wayne_weedon

It's back. I didn't bother making them redo it as the little blown areas are hardly noticable. Next time I'll have my frames zinc plated before powder coating as this will help reduce these problems. Wayne....

If I can find the carb for one of my grippers which is still packed away since my last move I'll have a look for you. I was working on a MK2 Amal from my Cota330 today and that has 20 pilot and 140 main. I expect the Ossa to require something in that ballpark. Wayne....

Right I had tried them but didnt get a yes or no answer on the phone which I can understand under data protection issues etc. I did email them also. So it remains to be seen if my contact details are passed on. I was in contact with him or rather him to me at one time as he used to call occasionally to see if I'd sell the bike back to him! I since moved myself though and changed tel number. Wayne...

Have you tried the usual UK and Spanish sources? The USA and Italy is often worth a try too. But I don't know anything that is interchangeable or close. Wayne...

Hi, anyone know how to contact Charlie Harris if indeed he's still around? I'm trying to piece together any history of my Montesa Cota 330 which I'm quite sure used to be his and supplied/supported by Robinsons of Rochdale. I think he was originally from up north somewhere or possibly Midlands? and spent sometime in the Weymouth area which is how the bike ended up in this area. I bought it from someone he sold it to who worked with him at Bovington or Lulworth camps. I seem to think he may have moved east from Dorset possibly Brighton way, but I did see mention on his name (Possibly Same person) on the Redhill and Reigate clubs results from a few years back, riding a Norman I believe. Anyway all leads appreciated. Wayne....

I'm frameless at the moment. In other words I managed to get it to the powder coaters. Here's hoping for a good job! <sulk> Not seen it yet but a couple of weld areas bled out some oil or something in the oven! I think the painter will be trying to remedy it tomorrow. Wayne....

My 349 Parts book albeit for the MH349, does show 2 breather nipples on the exploded diagram. It's worth retrofitting something in anycase. Wayne...

Peak Torque is probably between 5-6000 rpm if it's like many other trials bikes of the period. Wayne....

Actually finished preparing the frame for paint today. Now I wish I'd taken a marker pen and marked up the little areas the blaster missed and made them redo those areas when I went to collect the frame! Seemed to take ages with the nitromors even in those little missed areas. But it's done now and the frame is ready for paint tomorrow. Wayne....

my in progress Cota 330 (Similar engine) has a breather for the gearbox which has about 18" of plastic tubing on it. This tubing was routed up the rear loop tubes and tucked under the tank. Pic attached of the engine end. Wayne....

Get a modern fire blanket and use a strip of that maybe? They are now made of fire retardant woven glass fibre I think. Not sure how you could stop it all coming apart though! Just remembered I had a roll of similar stuff from when I made a Vac Forming machine last year. It's a gasket material used in industrial ovens. Pic attached. Wayne...

2.8mm btdc is what I have always used, and be accurate with it. I have never found I really needed electronic ignition on my Sherpa's, but I know some will swear by it. Well setup Femsa (or Motoplat in the case of the 340's) Points ignition just works. Don't recall ever needing any more than 3 kicks to get any of my Sherpa's going. I think the last problem I had with points ignition on my 199A was after it standing a few years and the pivot point had corroded. Points opened and stayed open. Quick clean up and she was away again. Lets see some pictures of your 340! There does seem to be more cropping up just recently. Another on Evilbay at the moment. Though the Triumph engined one in my Sacrilege thread made only a fraction of it's un-butchered worth. On Shocks, well that would be a personal preference and no doubt everyone has a favourite.. I have bought some new Rockshocks for mine, not tried them yet, but I admit I have never spent that sort of money on shocks before! Never had deep enough pockets for real quality shocks in my more active riding days. Wayne.....

Steve. Did either of these engines have a breather for the gearbox? Wayne....

It may look clean, but at the core immediately around the perforated tube it will probably be solid. Once all those little holes block up it becomes a straight through system with nowhere for the gas to expand. I recently did a Sherpa Clubfoot silencer and that looked clean on the outside of the packing. Not so in the middle. Wayne....

It does look like a fair bit of wear. I wonder what size engine sprocket the original poster is using? Are the points of the countershaft nut interfering with the chain? Can happen with small sprockets. Probably would cause premature chain failure too. Wayne...

You should perhaps try being a little more forceful with the dealer. Competition parts or not Iris should have some warranty even if limited in place. Looking at the pic the break does seem quite close to being aligned with the peening on the rivets. Even if not all Iris Chains are inherently faulty you have found one that failed too soon. Wayne...

Thats a score! Gears ought be be less damaged than your others! Soon you may work out a patent procedure for getting that primary gear off. Wayne....

At least it's got a pretty logo on each link Not good! But what is considered a good chain these days? I always like Regina and Reynolds but there are many more now, DID etc etc. Good for discussion though as it's one thing we all need whether classic or modern trials. Wayne....

Wheels are Bultaco, Yokes too by the looks of them.

Rods are being replaced with new. I am waiting for the spares from Rockshocks which are actually for the current versions. I use a premixed marine grade product called Deb Rustoff which is not just Phosphoric but has some other additives and is safe to dispose of. It's only available in 5 gallon drums. Although the name suggests for Ferrous metals, Phosphoric works just as well on Aluminium Oxide. Pic attached is the result of about 1 minute with the scotchbrite and acid with the shock body chucked in the lathe and spun at 300 rpm or so. Wayne....

No TLR expert but most selectors work in similar ways. Pin on the selector drum broken or dropped out? He needs to take the primary cover off and investigate anyway, nearly always a clutch off job too. Wayne....

Yep, an old but telling diagnostic! Carb or even carb rubber, they can perish and draw air. Spanish Amals do tend to wear their slides at an alarming rate and thats another route for an excessively lean mixture. Not so sure the Burlen Amals are much better from what I've been told. I had a 172 once as a lad. It did have a habit of shearing woodruff keys to think of it, but a lot of that may have been due to youthful lack of mechanical prowess in those days! Wayne...

Maybe teaching Grandma to suck eggs but I'm in the cnc machining business and having stuff anodised is almost a daily thing for me. You have to be aware that Most platers will offer at least 2 shades of red and most other colours, and if anyone has gone the "Bling" route with a particular colour from a.n.other vendor they may not match. Same for lustre, you can go from Bright through semi Bright to Matt finish depending on the pre etch time. The current commercial Bling is far too expensive so don't blame you. It's a minefield! Wayne....

Bound to be one somewhere, can't be more unusual than the Vincent Comet that I used to see at Trials in the Southern Centre during the 90's. Wayne....

It's been a long time since I bought it, but I seem to recall the bike had been stored either in a greenhouse or a sectional concrete garage. Neither good options. They actually clean up very easily on the alloy, polished with a bit of scotchbrite soaked in Phosphoric acid and the white stuff is gone. Internally the finish is immaculate apart from the broken shims. Replacement Rods,Bushes, Pistons and shims should be with me within a couple of days. Just got to redesign the cylinder closure method as the circlips are totally infuriating! There is room to screwcut the bore and made a system like the new Rockshocks. I'd like to find the original owner who I believe was Charlie Harris. Wayne....