mike wilson

First of the "1000" engines. Should have the long, California prop stand. Seems like a bargain to me - a friend just paid more than that for a same-age Convert in pieces. It does have only 620 miles on the clock, though.....

Are you going somewhere local for dyno work?

The real problem is that mototcyclists are easy targets. Of about 3500 fatalities on UK roads (one of the "best" statistics in the world, taken on a "per mile travelled" basis) nearly 600 are on two wheels. Compared to a very low statistical useage number, probably well down in single figures. That disproportionality shoves our collective heads above the parapet to be shot at. Factors such as user experience level (most of the fatalities are young or new returners) actual cause of the accident, etc are ignored as they "confuse the issue". If politicos really wished to reduce fatality figures (the numbers have barely changed in 20 years or more, although that does not take into account the huge increase in traffic density - that's me confusing the issue) they would impose the high level of training on car drivers that learner motorcyclists undergo. Anyone passing the present motorcycle tests is a bloody good rider.

Do the small-block-starter-relay-fix. http://www.guzzitech.com/SmallBlockRelay-PHayes.html The colours might be different but the principle is the same on all of them. It was the best 30 minutes maintenance I've ever done on an electrical system. On a severely problematic one, you may have to replace the original wiring too.

No, no, no, no.

No, no, no.

Ooooh! Just like small blocks. 8-)

Two things, mainly. 1. Price. The rubbery things are (or should be) a lot cheaper. 2. Durability. The rubbery things should not go rusty overnight, which the exposed bearings will. In addition, the rubbery things have a degree of flexibility in more than one axis. That can be true for bearings but to a more limited extent. This may have some implication regarding percieved vibration. In reality, it's another step along the line of reducing the requirement for servicing. Instead of having to lubricate a bearing at every service or more often, rubbery things are replaced at less frequent intervals.

With the lack of protection, the proximity to the spraywashing effect of the rear tyre and the Guzzista's resistance to anything that prevents them (for the grammar Police, that's a genderless "them", not a plural one) from riding, it wouldn't really matter if it was lubricated from new or not. In the UK, I've had lever pivots go from clean and well-lubricated to leaking rusty ooze in 24hours. It was a particularly wet ride, though. Bring back proper mudguards! You Califronians don't know you're born. 8-)

Another ubiquitous four cylinder racer. Date, Manufacturer, Capacity please.

It is indeed. Honda 250cc four, 1959, RC160(J) according to the information I have. Shame about your timing. 8-)

Those Mexicans _really_ know how to take the piss.

I'd like to see that, if you can publish it online.

Looks like Carabinieri colours but I can find no reference.

From the rules: "I'll leave a post for when its up for a stump, approved and set a deadline, Otherwise if the quiz is dormant and its been 2 weeks you get a stump Automatically. So there." But I do like to see people find things - you have such a wonderful journey on the way. 24 hours from now till I claim. That should bugger it.

Hey Joe, Where you goin' with that tang on your stand? (Sorry - lack of centre stand on a road machine is one of my [many] pet hates)

Bent pushrod? Ends not square? Tunnel diameter too large?

I _knew_ that would flex your pry bar - as it does mine. 8-) BTW, I think you are rather unfair on Chamberlain. He had no option but to negotiate, given the unpreparedness of the Allies to deal with Nazi agression. The work behind the facade to shore up our very limited resources during this time was nothing short of phenomenal. Those few months made all the difference in, for example, recruitment and training of fighter pilots. Given that we were fairly sure at the time that this was going to be a European war with no intervention from elsewhere, political measures were all that was available.

I know I'm going to regret this but - you lot stumped, then?

A couple of generic answers: Assuming the adjustment stays tight, if the clearances get larger it means that someting in the valve train is wearing or deposits are forming on the valve seats. If clearances get smaller, then the valve seat is wearing or the valve is stretching. Take your pick as to which you think is worse.... Plug colour is still a good way to determine the state of tune.

8-) I think of it more as wobbling disconcertingly through the minefield of semantics. I'm saying nothing about bizarre verniers with non-standard readouts that make you have to _think_ about the measurements you are taking.....

FWIW, the term "hand tighten" in the UK has (AFAIK) always been meant as "without the use of tools". It's usually used as a means of desribing the taking up of slack.

We need another option: "It's resting"

".....staying right of the line adds a significant challenge to most roads...." More so in the UK, Australia, Japan, etc.

Just to gently hijack, you might find this amusing. 18 pages of stream of unconsciousness. http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1004061iggypop1.html