NEW PROJECT (BUT NOT A THUMPER)

[iansoady]

Good result, my experiences with easy outs have been very mixed and I'm always worried they'll break off and make the problem 10 times worse. I'm a great believer in easy start if a bike is initially reluctant - if it fires on that then it's a fuel issue, if not ignition. Usually.......

[xbally]

Thanks Ian.
I too was dubious about using an easy out as my experiences with them until now have not been good.
I did give the offending thread a good soaking with release fluid and was encouraged by the help from my friends who have much more experience of these things than I do.
I found a very helpful You Tube video. I know these can often be misleading but on this occasion fortunately it worked.
And yes I agree (and so do my friends)we think it's a fuelling issue not ignition.
The fuel that I drained out was supposedly 2 years old.
I'm hoping with some use the carbs will be OK but again it's so common to have carb problems after a lay up that I'll be very lucky if the carbs don't have to be stripped and ultrasonically cleaned with some replacement service parts being changed. They may also need balancing.
Also going to fit new throttle cables as the action isn't smooth enough for my liking and they also look somewhat manky.
The clutch able has also snapped so this will be replaced too.
Fork seals have also been ordered.
Hopefully just the usual basics you would expect on an old bike.

[Moto63]

All sounds fairly promising so far Martin 👍
Looking forward to your next post, fingers crossed all goes well 🤞

[xbally]

Work on this project is progressing slowly. Not a problem as I have the time these days. With a very effective fan heater and music on tap I'm quite cosy in my workshop even in this cold weather. Could really do with a bike lift but I'd have room for less bikes then!
I'm still having problems with the spark plug thread as I'm not liking the amount of pressure that has to be exerted on the tool when tightening it up.
Working very carefully and with a small 3/8 drive ratchet via a spark  plug socket deep into the recessed access hole I could only get less than half way into the thread using lots of WD40 before  I sensed a repeat of the previous thread damage.
On the advice of a mate I've ordered a spark plug tap to run down the thread and hopefully clear it. Otherwise it'll have to be a time sert I'm advised.
I'm replacing corroded fasteners and have fitted a chrome horn to bling it up a bit.
I'm waiting for my friend to replace the fork seals after my own lack of success on the GPZ ones. I'll drop the fork legs when he's ready using my front and rear paddock stands.
There's a bit of painting and polishing to do, otherwise the finish isn't too bad. The PO painted the frame wheels and engine.
I'm not aiming for a show bike-just a tidy run around.
Tyres are newish and the dates stamped on are OK but both are losing pressure on a regular basis but I'm reluctant to have them taken off so as not to damage the wheel paint.
I'm not too sure how durable the finish of the paint will be. I've already had some fuel damage on the engine covers and frame when I was draining the tank.

[Moto63]

Sounds like you’ve got a decent set up Martin, especially if you’re managing to keep warm in your workshop. Does it have kettle nice and handy, mine does, oh and a beer fridge 😁😉.
Best of luck with the plug thread, certainly wouldn’t want to knacker that up 😮
Keep us posted on any progress/developments 🤞
Cheers, Michael

[xbally]

Thank you Michael.
No I don't have the luxury of drinks on tap but the workshop / garage combo is very close to the house so it's not a problem.
I've currently got a DAB radio and a CD player in there. The cassette player(remember them?!)has just packed up but I'm in the process of upgrading the sound system. We've just replaced our modern CD amp / DAB unit with a new one so I'm going to instal the old unit in the workshop. It's Bluetooth enabled so I can also access Spotify via my phone so I should have most bases covered. I'll just need to upgrade the speakers to match-I'm watching quite a few on Fleabay. Not that I'll be playing it loud so as not to upset the neighbours or exacerbate my tinnitus! I can even dig out my old HiFi cassette deck from the loft if I need to.
The spark plug tap has arrived so I can hopefully get on with that job. The difficulty is going to get the tad securely fitted to the extension bars of my 3/8 drive socket. As you probably know the taps have a square end but a 9mm socket is too small and a 10mm socket too big. I've also tried some imp sizes to no avail.

[iansoady]

There's this but maybe a bit expensive for a one-off? https://www.diy.com/departments/sealey-ratchet-tap-wrench-long-handle-m5-m12-hardened-steel-290mm-ak879wl/5054511069969_BQ.prd

[xbally]

Thanks Ian.
Space is very limited down the very deeply recessed plug hole.
I don't know whether you ever changed the plugs on your similar model?
I tried fitting my small tap wrench with the tap in but even that was too big to go down in the plug hole and it was way too short anyway. There's very little room above the cam cover to manoeuvre a tool to turn it so you need quite a long extension to have sufficient room to be able to turn it.
This afternoon I went through my tools and was able to drill out (slightly) an old 9mm box spanner so I could hammer it on to the square shaped head of the tap. A bit of a bodge but it can via a 13mm socket be attached to several 3/8 drive socket extensions now to hopefully carefully drive the tap back and forth through the thread.
I haven't yet  plucked up the courage to go any further!

