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: Itsme on October 08, 2022, 05:31:10 AM
Hi Michael

I do indeed remember Robert and that ride out, which as you say was a really good day. We must try harder next year to have another gathering as I found your riding mates to be a great group of blokes.

Thanks also for the information I think on balance I will avoid Aliexpress. My wife had problems with her Nissan X Trail a few years ago and the garage my son was working at bought a Chinese turbo which turned out to be faulty and the place they bought it from just didn't want to know. As the old adage says 'buy cheap buy twice'.

I don't have to rush as my wife's friend said I can hang on to her Lexmoto 125 as long as I like. Very generous and it is a hoot to ride being a lot quieter and more civilised than the MM. I suppose it qualifies as a Thumpette!

Spartacian the cautious.
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: Itsme on October 09, 2022, 10:09:04 AM
Things change all the time in my world! I have ordered a new exhaust for the MM from thebay as it seemed to be the only sensible course of action.

Should arrive by Wednesday then I will be back to normal...........so to speak.

For what it is worth the Lexmoto is quiet, but bloody awful. No torque, no power and not nice to ride at all. I went to my daughter's on it yesterday which is 15 miles away along a fairly straight and flat A road with a 50mph limit and I had to keep going up and down the gearbox to try to keep going even at 40.

Think D1 Bantam for those old enough to remember or CZ 125!

Ian
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: themoudie on October 09, 2022, 02:50:38 PM
Quote
Think D1 Bantam for those old enough to remember or CZ 125!
OH! Deep joy! My first venture on two wheels (D1) and cost £5, with the "small bits" in a tea chest!  ::)

Good health, Bill
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: Itsme on October 10, 2022, 08:37:29 AM
Quote
Think D1 Bantam for those old enough to remember or CZ 125!
OH! Deep joy! My first venture on two wheels (D1) and cost £5, with the "small bits" in a tea chest!  ::)

Good health, Bill

Tiger Cub for me and I still have a soft spot for them!

Ian

Had a few CZ 125s as well, not such a soft spot for them though!
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: iansoady on October 10, 2022, 09:41:00 AM
My first was a Francis Barnett Plover with all of 150cc. It happily took me to various power stations in the North East when I was a technical apprentice with the CEGB. Rose-tinted googles led my to by a FB Cruiser and restore it last year but that was another of my misadventures!
Title: Re: Well I didn't expect that!
Post by: spooky on October 10, 2022, 11:18:30 AM
First two wheeler was a Vespa for a year and then a Velo 350 MAC...