Saturday, April 30, 2005
Fuel taps
I've had the 'new' red tank on the bike for a few weeks but not put any petrol in it. A few days ago I ran a bit in and found that it dribbled; both out of the pipe hole and the knob area.
On examination the tap is in fair condition but the 4 hole sealing washer is a little hard and slightly below at least one of the feed pipes. I feel that metal to metal contact between the pipes and tap knob will cause a leak.
NLM do not stock a washer kit and having looked at the proces of these in a generic parts catalogue I decided to get a new tap. Petrol drips are not a good thing. In case you're wondering, the tap on the original tank is fine but now I've got 2 sound tanks I'd like 2 good taps so they can both be used. The new tap is of similar dimensions to the OE but doesn't seem to be quite as nice quality. Note the plastic knob.
It's also notable how much dirt has been trapped by the gauze on the 'reserve' feed to the tap.
I would like to find a new washer to renovate this tap. I've contemplatd trimming the pipes back or putting a squirt of silicone gasket behind the washer but neither of these seems like a proper job!
I've also traced the decals from the tank and will try to get a neat image of these to have some fresh ones made from.
(0) comments
I've had the 'new' red tank on the bike for a few weeks but not put any petrol in it. A few days ago I ran a bit in and found that it dribbled; both out of the pipe hole and the knob area.
On examination the tap is in fair condition but the 4 hole sealing washer is a little hard and slightly below at least one of the feed pipes. I feel that metal to metal contact between the pipes and tap knob will cause a leak.
NLM do not stock a washer kit and having looked at the proces of these in a generic parts catalogue I decided to get a new tap. Petrol drips are not a good thing. In case you're wondering, the tap on the original tank is fine but now I've got 2 sound tanks I'd like 2 good taps so they can both be used. The new tap is of similar dimensions to the OE but doesn't seem to be quite as nice quality. Note the plastic knob.
It's also notable how much dirt has been trapped by the gauze on the 'reserve' feed to the tap.
I would like to find a new washer to renovate this tap. I've contemplatd trimming the pipes back or putting a squirt of silicone gasket behind the washer but neither of these seems like a proper job!
I've also traced the decals from the tank and will try to get a neat image of these to have some fresh ones made from.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Stafford Show
This weekend I took the Kanguro to the 25th classic bike show at Stafford. I didn't have any illusions about winning the bonny bike competition but I'd been asked by the Morini Riders Club to include it on their stand. This gave the display a balance between road and trail bikes and the twins and singles.
My Kanguro behind a very tidy Corsaro County
The show was very busy and biased towards British machinery. Nonetheless, just before leaving on Sunday I heard that one of the Autojumble stalls had a Kanguro tank. It looked good for £12 and had to come home with me!
Overall I'd say it was an interesting event and I'd recommend it. However do try to get there very early on Saturday morning if you want to be able to see anything. Failing that, leave it until 15:00 on Sunday and hope that no-one else wants the same things as you.
(0) comments
This weekend I took the Kanguro to the 25th classic bike show at Stafford. I didn't have any illusions about winning the bonny bike competition but I'd been asked by the Morini Riders Club to include it on their stand. This gave the display a balance between road and trail bikes and the twins and singles.
My Kanguro behind a very tidy Corsaro County
The show was very busy and biased towards British machinery. Nonetheless, just before leaving on Sunday I heard that one of the Autojumble stalls had a Kanguro tank. It looked good for £12 and had to come home with me!
Overall I'd say it was an interesting event and I'd recommend it. However do try to get there very early on Saturday morning if you want to be able to see anything. Failing that, leave it until 15:00 on Sunday and hope that no-one else wants the same things as you.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Painting
I've given up on matching the paint repair on the tank. I got some cans that I could return if the lid didn't match and swapped until I had a few that seemed to span the requisite colour. However when used they are nothing like the 'sample' of the lid. The work has covered the bare metal and so has hopefully stopped corrosion. I'll look into a professional repair or respray in the future.
