smallfrowne

"The Caravan Site" gets 4.7 out of 5 stars. Premier Inn at only 4.1. Next time... Edit: Travelodge is only a 3.5er!

I bet that was a bit unnerving! Was it mid corner? I haven't actually taken them out of the bags yet, so I can't tell you. Give it another 6months and I'll let you know... And RS - good thinking, I'll have a look.

Not sure why but I could see you on a guzzi. An old one is best of course but maybe this suits...

Carb rubbers and their clamps. These can be a bugger, now that they are old and shit and rusty, and have always annoyed me. There's 8 of them altogether and are about £5 each in a Honda red bag. Last time I had them off it appears that one clamp was too far gone; I'd replaced it with a jubilee. The slight niggle is that standard jubilees always seem a bit bulky. They have to sit in a channel of sorts on the rubber, and they're always slightly too big. Both the head of the clamp and even the band is too wide. Thankfully someone has done the leg work and is selling sets of 8 on ebay of Tridon (American?) stainless clamps with an 8mm wide band for the price of a single red bagged Honda clamp... Left to right -> Random Mikalor jubilee I'd used last time. Brand new clamp bought for the purpose. And two original clamps. The original clamps are obviously a perfect fit (the one on the left is just very loose), if a bit shitty. The random jubilee on the left isn't bad, just a bit wide and the new isn't bad at all, just right in fact. You can see from this angle that the the new Tridon clamp (now on the very left) has a smaller head as well which helps conform to the diameter of the rubber. You can also see why the originals are a complete shit when they are rusted up. The square nut is held by a piece of the steel band, which just isn't very strong and allows the nut to spin if it has become fused with the screw. A right pain when there is no room under the carb, deep in the V and you're already using long length screwdrivers and a torch to get to it. So, that's nice to have. It's the little things. The longer thread inserts came. Perfect fit. Tick. Started to clean this up: (New cap head bolts are grade 8.8 from B&Q. Can't seem to get anything but stainless or super extra high tensile unnecessary grade 12.9 from ebay... So that was a nice find.) Will sort this out later: So bent. (Foot still hurts :'( ): Working at getting the swingarm off now: Errr, shit. Where's the special swingarm removal tool?! Where'd it go? It isn't with the other specials (clutch nuts, hub nuts, flywheel pullers...). Why isn't it there? Where is it...?? Did I even buy it? Was it real? Ohhh it's in the special tool box. Bah. In the house. Stupid place for a swingarm tool. (Couldn't resist a cute lickle Jap tool box) Getting there: Hang on though, what's all that on the floor? The bean tin exhaust repair has had it, but so has that bit of the exhaust. Another thing for the list. Glorious. Nowt left.

Next up was a little play with the carb, which was hiding this: (I'll leave this for later...) The carbs then. Last time I gave them a fettle I was new to the idea of removing Japanese machine screws, I was weak and I couldn't remove the top plate that you need to take off to split the carbs. I think I managed to clean them out ok but it's time to do it proper, or is it just because I couldn't let the screws beat me again. Round 2: Note the screwdriver and the red T handle ratchet thing are Japanese, but the winning tool was the 3/8"s T bar, extension, 1/4" bit holder and fatty Phillips bit (non JIS). Would have been easier to do this on the bike instead of standing on the carb to stop it rotating - next time. Shot of the opponent and weapon of choice (see also top right screw which has previous battle damage). Anyway, enough being dramatic, out they came and after some wiggling the plate was eased off the dowels. With a can of cold fizzy piss to celebrate. The cardboard in the slides by the way was put there before I got the urge to remove the top plate, to stop stuff getting in whilst I painted the slide top caps. Perfect colour match. Ford Metallic Purple. And AA Yellow for the cable bracket, hung up to dry. (ran out of purple). So much work to prep for painting and then the painting itself. Really dislike it. And all so that it can scratch off at first sight of a screw. Ideally they could have done with being re-plated, linuxrob style. This will have to do for now, but I am quite jealous of the plating...

Then the bottom one also needed a seeing to. The threads weren't as bad, but a little way in there was definitely some damage, or was it just some crud? Either way it wasn't possible to thread a bolt all the way in. I thought I'd just see if it can be saved, with a more gentle approach to just drilling it out and putting an insert in. Started by making an "internal thread cleaning tool". (which, by the way I didn't think would work but worth a try). Make some notches in the end of the thread to allow room for the 'shite' to be gathered up. Of course it didn't work because there wasn't really any shite in there to clean out, the threads must be just a smidge mullered in the middle. Tappy tappy - this time with just a normal M8x1.25 tap. Force some new threads in. This will probably do, hmm we'll see. Now I can put the bobbins on for the ABBA stand (can you hear the drums Fernandoooo?) so I can get the swingarm out. Why does the swingarm need to come out?...

