OC Vintage Bike Meet

Sunday February 8th

It was one of those wonderful SOCAL February days, about 75 degrees and clear skies.

Three of us rode over to the event together, Rick Damrel, Girvan Nichol and me.

Once there we met up with James Wilbourne, a colleague from Shultz, you remember the place I worked sometime in the distant past.

I rode the Velocette, it started and ran really well.

No, I didn't ride it like that, I wore my helmet etc.

There were about 140 bikes there, this one is a bit special, it is a twin engine Triumph.

Why? you might ask yourself, because you can is the answer.

Here's Girvan with our friend and colleague James Wilbourne checking out the equipment.

There was not one but two of these Zundaps at the event, both in absolutely fabulous condition.

Two six cylinder 1,000 cc Honda CBX models.

This Moto Guzzi was a very interesting bike, 

A 1958 Square Four in great shape, there's something to aim for!

On Monday, I decided to take of the headlamp bucket from the Velocette and have it powder coated.

It has a bit of cosmetic damage but should come back in a couple of days looking like new.

More on the headlight when I get it back.

Norm

Ciao Bella.

The Generator

Trials and Tribulations

Just for you Gearheads

I decided to start the emergency generator just to prove to myself that it worked.

It didn't.

There is a small solar panel leaning on that brick which keeps the battery charged. It did a great job, I was able to crank the generator, no problem. (It does not normally lean on the brick, that was just whilst I worked on the generator.)

But would it start? Nooooooo.

 I started on the trouble shooting of the system.
Removed the air filter and sprayed a little easy start in there. Cranked it over and it ran for a few seconds,

That tells me that the control and ignition are OK must be a fuel problem.

Removed the carb, no gas.

Ah Hah! I said to myself.

Stripped the float needle out and found it to be gummed up.

Duly cleaned the needle and the housing.

Once it was all re-assembled I tried it again.

Crank yes, start no!

Checked the carb bowl again, this time it had gas.

I took the carburetor apart again, this time I looked at the main jet.
With a little persuasion it was removed from the mounting tube.

Plugged solid.

Out came the Carb and Choke cleaner.

This was not enough to clear the blockage, so I gave it some help with the smallest drill in the set.

Even a #60 is too big to go though the jet, but it was OK to start the process.
So with time and patience, the jet was cleared.

The carb was re-assembled and installed on the generator.

These are the simple tools needed to get the generator back in action.

Note the bottle of Bud, that helps with the patience!

If you would like to see and hear the results, use the link below.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSSjJ9on0rQ




Ciao Bella

Norm
AKA
Him in the Shed.