Hello everyone. A few weeks ago, several things went wrong with my 1965 B40F, all at once: it didn't start; the headlight didn't work; the throttle twistgrip wouldn't snap back despite being very free-turning; and an oil leak had appeared.
Thanks to advice from this forum, these things now appear to be sorted. What I've done is: charged the battery; replaced the headlight bulb; fitted a new ammeter; got a new throttle cable made up (and while at it a new choke cable, oh and a new heat spacer for the carb); worked out where the oil was coming from (wet-sumping leading to oil in the outer timing case which was then leaking out via the gear lever, I think) and fitted a tap to the oil feed pipe (and a string and flag hanging off the bike so I don't forget to turn the tap on when the bikes been standing a while.)
This afternoon she fired into life. Satisfying.
Thanks very much for all the help I get on this forum. The oft-used expression "I couldn't have done it without you" is most certainly true in this case!
And to make things even better, I have just taken the dog for a walk and I almost thought I could sense spring in the air! Phil.
Hi Phil C glad you have it sorted (did you turn the tap off )
Well done Phil! Glad you got it all sorted - still building my SS90 B40 and hoping to get it oil tight!
Spring is indeed in the air today and so I decided to take my newly built M21/sidecar out on the road for the first time to run it in and start to learn how to ride with a dog cart hanging off the side. Unfortunately the clutch wasn't up to hauling a sidecar + three bags of sand and I limped back to base after about 100 yards. Couldn't leave it there so dusted off the SQ4 for a run to the pub - but dog had to be left behind :(
Hope you get out on the road soon!
Cheers,
Bernie
Good work. Part of the charm of owning outdated and obsolete machinery.
Nothing beats the grin factor of firing it up after solving a problem. Roll on Spring and enjoy it!