Britbike forum Forums General discussion The Rod and Tappet Today's Run

The Commuter needed a couple of jobs doing, so a few weeks back I took it off the road, and started me two hour a day ritual. First job was to get the clutch sorted out, which was a bit of a bodge really, it involved brake cleaner being poured into the inspection hole where the flywheel is. Wheels off for two new tyres, a full service, and finally the forks off. I got the stanchions to a place over in Luton Bedfordshire, for hard chrome. And the lower forks to a place around the corner for a drop of powder coating, fed up with using a rattle can, only for the paint to flake off after a couple of years....

As I'm on holiday for two weeks now, it was great when everything came together this past weekend, so I was thinking of a ride out somewhere...? And just like that a mate got in touch saying the West Kent VMCC lot were having one of their wrinkly runs. So I dragged the Commuter out of the fettling shed, hit the kickstart button and off we set....



The weather was COLD but lovely...



Everyone having a chat about the lack of fuel at the moment, due to Panic buying, first toilet paper now petrol...



So I took a very quick mooch...







Then this lad showed up....





And before I knew what was going on we hit the lanes....










After around 50 miles we'd crossed the border from Kent into East Sussex, and then we came across a lovely public house so popped in for a snifter....











After a pint and a chat sat around the warmth from an open fire, I braved the cold to have another mooch...

And then it was time to head off home, I'm pleased to report that the forks didn't fall off the bike, it never leaked oil, and best of all the clutch doesn't drag anymore when it gets hot. And I found neutral each and every time I needed too, so that bodge worked, the bike will be at rest now for just over a week. Then it's back to the commuting duties....

We use turpentine (mineral spirits) poured into the clutch housing to clean the clutch dust out of there, if you're lucky, that's the problem, if you're not lucky, you'll have "notchy" splines on the clutch shaft and you're in for the biggest job in motorcycling - changing a Moto Guzzi clutch. Sounds like it might have worked, though.

My Guzzi is at about 60,000 miles, and developed an oil leak on the 1800 mile trip we finished last week. Only lost a half a quart in 1000 miles, but MAN does that make a mess. Oil's like blood that way. You can give a pint of blood at the Red Cross and it doesn't hurt a thing, but you bleed half a pint of blood onto your clothes or the floor, and it looks like a slaughterhouse, no way you could still be alive. The guys I was riding with suggested maybe a breakdown truck, but, using my long experience with BSAs, said " 'Ah've 'ad worse!" and rode on, checking the oil level every few hundred miles.

About 3 tons of plastic and 50 Fasteners have to come off to get at whatever the leak is up between the cylinders, so that'll get started in tomorrow's two-hour session ....

Looks like a lot of bull-goose riders there - I like the tank-bag on the Velo, and that old belt-drive nail, perfect for them lanes ... !

Lannis

Shaun, I am always envious of you being able to find so many mates with whom to ride. Around here the only time I see that many bikes together they're all Hawgly.
As always, thanks for posting the ride.

CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY!

I said that very exact thing 14 years ago in response to one of Shaun's ride reports, Shaun said "Quit yer moaning then and put together your own ride", and 2 months later we had 12 folks staying at the house, 20 people camped in the yard from 10 states and 3 countries, and I'm still finding Newkie Broon bottle caps under the shop benches when I sweep around.

Wouldn't have missed it for the world, though!

Lannis

I've thought about volunteering to host a Ton Up meeting here. But I'd probably end up with three guys who rode in from Nashville and a case of PBR I bought for the meeting.
I've seen one new Triumph riding around town, but most of the British iron around here has four wheels.
20 tents would fill my entire back yard, and I'd probably get a nasty letter from the POA.

DavidP lad I feel your pain....

I think I know your trouble here lad, its not knowing how to make a proper cuppa, it's taken years for our Lannis to get it right, and now he can brew up in a New York heart beat, a lovely thick Brown luke warm NAFFI type brew. So along with fettling Brit Bikes, that lad has the added bonus of attracting people over with a proper Tea....

See dude, once y'all get them there it's KEEPING them there y'all need to learn, so the first thing is Tea, then go for a Bimble out and about your local lanes. And don't y'all go spinning a yarn about not having any, there will be something around you that'll interest people, even if it doesn't interest you..! Then once you've done with Bimberling, all y'all go back to the homestead, and get a fire going and some cold ones out. Someone will bring out a guitar and away y'all go....

Just say the date and I'll pop over....

" Bimberling " I like that new word... I think I will use that when in the right situation.... If I can get it to roll off my tongue.... Not like the red pants roll off but like good and proper like....

After next year we will be in PA and not have two lives anymore so there WILL be more time for Bimberling with friends.... So bring it on DavidP !!! and Shaun you know the "word" has been spoken and is a permanent anytime kind of invitation !!!