jon v8

Ken, you must be bored out there in the alps ! Davetom is right,all most Brit dry sumped bikes have is a gauze strainer on the oil feed,the proper filter always goes on the return.I have a magnet stuck in the oil tank on my AJS aswell,where the oil dribbles from the return back down into the tank.Clean or change the filter on each oil change,plus I disconnect the return line and feed it into a waste can.After flushing the oil tank I fill with clean oil and run the engine until clean oil comes out of the return,this way you get a complete change - unlike just about any other type of 4 stroke motor - bike/car/truck etc,etc.

I think I'd go for the full Majesty conversion....

Whats wrong with a standardish TY 175 ? If they are well set up they are very capable - esp with a light rider.Easy to lose a bit of seat height with a foam pad instead of the original esp if added onto a Miller tank/seat unit.Plenty of go with a bore out to 200cc,there are plenty of options,without the jacked up height of a Whitehawk. And its not going to lose any money if looked after...

Please pass on my very best wishes to Len and his family,I don't know him,but did hear about his condition a little while ago.Seeing his skill at the Talmag made me realise how poor my own ability is. I don't really know what else to say so I'll shut up.

Probably a blocked exhaust.They can run like a chaff cutter,unless properly setup.Properly sorted they are crisp and will scream.

Fairly obvious really,like in all things in life - plenty of reasons.Some just like the challenge of building the smartest,trickest bike,some just like showing off,having a "Considerably smarter than Yow" others just buy trick looking bikes because they don't have the skills/time/kit to do it themselves. The way I look at it is the more people spend on old bikes,and actually ride them,the longer we will be able to keep getting bits.Parts are being made now that were unavailable 10 years ago.

I think the twinshocks have a way to go before they catch up with us Pre65ers. My 1950 rigid AJS will soon be sporting an inboard front disc hidden in a standard hub.The Amal Concentric has had its guts removed and now houses an injector fed from a pump inside the fuel tank.Its all controlled by a self generating EFI ecu which also provides sparks.All hidden inside a Lucas racing mag shell. Only joking ! But its all possible. You still have to ride the bloody thing though...

So what are you planning,is this a new build or a modernising ?

Here you go; http://progressiveclassicproducts.co.uk/frames.html

Welcome to the forum. My advice is to get the tape measure out and do it - whatever you end up up with it will be another British bike being ridden.Both the unit BSA and the unit Triumph twins have plenty going on in terms of modern ignition and lighting coils,so getting reliable sparks and lights is easier than ever before - the two biggest problems in the past...

I do like that clutch cover...

A 500 Matchbox or a horrid Cider tub - No contest ! The Matchless is a far better bike,the main reason being that the engine wont insist on trashing itself every ten minutes.Tiger Cubs are nice in shop window displays,but hard work to keep going,even worse in a hot climate...

That would sort it,to me having plenty of big four stroke bikes goes a long way to keeping Pre65 alive. My Ariel is still at 54" wheelbase etc,so no way would it,(Or me )have a chance on sections set out to cater for a majority of lightweights.To buy a Bartram frame,trick forks,hubs etc,etc would cost a few thousand.But without a class that gives it a fair chance it can stay in the shed.... How many others must be thinking the same way,plus we four stroke fans are all getting older - I'll be 50 next year and I only know two riders younger than me that regularly ride big bikes.The classes need sorting out to keep the bikes being used.

I was thinking about this yesterday when riding around at the Sam Cooper,seems very unfair to lump Pre unit springers in amongst Cubs,Dot's,James and Fanny B's in class 2. What chance does even a good rider have on a big four stroke against a bike half its weight ? It cant be encouraging - esp if you have to travel a long way to some events,it does smack of showing little interest in big bikes.Having a trial or series of trials that has big bikes in mind will also keep the sections sensible too.

Have a good ride Ken,wont see you there as I'm riding a local Blackmore Vale trial,(On a 2 stroke !! )just remember no riding in the car park.... Up the revolution !

Morning Andy, I've just bought the next 2 years worth of riding numbers and observers cards from Stacey and Son. http://www.stacyandson.co.uk/ I've no idea if they are expensive or not,but they are very helpful and quick,no complaints.Never used anybody else,but the invoice pads I buy for my LR garage seem expensive in comparison for the amount of paper,but then they are specific to me with my artwork and numbers on.

I've been thinking about your comment of treating twinshock bikes with a bit of respect.Why ? They were bloody well made,and able to take loads of abuse which is why farmers found it hard to trash them chasing cows when their value dropped to their purchase level.The Yam mono was about the last bike that farmers seemed to buy for bringing dairy herds in for milking,cant imagine a Gas Gas or Beta standing up to much of their treatment. I don't thrash my bikes for no reason,but they have to work hard,when a section needs an aggressive approach,even my 1950 rigid AJS will get revved to valve bounce if it means cleaning a section.

Don't know if anyone has restarted BVM in Stroud,but they would have been the choice. Have to say I would look at Gaerne boots - best and most comfy boots I've ever had.The Sidi ones I had last were never comfy and leaked badly when anywhere near water.The Alpinestars before that were comfy but leaked too.The Gaernes seem to have both covered...

I wouldn't worry too much,if you observe a section you wouldn't believe how many bikes go through with almost solid front and rear suspension.As long as they aren't bottoming out all the time they are doing their job.You ought to try riding a rigid !

Excellent !

There are several people I ride with around the South West who would ride those sections on the same or similar bikes without any hopping or bouncing around,just ride through without even thinking about the clutch or stopping.The bikes are capable,(Often bog standard,without clever mods) and so are the riders.A pleasure to watch...

I'm very glad that trials is such a small sport in terms of other pastimes - we would never cope with football type crowds. Slightly off topic,from the last post about the loss of venues to MX riders, I've never understood why the bikes aren't quieter,there is no need at all to have noisy exhausts. Excess noise is about the only complaint most people can come up with against MX,no other problem,and its not like killing foxes etc that the hunting mob have to deal with or justify.Shut the bikes up,problem solved - well,apart from stewardship schemes taking land....

I like the look of that clutch cover,its close to what I have in mind to have cast to get rid of the separate oil pump cover.Another little project to get around to.... Nice bike too.

Most of my kit is Snap On,for two reasons,firstly the Snap On van is the only tool van who has reliably visited my workshop which is in a very remote location.Secondly they don't quibble when there are warranty claims - even when VERY obvious abuse is evident.(Which can be necessary when spannering old Land Rovers) Not all of their kit is the best,but most of it is better than other makes.I do have some stuff from Beta which is doing well,but the rachets etc aren't as good as Snap On to use. The cost isn't that important to me,as the money spent on tools helps against tax.Service is important,I don't want to be held up with broken tools,none of the other makes seem to keep up here.Mac tools never quite got there. Most of my old Whitworth stuff is ancient kit from Britool and Snail Brand - both excellent quality even though they are donkeys years old,Snap On are second to them in most respects.(I pick them up at autojumbles,often very cheap for what you get.)

Cant help you with any codes,but I was told its the same paint that BL used on Morris Marinas and Austin Allegro's,(Rustin Allaggro's) So maybe there is a code for BL paint somewhere ? I'd be interested to know as I have a Majesty replica to paint at some stage....