At last a warm, dry weekend and I had a second try at removing my deep alloy sump in situ - an exercise I promised myself to undertake once 1000 miles running-in had been completed. Threebond exerts quite a grip but I managed to dislodge the sump with a tyre lever braced against a block of wood under the radius arm; and with the front of the engine raised a mere fraction it slips out easily. All good within and a couple of measurements gathered so sump back on again.
Still some sunshine so I re-set the tappets, which is always a beastly job - on an 'Ulster' at least; but now it's done.
Sun still shining so I whipped the distributor out for a quick once-over. Oh lor. I thought I'd 'done' everything on this car at one time or another - I won't post a photo for the shame of it. As it happens I rebuilt a couple of DK4A's last year 'for a rainy day' so will press one of those into service. Then we are 'summer ready!'
05-04-2020, 07:40 PM (This post was last modified: 05-04-2020, 07:43 PM by Steve Jones.)
(05-04-2020, 01:16 PM)Malcolm Parker Wrote: Not much to do in the garage at the moment so have been tidying the garden. Yesterday I went for a bike ride to the next village and back. It's the first time I have ridden a bike since I passed my driving test 46 years ago. True I had a 20 yard wobble on Steve's bike in the camping field at VSCC Prescott about 10 years ago but that doesn't count. I quite enjoyed the experience on the deserted roads. Things were enlivened when the chain came off and got jammed in the gear system. Just like driving a Frazer Nash! I was on a fancy mountain bike with 21 gears, that's 18 more than you need.
I might repeat the exercise today, hopefully without the mechanical issue.
Next weeks project is to breathe life into a part dismantled motorbike that has been languishing in one of the farm buildings for years. It is an OSSA trials bike dating from the 1970's. The engine is a 250 cc 2-stroke. A bit of research on t'internet shows that OSSA were a well regarded make in the 1970's.
Time to don the lycra and go for my daily exercise!
OK. Lets get something right. It wasn't my bike Malcolm rode at Prescott, it was Dan's. Please don't let people get the idea I have one of those things (actually, I do but that would spoil this!).
I was due to come up to Malcolm's on Tuesday but this pox thing's put a block on that. What a shame. I'd have loved to see him on a bike or, even, a motorbike. As to the Lycra, I can only think of the last time he tried wearing sports wear. It wasn't that much of a success.
05-04-2020, 08:31 PM (This post was last modified: 06-04-2020, 01:17 AM by Bob Culver.)
Getting off the subject but these are odd times. To keep slightly fit and on the advice of hip surgeon to avoid walking (apart from the sheer tedium), I try for a short bike ride every other day, mostly on cycleways. But the present with no traffic is heaven on a bike. Recommend dust off any steed in the shed, put the seat up so legs not constantly folded and venture forth. See detail not previously noticed on routes driven for decades. Roundabouts no longer a horror, or vehicles shaving past, cutting off etc . Very slightly more sensitive to wind and grade than the Seven, but my aged mechanism is more compromised than the Sevens ever was. About 20 km radius my limit and have to walk all grades on the way home. I live on a ridge so all trips end in a climb. but downhill with a high gear better than when at school with a single speed.
Edit: The secret to enjoyable recreational riding is an upright seating postion, or handlebars arranged so can sit vertical even if it means steering with the fingertips.. The Dutch and Scandinavians and billions of Asians do not ride around with drop handlebars
06-04-2020, 07:50 AM (This post was last modified: 06-04-2020, 07:52 AM by Duncan Grimmond.)
I wholeheartedly agree with the "sit up and beg" upright style of cycling. What's more it should be on a bow-frame Dutch "Ooma" ( Grandmother) model,28' wheels, 3-speed Sturmey Archer, much used by District Nurses. Basket optional, rear carrier essential.
To quote Viv Stanchall you can "look over walls,tease people" !
Steve's rather flattering photo of me modelling the period bathing costume has reminded me to write him out of my Will. The cozzy was knitted by the good ladies of the VSCC Light Car section. At the time it was rumoured that they would be producing a calendar and I would be Mr May. Such is my knowledge of fashion, I had put it on back to front. I wondered why there was a bow just above my a*se!
Went for another cycle ride yesterday and having fully mastered the 21 gears I made better time, probably because I didn't have to stop to put the chain back on.
Hi Duncan
Those bikes with curved tube were inflicted on women for well over 50 years. Some were even less braced than that illustrated. The frames are horrendeously floppy, esp with a laden basket. My mother like many others rode hers to work every day for 20 years and never experienced an easily controlled reasonably rigid bike. Unless you live somewhere dead flat most 3 speed bikes can be much improved by lowering the overall gearing somewhat. (Bike gears are reckoned as the equivalent penny farthing diameter. The typical single speed was about 70 inches.)
