What have you done with your bike/s today?

[Roger (Doomtrainbarx)]

I spent this afternoon outside in the sun building a new rear wheel using a stainless rim and spokes supplied by Andrew.
Nice easy job with full width hubs and I find building wheels very relaxing and therapeutic - especially with a bottle of cold Budweiser to hand 

[muskrat]

G'day Fellas.
I spent the day running the spanners over the HD then packed her for a run up to Bulahdelah for a mates 74th. Up Friday, back Saturday as I work Sunday. One mate is riding up with me but I'll be solo coming home (faster that way!).

G'day Roger, I find lacing wheels relaxing with a few beers. I did my A7 40 odd years ago with stainless spokes & nipples and haven't had to touch them. The chrome is now starting to show it's age.
Cheers

[berger]

put a new lead acid battery on urma yonda and she fired up straight away so all this time over a year now with difficult starting it was the battery, reminds me of my mk 1 crapi that spun over well but wouldn't fire up, that was the ballast resistor that had failed

[muskrat]

G'day Fellas.
Well I made it home but not on my HD. Sort of lucky I came back via the Putty Rd as she ran out of battery about 10K's North of the Grey Gum Cafe where I always stop. I got fuel at Singleton and by Howes Vally she was giving the odd miss that over 10K's got worse and worse till at Putty Valley Rd she stopped and I noticed the electronic tacho was flipping out. Ok it's not fuel, battery dead meaning she's not charging. A car stopped and I asked them to call in to the Cafe and let them know. About an hour later Will turned up in his van and we got back to the Cafe. I said I'l hitch hike home and be back Tuesday. He said no, take my bike! What a bloke  . I've never ridden a modern 110ci (1800cc) six speed monster before. Very uncomfortable but had some poke. Got home just before dark (only had to dodge 1 wallaby). Tomorrow I'll load it on the trailed and go to drag mine home.
Looks like I'll be up for nearly $1K and a full day spannering to replace the stator, rotor and regulator. 
Bugga.

[CheeserBeezer]

Had a very nice run over Saddleworth Moor on the old Super Rocket. About 150 miles in total.

[Worty]

Had a very nice run over Saddleworth Moor on the old Super Rocket. About 150 miles in total.

Nice, CB.  Not too far from me actually.  When you clear the Moors over t'other side, I'm about 20m away near Wakefield.

The route I planned down to Stafford took me into Cheshire down some interesting side roads.  I went through Nantwich toward Whitchurch then to Stafford via the West side.  Lovely!   Came back a more direct route as the beer was calling!

[Greybeard]

.....
He said no, take my bike! What a bloke...

He's a good mate 👌

[Colsbeeza]

After finding a disturbing crunchy rattle some months ago, I finally decided to check out the possibilities. It did sound like a bit of steel galloping around the engine, so caution meant I must at least have a look. It did it twice at the start of a ride, both times whilst braking to a stop but none thereafter. I removed both chaincase and timing covers - mostly OK but for some swarf in the chaincase probably from my electric starter bedding in, then removed the rocker box, pulled the pushrods to get a look down onto the cam followers. Cannot find anything sofar.
Col

[Worty]

Hmm, is it every time you brake to a stop, or just as you're starting out?

If it doesn't happen when everything's warmed up, I may be tempted to leave it alone, or check out the brake possibly.

With my front brake, on starting on a run, I need to be able to pull the lever almost to the bars.  The reason, as it gets warm it achieves the correct adjustment.

[Colsbeeza]

Hi Worty, It happened twice. Firstly at the bottom of my steep driveway as I braked, and second time about 2 km into my journey as I braked at an intersection. I then did a 30 mile ride with no further problem. It crossed my mind that the front brake may be the origin of the noise as it was definitely towards the front but could not see anything odd. Anyway, no foreign bodies on the cam followers so I will button it all up. A head torquing is due anyway.  Maybe remove the front wheel and take a closer look? Main reason it has taken me so long is that the bike was overheating on the left exhaust, but found a very retarded timing now fixed. Then I spent too long on the Lilac getting it club registered and down to the South Australia VJMC Annual Rally in mid-March. Got a prize too!! Chuffed to bits.
Col

[berger]

is it an escaped  brake shoe spring?

[Worty]

is it an escaped  brake shoe spring?

Good call Bergs!

Nice bike Col, well done mate!

[Greybeard]

I needed to Google Lilac motorcycles - never seen one before. Are they decent bikes?

[Colsbeeza]

Thanks Keith, Could be a loose spring. Could not feel it through the lever but will take a look.
GB They could have been very good bikes but company was undercapitalised and they were not endurance-tested like British bikes were. Speed limit in Japan then was 36 mph and the makers could not imagine how American riders would ride them. They were destined for the US market. Many new bikes were cannibalised to keep the sold bikes running. Potential buyers faded away. They have a few weaknesses but once fettled they can be quite good. I ran mine for 3 years with my local club 23 years ago with no major problems.
Col

[muskrat]

G'day Fellas.
The HD lives to fight another day. When I got her home I charged the battery. To charge a dead flat battery I jumper it to a good one and connect the charger to the dead one. While it was charging I cleaned all the earth points and electrical connections. Next morning I tested with my good tester and got 13v, 365cca, 8.1 m/ohms, 100% health, 98% charge. Installed the battery and she fired up first press of the button and was charging 14.5v. Took her out and only road 1 mile before she started spluttering, a quick U turn and got home in 1st at idle (mostly down hill). the battery was dead again, wouldn't even light up the tester  It was only 5 months old so the shop replaced it. New Century Everride YTX20L-BS in and rode her 50 miles to the pub and back, tested great.
Now to find out why the rHonda is only running on 2 cylinders. But first I'll take the old plunger out for a good mind clearing blast (no pubs open Good Friday).
Cheers