I have gotten round to a bit more. Some of the footpeg mount bolt holes were damaged, all the bolts were loose after the incident - they either stripped out, bent, stretched or a combo. The top one is pretty stripped out, could do with new threads. Confirm thread pitch, why not. (M8 x 1.25) I already seemed to have a V-coil helicoil thread insert job (ebay a while ago). So that was handy. Hole drilled and given a bit of a chamfery countersinking to aid tapping start up. Tappy tappy. Chippy chippy. New oversize thread. Hmmm, the thread insert isn't quite full length. I mean it would probably be fine but I might as well stop here and order some longer ones. The kit size is '1.5D', which is 1.5x the hole dimension (8mm) - so 12mm. The lug is about 17mm deep so some 2D (16mm) inserts have been ebayed.

Some good stuff from Norfolk arrived but it's staying bagged up for now. Hmm ally sub-frame to replace the bent one? I'd have to turn down pillion requests, it's a bit shorter. But, before any of that goes back on there's more that must come off. I'd noticed a bit of weirdness with the choke, it just didn't feel right. A bed slat is just the right size to lever off the carbs. (It's been too long since i've levered off some carbs, ooh the satisfaction of the 'schlpp' as it obliges) Hmm, this one is developing a bit of rot. A bit of juice and a wriggle and out it came. The stopper type bit which clamps to the rod had bent over to the side, hmm whoops; I must've given it a bit of an unsympathetic heave at some point. I'll add it to the list, it's a right bugger to start when it's not set up right. All a bit boring so far, and taking the carbs off has even revealed some blue scabies in the 'V' below - definitely a bit of a coolant leak, which is even more boring. More to do...

Ooof.

Time for another "rebuild" but probably won't do it in the living room this time, and probably won't go so far as to check the mains are ok, but will be having a right good piss about, without actually rebuilding anything. It begins Already got the fairing off. The nurse is here Stuff is starting to hang off Just keep unbolting and snipping cable ties. Chuck it all in the box. Foot rest is no longer fit. And more stuff hanging off.

Had a total loss settlement offer from the insurance, which I'm not going to protest as it's better than I expected tbh. Wish I'd taken out the "salvage protection" extra though on the insurance, would have been nice to get the full amount. Nevermind, next time Time to order some fancies for it.

Almost getting somewhere with the Nc30 and the various companies involved in drawing out the payout process... It's been assessed, after sitting in a workshop somewhere for a week and a bit and he reckons it'll be a write off due to it being a shit old bike. But they've not informed the underwriter yet who will then get an engineer of some kind to see how bent the frame is before sending it to the crushers. But anyway, here's a picture from Friday at a 'retro' (pré 2000) trackday. It was dropped off by the collector of track day detritus whilst I was cowering from the rain in the scrutineering shed. https://i.imgur.com/Igqxj8ol.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Avec fullest full boar exhaust https://i.imgur.com/Ca1SeP8l.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> It was running exhaust fed/sucked thru air cooling, +18% power over intake drawn. First time he's used that setup he said. Maybe that's why he came off, it was piss wet through. Or maybe he didn't come off and it just conked out. Thunder and lightning and everything. Gave him a hand push starting it, and it sounded well. He didn't turn round to say cheers though, but that's OK he had work to do for the race weekend, which by the looks of all the caravans and motor homes being queued up at the entrance, is serious business.

Ah, the old Honda stator and regulator/rectifier dance. At least when I was caught out I was only 10miles from home Still, it scared me into fitting a volt meter and carrying a spare rectifier.

The Nikken was quiet, and didn't get to see how fast it was because it was in another group, but I'm sure it would've been a laugh. I'm sure I got a one of them bearings when I did the Dr's notchy bearings moons ago. It was for the top. It didn't give a good fitting seal I seem to remember, or it mightve, but something was off. I don't think I could get the seal off and in the end I put the old bearing back on so the original seal / washer type thing could be used. The notch must've been in the bottom because it wer fine after that.

Oh and the oil dipstick has gone from full to just about registers in about 200mile, I suppose 90 or so of them "hot testing miles" mind

