DaveN

Yep exempt... but I’d rather drive in Russia than London!

The only real motor bikes there are labelled Triumph and Norton! I really really like the Norton. As a boy helped my father with a couple of nut and bolt rebuilds: Sunbeam S8. Triumph 5ta. BSA goldy 650. BSA gold Star 500 single. Villiers 250 twin. BSA trials bike (I rode that to work for the first year of my apprenticeship! AJS 500 ‘Jam Pot’. And an ex police Triumph thunderbird. The Sunbeam shows as SORN... the Thunderbird when sold is in Holland somewhere. The 5ta has changed hands a few times I saw it in MCN a couple of years ago. The rest just disappeared.

I reckon ‘tis not a good idea to get under there with a welding torch if it’s covered in waxoyl. . However, I think you could either drill and tap to fit a helicoil or drill right through and open it out then fit a loose nut! I can’t remember but is access better with the gearbox cover removed? Someone here will know!

Well. I’ve just spoken to and ordered paint from Ken, what a nice gentleman to deal with! He gave me some detailed instructions and said I could call him anytime if I needed some advice.

Wow methinks you were lucky! Yes that cable cover is a good pinch point. When I had mine apart as it goes back together I keep pulling the wires back and forth to make sure they are free. Using modern cables helps a lot too. So get thin wall cable in the colours you require from somewhere like. http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/ Thin wall cable has better abrasion resistance and can carry a higher load!

Teach myself spraying.... it can’t be that difficult.....says he! Found an excellent boot lid on ‘the bay’ that’s cleaning up very nicely!

That ‘return’ pipe is only the cavity drain and there shouldn’t be any real pressure in there. If it should get blocked the engine will run extremely rich..... and you’ll know there’s somat amiss!

Hi Roger Ive just been out to take another look. With it all hanging free the stop is contacting the pan ....possibly the trunnion too. With it sitting on its shoes it’ll be ok. Maybe I’ll whip out one of the dampers and .measure it’s length. dave

On a similar vein I’ve just rebuilt all my front suspension and looking around with it on axle stands and the Dunlop’s dangling free the trunnion stop contacts the spring pan and the VL stop at the same time. I had refitted the shocks (with new bushes) as they felt really good ...they are Woodhead. This got me thinking when I tore it all apart the original stops were drilled off centre the new ones are concentric. Obviously one can limit the amount of lock with an eccentric stop! So what is correct?

Overall 2 inch diameter nominal Depth of the top hat 3/16 inch nominal The offset is very slightly domed.... due to the pressing no doubt! So the base is 1 3/16 inch down to 1 inch. Obviously it’s radius edges. centre hole measures 5/8 inch rivet pitch 1 7/16 inch

I’ll get on the case and measure it for you and none of this metric ****! Getting ready for our BREXIT it will be in proper units!

Roger do you want to borrow this as a pattern?

Found it! Twas in the bin. Think I may just hang on to it!

Blimey are they that rare and desirable?.... I’ve just chucked one in the bin as I used a simple led lamp. I’ll go see if I can rescue it.

I’ve got one of Marco’s spring compressors . An excellent bit of kit highly recommended!