Mickly

So it transpired that taking out the valve collets is massively easier than replacing them. Getting them out with a pick & a magnet was easy, getting them back in is not the same. The slots in the old spark plug socket needed widening & lengthening considerably & a washer welding into the end to provide stability & help it act vertically against spring without slipping. Here it is loosely bolted in to stop it dropping out but still allowing some wriggle room. Also note the piece of tube over the handle as there’s not much mechanical advantage, especially when it goes over centre. The collets we’re added by using a blob of grease on the end of a screwdriver Another tip is : While storing the collets on a magnetic tray to stop them firing off across the garage may seem a sensible idea - it also means they themselves become magnetic & then stick to anything the come in contact with …. Except the valve stem !! Tried bloody tweezers - get it wrong and the collets will spring off to the darkest corners of your garage. Here’s it all done with buckets & shims in place. Here’s another tip - use a marker pen to show the ones you’ve done, especially if you keep getting called away to ‘other’ stuff !! That’s it for now until the piston rings turn up.

Think I might go to the Nailsea bike show on Sunday .. if domestic stars align

I had the liners honed, these guys did it https://coventryclassicengines.co.uk/ Recommended by the guy who runs NWC motors - said he gets all this engine machining done there, good job at. Reasonable price. Having the Trophy head skimmed, valve seats re-cut, checked, reassembled & cleaned, plus honing the liners was £200

Here’s a tip …. Dont wipe assembly lube off your hand onto your T-shirt and then use said T-shirt to clean your glasses

Long nosed pliers did the trick. New seal with a smear of assembly lube then inserted using an 8mm socket

One valve out - again !! Now how to get the seal out?

That’s the plan

Time to resurrect this thread: so I have slowly got the money / parts together to commence the build …. Well, not all the parts, as the piston ring sets are out of stock & won’t be available until 1st October, but I have paid for them ( or at least will when the credit card bill arrives ). I had to order the head gasket set from the USA, it has arrived and consists of 1 Head gasket, 1 Cam cover gasket, one timing cover gasket & this set of other bits: There are 4 exhaust header gaskets, 10 Cam cover fixing seals 3 spark plug seals ( there’s one incorporated into the cam cover seal ), 1 cam chain tensioner gasket, 2 small & 2 larger copper washers ( I’m sure their fitment will become clear later on ) Now here’s the weird bit: 27 valve oil seals … wtf would there be 27?? Only 16 required so 11 left over & they’re about £10 each from Triumph - wasn’t gonna change these as there was no evidence of smoke, but as I’ve now got them, I might as well …. I mean, how hard can it be? There is also 3 Oval spacers that are a mystery but 3 horseshoe shaped ones missing - maybe I’m supposed to cut them in half? - @onesea, would you be kind enough to ask around? So here we go removing all the valves again while trying not to damage the new paint on the head

Happy bike day for tomorrow

Anything goes Froggy - it’s a real mix of all sorts

Oooh, good.. that’s usually a good do !!

Fixed that for you

In what alternative universe could @Six30 be described as a young lady? An old slapper maybe … but a young lady ??

Nah, never had a young lady take up my offer of a pillion either - Mrs Mickly just used to punch me in the Kidneys if I got a bit beyond a speed she considered acceptable.

Count yourself lucky … he could use my rule! When taking young ladies pillion I tell them if they want me to SPEED UP to tap me on the left shoulder and if they want me to SLOW DOWN to reach round and squeeze my C*ck

Belated birthday greetings people. Hope it was great !!

Thanks, but I’ve tried surfing several times & concluded that it’s just a quick way to get a cold salt water enema while drowning!! So maybe I’ll give them a call

We’re down in the COVID Capital that is Newquay - so the weekend will be spent trying to have a fab hols while keeping others at the end of a barge pole. Weathers gonna be good, so lots of sitting around the van I think, with the odd Rattler

Unfortunately the SS50 was dog slow compared to the Fizzy & AP50 - or maybe it was just my mate who owned it

That is utterly hideous, it makes Chinese replica Vespa’s look appealing - get rid ASAP & have a word with yourself, have you no self respect??

‘Ave a good’un may tomorrow be just a blur

Wouldn’t last as long as the petrol

I had something similar once, the engine was shite, ran out of steam on small inclines & needed an alarming level of fuel

Ah, bugger!!

Bloody expensive/ Best set up your own moonshine still - it can’t be hard, look at the Rednecks that do it on the tele, not a shared brain cell between them !!