(0) comments
I've given up on matching the paint repair on the tank. I got some cans that I could return if the lid didn't match and swapped until I had a few that seemed to span the requisite colour. However when used they are nothing like the 'sample' of the lid. The work has covered the bare metal and so has hopefully stopped corrosion. I'll look into a professional repair or respray in the future.
Sunday, April 03, 2005
A little cleaning
A few things to clean up. First was the dirt - The engine and frame have lots of crevices and bits of Cornwall were embedded in them.
I had also had problems with light from the headlight shining behind the instruments and dazzling me. On the trial I'd put a bit of tape across but that was untidy. My plan was to remove the lamp from the surround and cover the edge of the lens with sticky aluminium tape. However I have previously used Loctite to fit anti-vibration mounts into the mounting nuts and so these would not undo readily. I didn't want to apply heat to the threads as I feared this could damage the lens. I therefore compromised by taping across the top of the lens with it inside the plastic. It appears to have had the desired effect.
I've also started to clean up a tank that I had obtained that is in the original paint and undented. It has a few minor knocks, one of which was rusty. I've cleaned that down to metal and painted it with primer. Now I need some matching touchup paint.
(0) comments
A few things to clean up. First was the dirt - The engine and frame have lots of crevices and bits of Cornwall were embedded in them.
I had also had problems with light from the headlight shining behind the instruments and dazzling me. On the trial I'd put a bit of tape across but that was untidy. My plan was to remove the lamp from the surround and cover the edge of the lens with sticky aluminium tape. However I have previously used Loctite to fit anti-vibration mounts into the mounting nuts and so these would not undo readily. I didn't want to apply heat to the threads as I feared this could damage the lens. I therefore compromised by taping across the top of the lens with it inside the plastic. It appears to have had the desired effect.
I've also started to clean up a tank that I had obtained that is in the original paint and undented. It has a few minor knocks, one of which was rusty. I've cleaned that down to metal and painted it with primer. Now I need some matching touchup paint.
Friday, April 01, 2005
700km with only 1 use of Gaffer tape
It's now a week since the Land's End Trial and I've got time to write a little about it. I travelled down a few days before to make it a holiday. The bank holiday weekend is always busy in Cornwall so I now drive there during the night. 2 am arrival is perfect.
It was 60 miles from the excellent vegetarian hotel to signing on at Plusha services, then another 98 miles to the 'real start' at North Petherton. After leaving the A30 this is an excellent road journey with enough bends and hills to make it interesting. The Kanguro makes a good road bike. After an hour's compulsory rest the trial started. The first section is only 28 miles ride so I reduced the tyre pressure to 18psi in the comfort of the car park. During the ride on a lane to the section the engine cut out and needed a fair few kicks to get it to restart. OF course it was dark, the path rutted and muddy and wherever I stood was slippery. I suspect that water got onto the CDI generator coil as the first few kicks gave no hint of restarting. Once I'd got it going I gave it plenty of revs and kept it running whilst waiting to do the section. If I recall correctly it was a pretty easy section and I cleared it.
I knew there were at least 2 water crossings on the trial so as soon as I was on a dry, lit road I taped over the front ventilation slots.
KP informs me that he got stones in there and broke a cam belt. I decided to leave the rear slots open to allow some air circulation - the water on this event is only shallow fords, not rivers. I'm assuming I had correctly diagnosed the problem as it didn't trouble me again.
The sections didn't go very well, but they did get easier once I loet the tyres down to 12psi. I really don't dare go below that although I coudl tell that others had. I don't think I'll ever manage the restart on Blue Hills 1 until I have flat tyres.
Although I footed many sections I have more confidence in myself and the bike than one previous events. This was made clear to me in Bishop's Wood where there is climb through trees, across a track and then over a bank onto the next ascent. In previous years this has both surprised and scared me, but this time I approached it with enough time to make a judgement and act on it - the Kanguro easily rolled over the bank without any drama.
Overall it's fair to say that I need more skill! The bike is stable, which can be an asset, but is long and unwieldy on short turns. There is no room for error. The engine didn't stall on any sections, even when I messed up i ewas able to pull the clutch in and save it. Also I avoided the use of second gear - the engine doesn't like to labour and I'm sure the risk of stalling is vastly increased due to the lowed input to the CDI system. I'm sure I didn't approach the redline on any section in first so I'll ignore a change for now.