[Moto63]

I've currently got a DAB radio and a CD player in there. The cassette player(remember them?!)has just packed up but I'm in the process of upgrading the sound system.

Wowsers, a cassette player. I haven’t seen one of those in years, do you have a “mix tape” ?
Everyone had one back in the day. I just have a DAB radio in my workshop, which is permanently tooned into planet rock 🤘

[xbally]

I had quite a few mix tapes yes......There was a drama on TV recently with that title. It was set in the present but delved back into the 80's I think. Some of the music was quite good. It's those mixes I want to hear again.
My first cassette player was a small Philips device from my parents Christmas 1972 with 2 tapes : Led Zep 111 and Bowie's Ziggy Stardust albums. Not the same as a gatefold sleeve but at all not bad......
I still play vinyl as well. Nothing like it!
Spotify is brilliant-so much choice but I only dip in and out and don't use it enough to have a regular subscription-like commercial radio (or TV) I can't bear the stupid ads these days!
I've always listened to Sounds of the 70's on a Sunday afternoon on BBC Radio 2. Jonnie Walker and now Whispering Bob Harris.
In the week I listen to bits and pieces of radio 2 but can't stand too much inane chit chat...but it's good to hear a mix of all sorts.
I'm stuck largely in a prog rock 70's but I do like Radiohead and many others..........
Oh for the heady days of first hearing Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here and seeing the songs played live...........Genesis Live , before Peter Gabriel left  and so on and on........

[themoudie]

For all you groovy guys, try Greatest Hits Radio '60's, permanently 'ON' in my workshop! Alex Lester and an Irish "Rosco", along with Ken Bruce, whilst between 12 midday and 13:00, I think, tracks played off the vinyl. Yes, the ads get repetative, but with all the 60's tracks, I can cope with it.

Stihl hedge cutter, Record wood lathe, auction purchases, along with the Duke and that Morini the Minx refurbs all under way at present, plus a bit of genealogy and Sudoku/crosswords to try and keep the grey matter active.

No snow, but ruddy cold, but not as cold as in the Cairngorms, where it dropped to -18°C in one spot and -14°C to -15°C over quite a wide area, due to the snow on the ground, radiation frost, undisturbed air in a valley and no cloud cover for much  of the night. Today was 2°C all day and thick mist coming in from the Tay! Yuck!

Good health and I hope that spark plug thread is chased successfuly, BillR

[iansoady]

I'm afraid I'm with Pirsig on this one and prefer to avoid any distraction in the workshop. I even find I'm having the radio in the car off more often than on these days although that's perhaps more because I don't often do the big distances I used to.

But relaxing at home am very happy with any or all of Delta/Chicago blues, Hendrix, Clapton, Dylan etc. As long as there are guitars......

[xbally]

I now have access to all sorts in the daily driver which we've just acquired with one of those modern infotainment systems which can connect with most things but I'm old school and don't think there should be much if any means of distractions for the driver. It's a means of transport for goodness sake not a home! When I'm out in my sports car I prefer to listen to the sound of the engine and rarely listen to any music.

[Moto63]

I now have access to all sorts in the daily driver which we've just acquired with one of those modern infotainment systems which can connect with most things but I'm old school and don't think there should be much if any means of distractions for the driver. It's a means of transport for goodness sake not a home! When I'm out in my sports car I prefer to listen to the sound of the engine and rarely listen to any music.

Hear, hear Martin. I couldn’t have put it better or agreed with you more on this subject. Just as a sheer coincidence, I was chatting to a friend of mine last night who had very recently completed a driver awareness course for speeding. He asked the teacher “what was the biggest cause of serious accidents in the uk, was it speeding”
Speeding was, I think he said 5th….. the number 1 cause of serious accidents were caused by undue care and attention.
Which I personally took it mainly being down to the amount of distractions now in a car.
Cheers, Michael

[xbally]

Hear, hear Martin. I couldn’t have put it better or agreed with you more on this subject. Just as a sheer coincidence, I was chatting to a friend of mine last night who had very recently completed a driver awareness course for speeding. He asked the teacher “what was the biggest cause of serious accidents in the uk, was it speeding”
Speeding was, I think he said 5th….. the number 1 cause of serious accidents were caused by undue care and attention.
Which I personally took it mainly being down to the amount of distractions now in a car.
Cheers, Michael

Yes and I don't need to tell you lot on here but as bikers we are fully in the line of fire for the consequences.

I do wonder how much blame could be apportioned to the manufacturers - not that the motorcycle manufacturers seem any better now with their love of what I consider mostly stupid gimmicks that are not safety related............