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Messages - DON GRAY

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31
The Star and Garter / Re: Mororcycle Insurance Advice
« on: 18 January, 2018, 11:48:46 »
I'm with RH Insurance & have 2 bikes on the same policy - a '75 Triumph Trident & a '67 BSA Victor Special. Both have decent agreed values. Its really simple. Do some research & try to find decent replacement bikes similar to yours to give you an idea of what they're going for.
Then following the insurers instructions, take photos & email them off. There has never been any disagreement with the values I have suggested, & goodness forbid if the worse happened, you'd get paid out the agreed value of your bike(s).

32
Thanks for the replies so far chaps. Yes, I was really asking about how others had constructed their sheds & the pitfalls or otherwise of going certain ways. I must admit to a certain degree of "Shed Envy" re Star twin's HUGE job! Lovely! My pal has a lovely brick built job with a machining area equiped with a mill & lathe, with bike storage to the side & a separate assembly / building area behind. Very jealous!

So most of you guys with sheds with wooden floors don't have problems with "sweating" or condensation on the bike's cold bits in summer? 

As I said, if money was no object, I'd opt for a concrete base with integral damp proof membrane, screeded smooth floor & brick / block wall construction, with a pitched tiled roof......then move out there myself!  8)

33
The Star and Garter / An ideal garage / Bike workshop in the garden
« on: 05 December, 2017, 16:55:05 »
Hi All. I'm toying with liberating a bit of the garden to free up space in my main garage for further bike projects & wondered about others experiences of construction & use. From my perspective in my last house when i kept my bike in a wooden shed in the garden it suffered horribly with "sweating" in the summer - ie condensation all over the cold metal. I suspect this was because the bike & shed stood on a bare concrete floor with no damp proof membrane. Those of you with sheds with wooden floors, do you get this sweating problem at all? Ideally, I'd love to build a brick / block construction if I can afford it, with a tiled roof. Is this allowed under UK planning regs? Presumably you can construct it out of any suitable materials, provided it fits the rules governing distance away from boundaries & neighbours & size restrictions etc? Any thought's or ideas gratefully received, what you'd do better or ideal scenarios! Cheers chaps!  :D

34
Singles / Re: Victor Special Tank
« on: 02 October, 2017, 12:04:12 »
Well....I happen to like the look when it's all finished nice...admittedly it is small, but I can get 100mpg & well over 100 miles to the tankful with mine. I believe rupert ratio states that the BSA range of central fixing bolt tanks fit.

35
Singles / Re: B44 centre stand
« on: 07 September, 2017, 14:47:34 »
I've got a 1967 B44 Victor Special & there's no lugs on the frame for a centre stand. I don't know about other models like the Shooting Star though. Yes, the engine is equipped with a decompressor & starting is a knack that once acquired becomes easy. In my opinion, its always been best not to start any bike on it's stand as it really stresses the stand / frame joints. You'll manage it ok!

36
The Star and Garter / Re: Dating certificates & DVLA applications
« on: 01 August, 2017, 10:51:50 »
 :( Crikey Mark...... So sorry to hear your tale of woe. It really is shocking about DVLA's lack of performance. Whats an MSVA anyway? It would be sad to break the bike if it is up & running ok & engine & frame numbers match ok. Just wondering......Is it that there is something unusual about the bike or it's provenance that they are hesitating issuing a number? For instance, have you assembled the bike from parts from several others for instance, or changed it radically? Anyway, hope you get it sorted soon. Best of luck. Don.

37
Well done Raymond!!  :D I bet you are chuffed!! All go now then!!

38
Wow! What a lovely looking & sounding bike. Think you've got a good un there! Nice!  ;D

39
Singles / Re: B44 Victor Special Primary Chain Tension?
« on: 10 May, 2017, 11:25:50 »
Well, after fettling the bosses in the chain case where it was touching & reassembly & trying it the "rattle" is still there, so following perceived wisdom have ordered a new chain & clutch rollers etc to fit. Hopefully that'll stop it as I'll be able to get a consistent tension, & the chain wont be able to move off the clutch chain ring & kiss anything.  :)

40
Hold the faith Raymond!! You'll get there!! This inspection - if its the same as I've heard about before - I believe just takes about 10 mins & is for "them" to visually verify the paperwork & description all tallies with the "real thing". I really hope it all works out soon for you...cheers Don.

41
Yes Raymond, thank you, a great feeling resurrecting a "dead" bike & feeling it alive again & as it was 50 years ago! Crikey! Shame yours is taking so long with them. I guess I was very lucky as mine was straightforward just needing a new number issuing. Hopefully after a bit of carb tuning & tinkering, she'll be good to go for another 50! Good luck with yours.

42
Singles / B44 Victor Special Primary Chain Tension?
« on: 07 May, 2017, 20:10:30 »
Hi All. Could someone confirm the correct amount of tension for a primary chain on the above please? I think I've set mine a tad too tight, but don't want it chewing the cases! 1/4" in the middle of the top run is what Rupert Ratio suggests & how I've got it...approx....but I can still see witness marks where the chain / clutch has contacted the case at the screw bosses in a couple of places. There's no excess wobble to the clutch, but I don't think the outer case is the original one as it doesn't fit exactly as it should, but it's leak free after I spent hours lapping it on a surface plate. Presumably, the unit singles share a common chaincase there being differences in the drain & level screw arrangements only....Or does clutch clearance come into it?! Cheers All.....

43
UPDATE! Received the new V5 & age related number for my B44 Victor Special on Saturday. Took DVLA 11 days to process & that included a Bank Holiday in there as well. I think that's pretty reasonable TBH. Hopefully I'll get my certificates etc back under seperate cover soon..... Took her for a Short shakedown spin today & returned home happy & with a list of bits n bobs to adjust. Running a bit rich & there's a blimmin rattle somewhere on neutral throttle openings.....primary chain??? Anyway, head re torque & tappets to do as well.... Good luck to those still waiting for the DVLA to do their stuff. Cheers All!

44
Which BSA do you ride? / Re: B44 Victor Special
« on: 03 May, 2017, 08:47:54 »
Derek, I sent of all the documents for an age related plate last week. Had to get NOVA acceptance from HMRC as it was an import a few years ago, but not by me... & BSAOC dating certificate etc. So am hoping that it'll come through before the end of May as itching to get her on the road! There's only so much polishing you can do!!  :) Although......have just acquired a proper chainguard so will be repairing & fettling that before painting & fitting.

45
Which BSA do you ride? / Re: B44 Victor Special
« on: 02 May, 2017, 10:33:43 »
Thanks Derek..... Hopefully here's another pic of it as having trouble resizing them down sufficiently! Cheers

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