What have you done with your bike/s today?

[Worty]

they all do that sir , some more than others , if you give them a good thrashing oil mist collects on the cases from the breather and drips when they have their well earned rest.

I concur.  For years I thought I had a leak on the primary cover until I was told this (by the very same Bergs, I believe).  I have virtually no 'oil escape' now apart from this (and apart from the accursed l/h fork oil seal )

[greybloke]

Yep. If it doesn't weep a little oil, it's dry. Could be worse, a Royal Oilfield, say.

Sounds like your loop of No 5 twine came off, Worty (as recommended in service sheet) although PTFE tape has to be a better bet these days. Pulled mine apart (yep, traces of fossilised twine at bottom of leg thread), awesome 'patina' on o/s stanchion. Got straightened pegs, shift, levers, mudguard flap and no plate back from the blacksmith. He enjoys working with old metal, reckons it has a 'memory' that new metal just doesn't have.

[Colsbeeza]

With the BSA now functional, I have decided to leave it alone for a while and get in some riding. So I turned back to the Lilac. I wired in a new left hand handlebar switch with indicator toggle, which only the Japanese market models had. I do not feel safe out there in the jungle without a blinker - who looks for a hand signal these days? A skreech of tyres behind you is very unnerving . So it is all finished and ready for a test ride after months of fettling - in a day or two anyway.
Col

[Worty]

Still hand signals for me.

Left hand turns are fine, it's the right hand ones where you have to get the timing right.  I tend to hog as much space as I can on the road, and keep just left of the centre line (for countries that drive/ride on the correct side of the road, of course ).  On right turns, it's a quick signal, a good look round, and away.

Of course, if you're quick enough, you'll keep ahead of most of the traffic so nothing's behind you when you do turn.

No one understands the left arm rotation for turning right these days, they'd just think you were turning left and try to overtake whilst you're turning right - BANG

On the Kwaka, I use both indicators and hand signals at times.

[CheeserBeezer]

Continuing to work on the 2026 project and sent a pile of rusty bits to the powder coaters for them to work their magic. Some bits duplicated as I'm not absolutely sure what I want to use yet!

[greybloke]

Must be the season for it. I took my bike down to the finishers today - in bits in the back of me car for some blasting, powder and paint. Had to get some Indian pattern parts - front mudguard, toolbox and a headlamp shell that looked like it had been painted with a tea towel (the one shiny bit in the pics). All the metal seems the right size and shape, so pretty pleased with the purchases.

[Greybeard]

'painted with a tea towel' 😂

[chaterlea25]

Hi greybloke,
Be ultra careful blocking up all the iol tank holes before blasting
Any grit that gets inside will wreck the engine

John

[Triton Thrasher]

Hi greybloke,
Be ultra careful blocking up all the iol tank holes before blasting
Any grit that gets inside will wreck the engine

John

I always assume that grit will get into the oil tank, no matter how you try to mask the holes.

Also- you will never ever get all the grit washed out afterwards and some will get into the engine.

[Worty]

When Bergs rebuilt my engine, he found an oilway blocked with what looked like a ball bearing (could have been blasting material, maybe?).

Today, I drained the carbs on the Kwaka and GF and measured up the new clutch cable - all good, just needs nipple soldering on now.  Pumped tyres up and lubed the chains.

Also cleaned out the magnetic filter on the central heating system.

Good all round except, on removing the used ball nipple from the bag it was in, I dropped it on the floor and it's now impossible to find.   Fortunately, I have a couple spare.

[berger]

worty it was a ball bearing

[Worty]

worty it was a ball bearing

I still find it incredible that RM left that in.  Credit to you Bergs for finding it.  I have complete trust in this engine, and am not afraid to give it a bit of (careful-ish) welly.  Need to clean the slip rings, etc, when investigating a bit of poor starting of late though.

[greybloke]

worty it was a ball bearing

Ouch! Prob just as well it ended up in the oil way, looks like it took a few bites out of the casing before lodging there. If it hadn't it would have likely totally knacked the casing.

[Worty]

True, GB2, but can you tell me HOW anyone can not check the oilways prior to reassembly??  When Bergs discovered it, I don't think either of us could quite believe it.  I won't even mention the crank oil seal being put on the wrong way round, or the cush drive sleeve not lining up with the clutch chainwheel (3mm throwout).  I only discovered the latter from this forum when investigating why the primary chain had tight spots and the chainwheel was wearing its teeth at an odd angle.

[Catz]

Just been out on a bit of a blast through the village and down the by-pass to test out the "new" speedo.
It works up to 60mph then starts playing up and down but when from 50 back is ok. Just waiting on some of that sewing machine oil that Klaus mentioned to see if that clears the problem.
6 miles or so.