jon v8

Now, now Richard - there is nothing wrong with the 38 year old carb on your TY,unless you have managed to wear it out.... I never could.

Yes, I 'd like them - let me know what you want for them and how I can pay you.

Deryk - How could you suggest such a thing ! Its bad enough that my chainsaws and strimmer are two smokes... And I have to admit there is a 250 Yamaha next to my British bikes,not that I dare be seen on it too often. If 90 Vanman can supply me with the right bits it will be even better.

Cheers, reckon I'll need just the shaft,arm and cable stop if you have them.

A sad day. I can remember meeting him about 40 years ago when he was riding the Knut. Perfect gentleman,signed autographs on our pieces of paper fertiliser sack. Then when he and two of his mates left the group of sections,all three in a row did perfect wheelies for about 100 yards up a steep hill. Top man,never forget that !

Yep, seems like my weekend is full of spannering - again... I had a close look at it this morning,I've not really bothered too much before as I've been concentrating on making a new spindle to match Cub hub to 4 bolt BSA forks,and fitting the new Gerry Minshall yokes. Seems like someone has done quite a bit to it,there is a second spark plug vertical in between the valves,and at some stage there must have been a valve lifter fitted as there is a nut sticking out where the lifter shaft would be. I'd love to have time to have it all apart and see what its built up of.For now retarding the ignition and maybe fit a lifter if its still hard to start. Still got the front brake to hook up and finish the stainless mudguard bracket...

Ken,what piston are you using and what is the bore clearance when cold ? I guess its an MD short stroke barrel,without looking at mine I can't remember what the top of the liner/barrel is like.Does it shut up if you play a cold hosepipe over it ? As long as the valve gear is moist you don't need loads of lube there,can you identify the type of noise ?

Can someone arrange to take plenty of photo's of Andy Roberton when he is out on his James... Only joking Andy,looking forward to the next Miller round !

My C15 apparently has Electrex world ignition on it, I've yet to delve into the primary chaincase to see what there is and how its set up. What problems did you have with the valve lifter ? The motor pinks quite easily if you try to make it pull from very low revs,so I'm thinking a bit more retard will help here.Its just finding time to play with it,my work is busy and I need to look after that... Not knowing what the engine was built doesn't help me,but apart from the pinking it runs very nicely,no smoke or rattles etc. If I can't get it easier to start and to plod nicely it will have to go,a shame if it does because its a very smart bit of kit,and clearly has had much time and effort put into it. Do you want to sell your valve lifter kit ?

Hi Bashplate, sorry I have no idea what piston is in the engine,but the kickstart seems quite high geared and it hangs onto its compression if you try to slowly ease it over ready to start it. A valve lifter would just make life alot easier,my knee wouldn't be aching so much as I sit here typing this ! The bike is one I have swopped,the idea is to use it for the odd club trial taking the pressure off my AJS. I've not had a unit BSA for 20 odd years an my knee was better then.If I can't sort one out I'll have to move it on and find another soft old banger...

Damn,there was me thinking what a coincidence ! Just got around to sorting out my C15 with its 4 bolt BSA forks and the time came to fire it up... Along with Sparkie my knee is knackered.(My 350 AJS is so soft when its warm I can easily start it by hand.) So I was hoping this thread might lead to an answer to a valve lifter kit for a C15/B40. Without it I'm going to have to let the Ceefer go,sounds silly - but my AJS,even though its a rigid is far easier to cope with. Also, what basic ignition advance do folk use with PVL/Electrex World etc ?

Perfectly normal on a bike that has had way less oil changes than it should... Considering their reputation,not a wise engine to pick on for abuse.

Any results yet Ken ?

Same here,just been chatting about this over lunch with my parents. My father bought his first Danarm DD8F saw in about 1958, we can't remember what year we defected to Stihl...

Bike shops that were interesting,had project bikes hanging around,pre unit triumph motors under the bench etc.

My suggestion would be to buy a copy of the Rupert Ratio book,I've recently bought a copy as I've got a C15 nearly ready to ride.Its a mine of info,what will fit with what,whats good or not.If you are doing it yourself it would have to be a good buy.

No, its just a joke between me and a few other Golden valley riders,Stevo is known as Breffitt, he calls me Viney - or Winey, phone calls or Emails are often answered or headed from the AMC comp shop or Bracebridge Street works... Daft really,but more than anything else we have a bloody good time !

Ted Breffitt has an entry in for both of us, Andy said he will be there.Dursley Dabber may well be there too...

Surrey Cycles should be able to supply exactly what you need.

Trying to keep up with Andy Roberton all day meant all the dayglo were well behind me - Thankfully...

Can't believe that - Ken never needs practice, I couldn't bear the pain of practice - I've only just stopped aching from the March Hare

Good stuff Ken, any news of a route plan yet ? Very much looking forward to it,if its half as good as the March Hare last week it will be a cracking day out - which it always is anyway. If anyone has thoughts of riding a road based trial like this,(And has yet to try one) my advice is to get on and enjoy them whilst there are still people willing to put in the vast amount of work to make them happen,it really is the best day out.

OK, took it apart tonight, main jet is a 170, hard anodised slide 2 1/2,needle is 622/124 and the air filter is a well oiled foam one.( I think the oiled foam aids very low rpm pickup.)So the body is a 626 R300.The attached pic shows the mod I was shown. The blunt scriber is pointing to the soft alloy core plug that often leaks from new.The last 3 carbs I've checked have all leaked, just spray a little liquid over the plug and block two of the three pilot holes.GENTLY blow a bit of compressed air into the remaining hole and watch the bubbles come out around the edge.BE CAREFUL DOING THIS. In the pic there is a gasket paper punch with a sharp edgeleaning on the float,stand the carb body upside down and use a punch like this to swage the plug out to make it seal.If you look carefully around the plug you will see a faint ring where I've done this. Doing this makes the carb more accurate when running on the idle circuit and therefore easier to keep in tune,good mod that costs nothing to do.Notice how clean the carb stays on Aspen fuel...

Its a 26mm bore.I steam cleaned the bike this morning,but I had work that needed doing so I've yet to get the carb off for a clean out. Try to do it tomorrow if I get my work out of the way... Thinking about it, the carb is one I bought from Surrey Cycles for my new HT5 build, I only fitted it to the AJS because it felt strangled on the 22mm carb it had before,wouldn't rev out,given time it will now scream fairly hard - I don't like doing it,but some sections like there were at the March Hare yesterday really need it.

My 350 AJS has a recent Amal Premier carb on it with hard anodised slide and Ethanol proof stay up float etc. In the next couple of days I'll be washing the mud off it from the Golden Valley March Hare - todays event. The carb will then have a strip and clean,I'll make notes of jet and slide numbers etc, and post them up. I'll also post up a pic of one of the best mods that need doing on a Concentric Mk1. I can't say its the perfect set up,but it works on my bike,and those daft enough to have a go on it seem to think its OK.