Weekend debrief

[guest7]

Spent most of the weekend up to my armpits in XBR parts and coppaslip, trying to rebuild the 'works' sidecar outfit (the one that carries all my tools). I did quite well and we're nearly there, just got to reunite the bike and sidecar, connect the vitals (battery is in the chair) and spark her up.

One good thing was that following my exhaustive preparation (for once I can say this without being ironic) of the bike for the 2006 Elefant, it all came apart without any trouble, thanks to the coppaslip and grease.

I had one magic moment when I discovered that the swingarm I'd selected from a shelf of spares turned out to be my only bent one (why did I keep it?!). However, it only took another 15 minutes to get another and swap them over.

I would have finished it all tonight, but it's wifey's work night so I'm in the house looking after the lads (who didn't go to sleep until 8.30, grrrrr...)

Just gearing up now for the Dragon
GC

[themoudie]

More firewooding [nice ash] and burning up, lovely job with the sun on the back and able to blether with Kat. That was until an edge tree came back a bit sudden and sat on the saw, *!!!!&****?. Drove a wedge in, took the saw out, drove the wedge in further and over it came. Could have been the fence!

More done to the Morini Minx, old brake fluid really is manky stuff, I loathe it. New battery in Sally, but yet to run the tests for charging. The old one was sulphated nicely and despite 48hrs on the Optimate refused to rise above 4.5v!

Visit to Perth Bull sales this week for the craik and maybe blether with some old acquaitances. "Fine set o'cherries there bor!". "Aye, there's a pund a twa loon!".

Sorry to you all for raising 'The Dictator's ire, my competition return must have struck a raw nerve.

Toodle pip, Bill

[002]

Well Saturday I fitted a new mudguard to my sidecar.As the other had rotted.
So the outfit just needs a check over for The Dragon.
Then moved on to The Enfield Replaced the longer shocks that I had fitted as part of my ongoing modifications.
I thought altering the wheel sizes form 19" front and back,to 21"front and 18"rear would slow down the steering and present ground clearance problems.
So bought 20mm longer shocks at Stafford.Well they made it twitchy as B'ggery,so put the originals back on.
What a difference back as she used to be.And no problems.
Sunday took The Enfield on a run with the local Rat Pack,on some of the roads I know quite well....!

I think one or two were suprised at the cacophony from the combination of rattling push rods,30mm Amal,S&B filter and Gold Star silencer(?) all from a very tatty looking bike and tatty-er looking rider.Especialy at 60-80mph on twisty country roads.
Basically had a blast Home Turf giving some power rangers a run for their money.

Why do they call it a Gold Star silencer ?    
1 3/4 inch inlet.....tapers out for 2 foot to about 6inch diameter then back down sharply to a 2inch outlet.
Hold it up to the light and you can see staight through it.OK it has two perforated tubes slightly off set.

OH ! somebody did ask what is the funny rattle when I shut the throttle ?
I replied thats the Gold Star Twitter....!        
 He just looked blankly at me...!

Jethro

[themoudie]

Oh how very sad 002.

Maybe the 'rattle', was the 2 offset bits of perforated tube being liberated by the exhaust gas pulses in the traditional manner. :-)

As for your machine and your demeanour being "scruffy", I'd have thought "comfortable" was more appropriate!

Long may your decibels and diaphragm rise and fall in unison. {Bishop to Tart!}

Bill

[Steve Lake]

What a bu55er! picked up an xt 600 bottom end barrel and piston on ebay, collected it thursday night (didn't my dad say 'never buy a vehicle at night?)
why did i buy it.......well #1 srx road bike nipped up late last year.....so got that in bits and waiting to get a new +20 piston (this is NOT the main event)
#1 track bike keeps blowing head gasket, and, it's possible AndyM may be let loose on it this year, so figured i should do summat about it.
as all the threads have now been helicoiled, except one, that was so bad it now has w threaded steel insert fitted between the fins!, i figured it was time for a new(ish) barrel, which i can have bored out to match the existing piston, then have the head and top of barrel 'faced' to ensure a good seal.
It's a plan! and its got legs!, well it did have until yesterday, when i finally got all the bits laid out.....the effin head don't mate up with the xt barrel!!! Oh BUM!......Plan B............anyone got a spare plan b?

