A65 Lightning project......

[geraldhattrick75]

I think I may have finished the project.... (once I sort something out re the silencer)

I'll get some petrol into the tank and have a bash at starting her..... (I'm a bit concerned at the position of the gear change lever as it'd be very, very easy to snick it into gear when kick starting,,,,,)

I think i may remove it till I've managed to sort out the 'start procedure'.....


I'll remove plugs and kick the engine over till I get some oil in the return pipe...... (providing I don't knacker myself in the process)

Some more boring pictures (probably the last, you'll be glad to hear...):

[geraldhattrick75]

Sorry, I meant to say a sincere thank you for all your help during the course of this project....

I'd have been really stuffed without it.......


So a big THANK YOU....

[Martin S]

Anyone know the paint code for the Lightning Clubman Gold. please?

Thanks,
Dave

I'm about to get my tank and side panels painted; did you get a paint code for the gold? If not can you tell me what you used please.
I read a lot on the forum about sealing the inside of the tank; mine currently has petrol in it and it's not leaking. Can anyone advise me what would be the benefit of sealing it please.

Many thanks

Martin

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi Martin,

If your tank is in good order inside and out, so not rusty and not leaking there is no real advantage that I can think of.  In and extreme case of vibration developing and assuming the sealant has some flexibility then it may stop a leak.

Dave.

[geraldhattrick75]

Hi Martin, the colour I used was
Top coat: Honda Inca Gold Y61P  M5-32000 (Flat (not glossy- the lacquer will give it the gloss)
(not sure if it's the correct colour but I took the unrepaired tank and kinda matched it up)


Lacquer:  1 Litre Colour tone COL 800   2K  800 Clear SR
               500mL                  COL 710   2K  710 Fast activator
2 pack (take care with the 2 pack)  ought to be fully sealed, air fed suit..... (I used a normal face mask ( https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203059592425?hash=item2f474b7ce9:g:vhYAAOSwfKJfHn5F ) and held my breath... ish)

If you need any more info just ask.

As has been said, if your tank aint broke, don't fix it....

Best of luck.
               

[adriancw]

I think I may have finished the project.... (once I sort something out re the silencer)

I'll get some petrol into the tank and have a bash at starting her..... (I'm a bit concerned at the position of the gear change lever as it'd be very, very easy to snick it into gear when kick starting,,,,,)

I think i may remove it till I've managed to sort out the 'start procedure'.....

I'll remove plugs and kick the engine over till I get some oil in the return pipe...... (providing I don't knacker myself in the process)

Some more boring pictures (probably the last, you'll be glad to hear...):

Wow, congratulations, well done - looks great!!

[Martin S]

Hi Martin, the colour I used was
Top coat: Honda Inca Gold Y61P  M5-32000 (Flat (not glossy- the lacquer will give it the gloss)
(not sure if it's the correct colour but I took the unrepaired tank and kinda matched it up)


Lacquer:  1 Litre Colour tone COL 800   2K  800 Clear SR
               500mL                  COL 710   2K  710 Fast activator
2 pack (take care with the 2 pack)  ought to be fully sealed, air fed suit..... (I used a normal face mask ( https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203059592425?hash=item2f474b7ce9:g:vhYAAOSwfKJfHn5F ) and held my breath... ish)

If you need any more info just ask.

As has been said, if your tank aint broke, don't fix it....

Best of luck.
             

Many thanks Gerald, I'll use the pictures of your tank as my quality reference

Martin

[geraldhattrick75]

Thank you Adrian, that's very kind....

Just a thought Martin but, as I'm not absolutely sure of how accurate/ inaccurate my colour interpretation might be, with regards the 'definitive Gold' on the 'Lightning Clubman', it might be worth asking on the site if anyone might have a more accurate description of the paint.

It might be that folk out there are looking at my attempt and shaking their heads at how wrong I've got it, but don't know how to break it to me.....

If so, I promise I won't be upset at being corrected on it- in order for Martin's to look more accurate. (I kinda like the colour anyway)


As mentioned earlier Martin, if you need any more info, don't hesitate to ask.....


Regards,

Dave.

P.S. The GeraldHattrick bit of my monica is kinda relating to my being a Geriatric old fart....

[geraldhattrick75]

Er, with regards to starting the bike, I don't seem to be drawing any fuel into the engine.... (plugs are bone dry after loads of kicking over (both fuel taps on and fuel into the carb)

I'm running a single Mikuni carb that came with the box of bits for the bike (along with the twin monoblocs and twin head- to be fixed and fitted later)


Does anyone out there have experience of setting up a Mikuni carb on a (1965 ish) Lightning please?

Or better yet- know what jets, slide, needle position etc I should have?

Regards,
Dave.

[ChrisG]

Hi Dave, PM waiting for you in your inbox
Chris

[geraldhattrick75]

Re PM, thank you very much Chris.... (in case you didn't get my response)


On the same subject, I received the Clubman exhaust today, and it look correct (see piccie 1 & 2 (2 is mine, 1 is a rather lovely one I found a piccie of))...... Except: there is no way the kickstart will clear it (see piccie 3).

The kickstart lever needs to be at least 1/2 an inch further out than it is....

Does anyone know just how much the Clubman kickstart lever is cranked out please?

PS I'll follow up on your kind suggestion later Chris.

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi Dave,

I would say that kickstart in the 'nice pic' is not correct as it does not have the forward kink whereas your does.
What I can see is that your exhaust pipe seems to be sitting too far out even for a standard set up.  I know it will be a pain but check the exhaust fitment.  The pipe should tucked in to much closer to the frame and the underside of the footrest mount.  Is the bracket on the frame under the engine too long?  A give away can be that the whole system will slant in to the rear.  Take a photo looking down to show the line of the exhaust pipe/silencer.

Dave.

[geraldhattrick75]

Thanks for that Dave.
I'll get onto a full investigation as soon as I have shortened the throttle cable (today's job).

What you say makes really good sense and gives me a better line of attack..... (I didn't really fancy bending the kickstart lever- with all the discolouration and weakening that that entails)

I'll let you know how it pans out- but I know what you says is correct. (the pipes have never sat correctly if I'm honest, so i'll re locate them to sit closer to the frame(might even apply sealer while I'm at it))

Thanks again Dave.

[Guitarzanbikes]

Hi Dave, looking at your pics the exhaust is sticking way out compared to when I had the bike, looks a good couple of inches out from what I remember. The original exhaust was an original Siamese system and tucked very tightly in to the lower frame. When this finally got beyond economic repair in the late 90's I was advised at the time that Clubman pipes were no longer available and standard ones wouldn't fit. That was correct, I bought a "Clubman siamese system" from a reputable and still going supplier and had exactly the same problem you now have, they gave me a full refund no probs. I ended up fitting a Unity Equip 2 into 1 racing system so I could retain the rear sets and this was still on it when I sold the bike. If genuine Clubman pipes were not around 20+ years ago I'd think that unless someone has had some specially made they will be even rarer today. Sorry this is not great news but hopefully you can find an economical solution to your problem. Any help I can give let me know. Mark

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

Both of my A65s have siamese pipes in stainless steel.  They both fit well but I do not know what make they are but I suspect Armours.  So lucky me to have Armours pipe that fit.
However, can I suggest that you fit just the full pipe to see how that lines up on its own.  It could be that the short pipe is not quite right and is pushing the main pipe out.  If this is the case then modifying the short pipe will be the least problematic.

Dave.