Nice, straight back on the horse! Is that Cadwell? It was! Ankle still swollen and bruised but obviously not that bad and the big vif was up for it. Lovely day for it as well, though it started off in thick fog around cadwell. In fact they delayed the start until it cleared but half the track stayed misty for the first few sessions, which helped me anyway as I was late. Good selection of bikes being chucked down the track, side of track, and some pushed back from the track. Lots of red flags. Cb500.. ZX11.. Nice old R1.. Assorted gixxer k7s or whatever.. Ducati 848.. Ouch. And this thing (it didn't crash thankfully, so many forks to bend)... https://i.imgur.com/5dpuR60l.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> But aye, good times. I feel like a weakling though, the weight of the vif sadly did not dissappear at speed, if anything it got heavier Got passed a lot, only once somewhat aggressively but he waved sorry which was a nice touch. Had fun with the older stuff and the cb500s though and a poor old blade (with number plate) which just sailed on through to the grass after park straight... Man, it looked like you had it saved as well. Always amazed at how sticky sticky rubber is https://i.imgur.com/ZWy9jgvl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> (obviously on way back to scrutineering to get weighed) https://i.imgur.com/3UPYeMZl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Beer time for the hero blobs.

https://i.imgur.com/DZ70qk0l.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Good old comfy big vif. First time in medium group. Not too bad. Only going steady, looking forward to sandwich and a kitkat. Clutch is slipping up top. Ahh

Well good thinking. I doubt bike policy will budge much, Footman James never seem bothered. Car would go up £25... Hmm over 5 years I suppose maybe about a hundred or something. Rough cost for parts so far I reckon is about £570 without any sanding and painting. But then replacement gear will eclipse that slightly... Plus 260 for more boots (I'm quite peeved about the new speed hole) and some new non shredded waddyproof trouse. Or maybe the boots can be repaired but goretex lining... And then Helmet... I mean it seems fine, few grazes on it but feels like the done thing is to distrust it following a bump. Bah. Hmmm. I'll see what she says to £1100 which is being nice really because I hate sanding and painting, and glueing. I reckon insurance job.. When listed out it almost feels like I'm taking the piss but I didn't appear out of nowhere on purpose

Cheers all. Blessings counted, excitement worn off and whatnot, plus bike is back so I can chill out now. AA man seemed to take forever, must've stopped for a cheeky maccy dees. Time to make a list now. The lass wants to avoid going through insurance but I don't think she realises how much all the "superficially" damaged bits cost. And the boots. On closer inspection of said boot there is a nice imprint of that fairing lug 'ole and matching abrasion on me ankle. It's almost done a better job of making a hole in the leather than the Chinese hole punches I got the other week Fine Italian leather boot with a divet, never right. Insurance have been notified anyway so it might be a bit late for that now.

Came out of tesco, just topped up, heading north (green line). At junction there was a big black pickup on the left waiting to pull out and a shiney blue thing to the right, which didn't see me and possibly sped up to nip out after dithering (conjecture). Bike ended up in front of that pickup on its left side (to give that side a good going over too), possibly hit it a bit. I ended up in the gutter more than slightly miffed and threw a glove at the bike for some furious reason. The driver did come straight over actually but I was too busy being dramatic in my gutter. Loads of others were helping out, because obviously I was trying to lead the rescue effort of the bike whilst being told not to move by an off duty fireman. Felt like I'd had the Misery treatment, sledge hammer to the ankle. I've got the details of the driver from the copper that turned up, so I suppose I'll have to start faffing about on the phone tomorrow. Will all be a bit better when the AA man turns up with the bike Spent too much time in the back of the neenaw to get any names and numbers of witnesses or pictures but fingers crossed it just goes swimmingly. It shouldn't cost a lot to sort but the effort... And the pre booked track day on Monday too... Bah.

https://i.imgur.com/3Rv4fAcl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Hello likle bike. I'm just having an interview with the roz, back in minute. https://i.imgur.com/r9zEO7Cl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> https://i.imgur.com/tAtCafsl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> https://i.imgur.com/KwPHqTPl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Bit bent. Foot was smashed on this side. Probably right where that fairing mount lug is (smashed). https://i.imgur.com/lVaA6JNl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> The cable tie holding the fairing on where the mirrors would be has gone missing, can I claim for that? https://i.imgur.com/brSuRJ5l.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Oh no, the last bit of the original castrol fairing! https://i.imgur.com/TEbgqKPl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Couldn't retrieve the bag of duct tape, subframe a bit squished. It's 3M stuff, if it gets wet I think I'll claim for that too

The 400. Running like a dream ah well. Bag of peas or actually sweetcorn, and a beer time

Haha thanks. Yeah I'm alright, got a badly ankle since it was smushed between some car and the bike (side swiped!). Was all at low speed but the bike should magic itself home tomorrow. Currently it is at the back of the (at the time) local rozzer shop. Quite a few bits bent, but hopefully not them forks lol! Buggggger

Knocked off the thing. Bugger. Nearly made it to Cadwell an' all. Annoyingly the clutch lever snapped clean off and so it's been abandoned 40miles from home with no roof over its head.

Really though. I've ridden the cg up a few flights (OK about 6 steps) of stairs. How difficult are green lanes? Aren't they just what horse people like to gallop around on and walkers like to turn into footpaths?