It lives!

[Itsme]

Thanks to all of you gents who have been so generous with your advice and encouragement, not to mention patience, I had another go at cleaning the carb on the MM today and with the help of a little WD40 as a starting fluid it chimed into life! What a fabulous moment. There is a lot of fettling and tidying to do but now I have the enthusiasm back.

Thanks once again all, I think without your help the MM might just have been consigned to a dark place.

Ian

[kevberlin]

Ace news…..I’ve been following your struggles Ian. Top work.

[Moto63]

Ace news…..Top work.

The first two words of Kevin’s post say it all Ian. Proper chuffed for you, perfect timing too (see what I did there 🧥🚪🚕🤦) nicely give you time to get all the other bits n bobs sorted ready for the clocks going forward and those lovey warmer days sneaking in. Great stuff... the MM rides again 👍
Cheers, Michael

[Itsme]

Thanks chaps. I am looking forward to many more miles on the little beggar when I have finished fettling.

Ian

[Itsme]

Bit of a false dawn by the looks of things, though bad and good. I tried the MM this morning and no go unless I used starter fluid (WD40) so at least now I can be confident that it is a fuel fault. When I can be bothered I will buy a cheap Chinese carb and also refresh the fuel in the tank which being E10 is rumoured to lose its volatility quickly and the stuff in the tank is now a couple of months old.

One step backward but another forward. Remind me, why do we like old bikes? Just off for a toddle on Newzuki.

Ian

[iansoady]

Good - if mixed - news Ian. I've fitted a Mikuni clone to the Tri-Greeves but it isn't entirely successful partly because I had to severely butcher the flange to get it to fit. However it was only £15 or so and seems very well made. I doi have a selection of slow running and main jets if you go down that route.

I've rebuilt the original monobloc but haven't been able to try it yet.

[themoudie]

Aye Ian,

E10 older than 6 weeks, without fuel stabiliser, is p!sh! Throw it away and get some fresh E5 in there, with stabiliser, afore spending more filthy lucre on a Chinese carb. Pleased to note that the wee whizz bang hasn't coughed it's last. 

Good health, Bill

[Moto63]

Yes got to be E5 defo. I never put E10 in either of my bikes (900 speed twin & 125 grom) even tho they are both new. Do as Bill suggests Ian and try some new fuel in first 🤞🤞
Cheers, Michael

[Itsme]

Thanks gentlemen, as ever a mine of useful information. It is good to know Ian that a cheap Chinese carb wouldn't be a complete waste of money, but taking the advice of Michael and Bill I will be trying some fresh E5 first.

I am sure the MM wants to run, now more so than ever, but like our long-case clock once one tiny thing is disturbed lots of other things seem to go out of adjustment. I am pretty sure that if I get the motor running then I can work through the other things methodically and have the bike ready for spring. With Justin our clock (Justin Time - sorry) we wait for our friend Trev to pop over as he is an horologist and knows what to tweak to get it running again, sadly he knows nothing about thumpers. But you lot do!

Ian

[themoudie]

Aye Ian,

Thank you for your generous compliment.

As for longcases, worth diddly squit these days, I have a bitsa, assembled by my Great grandfather that my Dad gotn running again. However, since Dad's passing I haven't re-assembled it, as we don't have a permanent space for it. You may have poked the nerve! It has a nice mechanism, but the old oak case was "relief carved" by some Victorian butcher, as was their want at the time. 

Good health, Bill

[Itsme]

How right you are Bill, longcases can be picked up for a few quid now. We didn't pay a lot for Justin as he is a marriage of movement in a different case. We bought him about 15 years ago and only keep him so Trev has something to do when he comes down from Yorkshire, without his free ministrations Justin would have been 'beyond economical repair' long ago.

We also had a bracket clock given to my wife by her friend when her husband died as Hilary liked the clock. Jules her friend had had the clock 'repaired' in Egypt where she has lived for the past 40 years and when Trev looked inside it he just made horrified noises and muttered 'there's an effing nail in here holding the mechanism in'. I don't think he was impressed.

Ian

[Itsme]

Just a quick update. I have now simplified and renewed the wiring and have a much stronger and more consistent spark which is obviously good. However at some point over the next few days I will be draining the carb and trying a start on lovely, fresh E5. If the MM runs then all well and good, if not then I am at a loss.

Fingers crossed and I will let you know the results.

Ian

[Moto63]

Certainly sounds promising Ian, hopefully that bit of light at the end of the tunnel for you with it all now. Best of luck with it and keep us posted on your progress. The MM WILL ride again 😉🤞
Cheers, Michael

[kevberlin]

As the above Ian. Good luck.

[CrazyFrog]

Fingers crossed Ian...