Gallery, Projects and General > Project Logs
Getting a tacho drive fixed on a classic racing bike
bogstandard:
Don,
This engine is in fact 50 years old this year, so it has had all sorts of mods done to it using old 'that will do' technology. Most have worked, some, like this one, haven't. You don't even want to see the crank, where they have attempted to reduce the swept volume by 'sticking' ali plates into the recesses. That is another thing I need to sort out.
I am hopefully going to try to give this engine another 50 years of life, and although it will never be raced again, it will be brought out of mothballs for a few weeks each year, to go around race circuits to show what these bikes from the past looked and sounded like.
I think it is called 'preserving our heritage', and is the reason I don't charge for work like this.
Things I do sometimes, do look easy, that is because they are. It is all to do with having the b***s to make a decision and get on with it, and use straight forwards engineering practices to get it back to how it should be. This outer cover, to the owner, is priceless. It could be replaced with another, but it wouldn't be the original one off the engine, with all it's associated history. Even though I am doing major changes to it, it is and will be listed in the bikes' history of modifications done to it. I actually have other mods that need doing to this cover, but they won't be shown as they are not repairs, but upgrades to old work that have worn out over the years of racing, like putting in phos bronze bushes in place of the brass ones originally used, and doing a better gas flowing job on this crankcase bottom half.
All this work is done on a slot in basis. If I can find the time to do it, it gets done. Otherwise I goes onto the pile to be done another time. If all goes well, and I feel up to it, this engine will have another weeks spare time work done on it, then put back on the pile awaiting other mods and repairs to be done. No rush, the bike won't be finally assembled until this time next year.
John
Darren:
Very nice John, great to see these babies are still appreciated... :clap:
Almost makes me want one....again..... :doh:
John Hill:
Very interesting Mr Bogs, I like to watch work on things like that.
bogstandard:
Darren,
My bike is 20 years old now, and was going to get rid of it because of my problem of getting my leg over (no filthy thoughts or comments please), but now that it has the auto park and ride off stand fitted to it, it makes it a lot safer to climb on and off, plus I don't need to be very strong to hold it upright for a long period. Scramble on, select the gear and ride off, the stand auto retracts, and to park, select reverse, push down on the stand side bar, press a button and the bike parks itself. So now I have decided to keep it and restore it over time.
Most of it is just ali and stainless polishing and getting the electrics sorted (removing hundreds of display lights), as a good friend of ours has said he will scramble around the floor to do the only bit of mechanical work that needs doing, nice one Ralph :thumbup:
It is all too easy to break these bikes up and sold for spares, but it is a lot more enjoyable keeping them running as they should.
It seems like all the younger generation want is speed, noise, and to turn themselves into organ donors. It us up to us old pharts to show them what motorcycling was, and is, all about.
Besides, if I drove my car continuously for an hour, I would be off my legs for at least a day, maybe more. When I get on the bike, all aches and pains disappear and I could ride forever. So in the near future, it might be the only means I will have of getting around.
John
ozzie46:
Great work John, You never cease to amaze me.
Ron
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