The sump guard is hopeless. It accumulated a mound of mud and any ventilation afforded by the slots was eliminated.
The lip on the front seems to have been optimised to catch dirt and push it into the front spark plug. I need a smooth guard, no holes and with more coverage of the front of the engine. That'll be the next project.
Some MCC members only consider a pre 1960 British bike to be a 'proper motorcycle' and dislike the increasing number of Beta Alps (probably the best bike to use if you want a Gold) and KTMs being used on the event. The Morini though is sufficiently unusual (and unwieldy) to attract comment and even sympathy if it is needed.
The final test was restarting the bike for the 15 mile run back to the hotel after signing off. After the Edinburgh I couldn't start it and had to get a push. Well this time a few kicks was all it took. Why not one? Well it wasn't hot and wasn't cold and I had run out of energy. I reckon the carburation is right at last.
(0) comments
It's now a week since the Land's End Trial and I've got time to write a little about it. I travelled down a few days before to make it a holiday. The bank holiday weekend is always busy in Cornwall so I now drive there during the night. 2 am arrival is perfect.
It was 60 miles from the excellent vegetarian hotel to signing on at Plusha services, then another 98 miles to the 'real start' at North Petherton. After leaving the A30 this is an excellent road journey with enough bends and hills to make it interesting. The Kanguro makes a good road bike. After an hour's compulsory rest the trial started. The first section is only 28 miles ride so I reduced the tyre pressure to 18psi in the comfort of the car park. During the ride on a lane to the section the engine cut out and needed a fair few kicks to get it to restart. OF course it was dark, the path rutted and muddy and wherever I stood was slippery. I suspect that water got onto the CDI generator coil as the first few kicks gave no hint of restarting. Once I'd got it going I gave it plenty of revs and kept it running whilst waiting to do the section. If I recall correctly it was a pretty easy section and I cleared it.
I knew there were at least 2 water crossings on the trial so as soon as I was on a dry, lit road I taped over the front ventilation slots.
KP informs me that he got stones in there and broke a cam belt. I decided to leave the rear slots open to allow some air circulation - the water on this event is only shallow fords, not rivers. I'm assuming I had correctly diagnosed the problem as it didn't trouble me again.
The sections didn't go very well, but they did get easier once I loet the tyres down to 12psi. I really don't dare go below that although I coudl tell that others had. I don't think I'll ever manage the restart on Blue Hills 1 until I have flat tyres.
Although I footed many sections I have more confidence in myself and the bike than one previous events. This was made clear to me in Bishop's Wood where there is climb through trees, across a track and then over a bank onto the next ascent. In previous years this has both surprised and scared me, but this time I approached it with enough time to make a judgement and act on it - the Kanguro easily rolled over the bank without any drama.
Overall it's fair to say that I need more skill! The bike is stable, which can be an asset, but is long and unwieldy on short turns. There is no room for error. The engine didn't stall on any sections, even when I messed up i ewas able to pull the clutch in and save it. Also I avoided the use of second gear - the engine doesn't like to labour and I'm sure the risk of stalling is vastly increased due to the lowed input to the CDI system. I'm sure I didn't approach the redline on any section in first so I'll ignore a change for now.
The sump guard is hopeless. It accumulated a mound of mud and any ventilation afforded by the slots was eliminated.
The lip on the front seems to have been optimised to catch dirt and push it into the front spark plug. I need a smooth guard, no holes and with more coverage of the front of the engine. That'll be the next project.
Some MCC members only consider a pre 1960 British bike to be a 'proper motorcycle' and dislike the increasing number of Beta Alps (probably the best bike to use if you want a Gold) and KTMs being used on the event. The Morini though is sufficiently unusual (and unwieldy) to attract comment and even sympathy if it is needed.
The final test was restarting the bike for the 15 mile run back to the hotel after signing off. After the Edinburgh I couldn't start it and had to get a push. Well this time a few kicks was all it took. Why not one? Well it wasn't hot and wasn't cold and I had run out of energy. I reckon the carburation is right at last.