c'course....doh boy here thought thems woz all the same!!!

prat

[squirrelciv]

New drug programme lifted my spirits a bit dispite making me feel sick and I wondered out to the shed to play with Dolly. She had a bit of a wash and I fired her up to get the oil pumped round for a bit. Decided to fit my rear rack I made/SteveH welded which proved trickier than I thought. The little bit of flex I had when removing it from the frame prior to welding had completely disappeared after! That said, it is very very very stiff now and won't be moving under load (which is a good thing)
Couple of Lads I know from another bike forum popped in for a cuppa and a chat Saturday (which was nice) then it was feet up and watch the rugby (horray for England!!!)
Sunday, was a lazy start followed by my first long walk in an even longer time. Sun was out and it felt good, but it took ages to complete my marathon 5 mile hobble. Afternoon saw me on the settee watching more rugby (horray for Ireland!!!).
Quiet nights all weekend, Lynd was out overnight Saturday and pretty much a zombie on Sunday as a result. All in all, not a bad weekend. :-)

[Andy M]

It was all fixing and sorting for me:

Adjusted Bonneville chain.
Lubed everything in sight.
Used the car jack to straighten the pannier I bent in Germany.
Looked at moving the auxilliary socket but couldn't find a better spot.
Cleaned out the air filter that was full of oil due to overfilling (Oops).
Cleaned out the coil connections (moving that is a job for the next few months).
Copied a Touratech box to table conversion I saw while pricing up a new pannier base (so, thats 114 squid saved with the car jack and another 18 for copying their design , not buying one, assuming they don't sue for copyright infringement!).
Went to buy food etc. for the Dragon.
Went to my folks to borrow a camping stool.
Got suitable Dragon head gear on E-bay.
Had to order a new air temp gauge as mine didn't survive the snow (also needs modifying).

So, all in all a good weekends work if everything keeps going until next Sunday afternoon.

Andy

[guest18]

Spent Saturday running around sorting out diving kit and the dives / divers for Sunday. Had a go at convincing the Landy she should run but still no joy so I got Transalp John to come round for a few beers so he could give me a lift on Sunday.
Sunday we went diving... and dived HMS Vicinity... that bare patch of seabed *near* to the wreck of the Mallard (Isle of May area, Firth of Forth). The current was screaming and we had to abort so we logged a 16 minute dive to just over 40 metres, that works out at well over £1 a minute unfortunately

Due to time/tide/decompression requirements we then sacked it and came home. By the time everything was washed up and away it was time for bed!

Yesterday was work as usual reminding myself how bad things have become since our quality of management went through the floor at the same time as swingeing budget cuts arrived..

Ho hum, last night was feeling rough and this morning was thoroughly miserable, freezing cold despite lying in a hot bed sweating. Hoping I'm just "overtired" but I called in sick anyway (so my name is mud as we had LOADS on today).
Time for a lazy(ish) day and lots of warmth now!

[Steffan]

Spent the weekend trailing about in the metro going to some pseudo-christening do and catching the flu!
Dragon looking decidedly wobbly!!

Steffan

[mini-thumper]

Actually started the bike this weekend. And much to my surprise, considering it hasn't been started for a few months now, it came to life after only a few kicks. I did only run it for a few seconds as I get so much grief off SWMBO about "stinking the house out". But was pleased that it actually ran!

Rest of the weekend spent finishing installation of woodburning stove, some filling and plastering, and woodchip wallpaper removal. Front room should look a treat soon, and then its the turn of the front path and drive (plus whatever else she can think of). Is it me or has Spring arrived early this year? 

BB

[themoudie]

Spring arrived a while ago and a throstle were given it big lungfulls today from the top of a 30m Douglas Fir out the back of the office. Beautiful, absolutely magic. Not a cloud in the sky and the frost didn't lift all day. No snow either.

Puts a song in your heart.

Cheers, Bill