1949 Rigid B31

[Reggiesdad]

1949 RIGID B31. It gets ridden often and cleaned not so often......
The dynamo doesn't work. Can't be bothered to get it fixed. I fitted LED bulbs front and back, they hardly use any power and are very bright. To compensate for the lack of a working dynamo I connect the battery to a 6v solar charging panel sellotaped to the shed window between rides.
Forks have been fitted with the Eddie Dow type dampers. I did this a year ago, wish I had done it sooner. I can now ride over big bumps and potholes without that horrible clang as the forks top out.
I noticed yesterday that a couple of the springs in the Lycett saddle have broken, so I have ordered a new set of springs from Feked. Need to rebuild the saddle over the winter before I find myself sitting on the (non-functioning) voltage regulator......
My magneto is slack wire advance. The original one was tight wire advance, but a bearing in it wore out. My Dad dug out the present magneto from his shed full of spares. Slack wire advance is better, anyway.
It currently has a small fin head on a later big fin barrel. Not really noticeable unless you are looking for it. I have a couple of decent small fin barrels with pistons in the shed, but not in any hurry to put the correct barrel on.
The speedo also doesn't work, but the odometer does. I change the oil every time it reaches another 1000 miles. As the speedo doesn't work I mount an old mobile phone on the bars with a speedo app installed. It is very accurate. I cruise it at a genuine 50-55  mph. Any faster feels like I am treating it unkindly. It would go faster, but I don't push it. Got other bikes for going faster on.
The front brake isn't great, but is OK since I bedded in some new Ferodo shoes and fitted an arm that is an inch longer than standard. It is still more of a slower-downer than a stopper.
The kickstarter spring broke a few weeks ago, so the lever is currently being twanged back by a bungee. Another job for the winter months.
I fitted a Vintele sidestand, as it is heavy to heave onto its centre stand. I only ever use the centre stand if I want to tension the chain or remove the rear wheel.
I have a spare petrol tank for it, an Indian made thing. Bought it on ebay from some bloke who had bought it from India but then never used it. Cost me 40 quid. It fits well but I had to tap all the rubbish threads out properly, which I had expected to have to do. It doesn't have the dreaded red liner painted inside. Still haven't decided what colour to paint it. I quite like the grey primer. Gives it a rat bike look.
I have had the bike on the road since 2019 and have done about 8000 miles on it. My Dad gave it to me as a pile of bits that he knew he would never get round to rebuilding.

[Rog1]

"Ridden often". Excellent. I ride my M33 quite a lot too. If you haven't got a spring installing tool for your kickstart, save your knuckles and make or buy one.

[KernowPete]

That's ace - like the descriptive text👍🙂

[Reggiesdad]

Thanks for the kind words, gents. This bike is no show pony, it gets ridden regularly. I really need to get the jet washer on it soon. The cabbage pickers here in Lincolnshire have covered the roads with mud, which has splattered all over the bike.
Rog1, thanks for the tip about fitting the kickstart spring. I still haven't got round to looking at it, my bungee is still working well. Is there a special tool available somewhere for tensioning it? I am all in favour of making the job easier, I have had my fingers bitten by too many springs in the past.

[Reggiesdad]

Getting ready to go up to the doctor's surgery to pick up my tablets. The cabbage pickers are out in force today, so we will be splattered with even more mud by the time I have done a 50 mile round trip ( the surgery is only 3 miles away, but I never go anywhere straight there and back......)
I include a shot of my Vintele sidestand. The best 100 quid I have spent on the bike.
Eagle-eyed viewers might spot the air filter on the Amal 276 carburettor. Yes, I know they never had them back in the day, but I really don't like the idea of running it without one. It has been fitted since day one of my ownership, and hasn't made it run rich, which I thought it might do,