Blog May 2018
Tuesday 1st May 2018
Washed the sprint after the visit to Leeds. Offered up the top rack on the top box. Head scratching moment. Will have to take a closer look. Rode the Sprint to deliver a parcel, then onto Morrisons In St. Ives. Adjusted the chin mount on the GoPro mount. Need to work out how I am going to charge the camera batteries as my charger has developed a fault. Took the D7 to the bike meet at connington. Wonderful little bike.
Wednesday 2nd May 2018
Lovely run out on the Bonnie this evening, we met at the Abbots Elm, then rode to the Admiral Wells, I had a coffee. All in all a lovely evening. Bazza, Simon, Ants and I - Ants had a battery terminal come loose. Sorted by jamming it into the Battery.
Sunday 6th May 2018
Rode to the Peak district on the Sprint, computer problems are preventing me updating the video / pics from the ride.
Monday 7th May 2018 - Bank Holiday
Rode back via Melton to home post the trip to the Peaks
Tuesday 8th May 2018
rode to the bike night at the Swann, and disaster struck. Throttle cable snapped, had to be rescued - late night. Photos, and the video below.
Wednesday 9th May 2018
Went to collect the bike parts that Chilli told me about. Had to empty the fiesta to get the parts into the car. Photographed many. Page can be seen on this website.will list many on Ebay to pay for the C15 restoration.
had a lucky discovery, when I found the nipple that caused problems last night.
Rode to Simons, and from there to the Admiral Wells to meet up with the Whittlesea MCC, we then rode to Stilton to the Peterborough TOMCC. Lovely evening, called in at the Admiral Wells, just to remind Steve the landlord its the BSA Bantam Meet Weekend. Video below of a lovely evening.
Thursday 10th May 2018
Rode on the C15 to the Elm, as he MODS have a weekly meeting. Bike performed fine. Thottle cable stood up. All in all a lovely evening.
Friday 11th May 2018
The correct tyre arrived ( £36.99 ) from M&P, in the morning Stevelin is swapping the 3.50 for this, the correct one 3.25. Photos below show my efforts this evening. TBH I was suprised at how much more engineering has gone into this wheel assembly compared to the BSA Bantam.
Saturday 12th May 2018
Took the wheel upto Stevelin, and unfortunately the innertube had a slight leak, drove to Verities and purchased an inner tube. Then back to Steve's then tyre fitted. Will fit it in the morning.
Sunday 13th May 2018
AM - Bantam meet, rode to Upwood and had a lovely morning, then in the afternoon put the wheel back onto the C15. photos below, late evening collected the mudguards from Simon. All in all a lovely day. Weather was perfect.
Monday 14th May 2018
Although I was shattered, I decided to fit the rear mudguard. Had to remove the rear wheel again to get a clear view of the fit. Did not go smoothly as the DoT rear shocks are too high. Looks odd. I do have a lot of people contacting me offering to swap them out. I am confident that I cant sort. Its not going as smoothly as I had hoped. Brit Iron, go to love working on old bikes.
Tuesday 15th May 2018
Bought replacement original shocks for the C15, silencer came, along with the hanger. Off to bike night.
Wednesday 16th May 2018
Went to bike night on T140 - post photos here
Thursday 17th May 2018
Fitted correct shockers, and end pipe
Friday 18th May 2018
fitted tail light. bugger of a job. Had a rear tyre puncture on the kawasaki, was not able to complete the course due to woodscrew in the rear tyre. Bike was recovered from birch hanger.
Sat 19th May 2018
Early start, as I met Simon and went to the MCN Bike Show, bought a heavy duty lock, had my badges sewn onto the waistcoat, and bought some clear glasses. All in all a good day, however no classic bike bits. Took some reference photos for my rolling restoration of my own C15.
Sunday 20th May 2018
Took the BSA Bantam Club Gazeebo to the Ramsey Rural museum, and spent several hours in the company of good friends. On arriving home the afternoon was too nice to sit in, so I rode to Folkesworth and had a cuppa and a slice with Ants and Jo. Then rode home on the T140, via connington and the church. Lovely way to end the weekend. Topped off as the young lad who had bad kit came and collected the donated kit the lads gave me. All in all a biker filled weekend, albeit not many miles.
Monday 21st May 2018
Having had a full on weekend, I am planning to finish several jobs on the C15 this weekend.
Timing side gasket cover
Seat Cover
Suspension
Seat Cover
All being well if I complete these jobs, I will ride the bike to the Whittlesea bike meet tomorrow.
UPDATE
Well despite best efforts I failed to do all the jobs, I tried but the wiring to the rear light proved to be prolematic. I am sure it's a bad earth to the rear number plate holder. Also I did not get time to "stick" the rear number plate onto the bike. Did get the gasket cover sorted, although there are two engine case screws missing on the timing cover. I will need to sort this, and of course top the gearbox oil out. Seat cover arrived today. So that looks like a job for the weekend coming. All in all a very busy night lots done. As ever these small jobs do take a lot longer than originally thought.
Tuesday 22nd May 2018
Rode the T140 up to the Whittlesea bike meet, met simon at the Upwood Memorial, and then Ants at the Auto Retentive garage on ugg mere court road. Lovely evening.
Wednesday 23rd May 2018
Had to change the tyre on the Kawasaki, after the rear tyre was badly worn, and the woddscrew puncture. Then temporarily sorted the wiring to the rear light out on the C15, had a bit of a shock when it came to the rear seat pan. Will need to use some skill to take the hump out of the seat over the coming weekend. Riding to Tallington Lakes Classic Meet this evening. Topped the air up in the tyres on the T140, and put some engine oil into the frame. Will need to be shown how to top up the oil in the gearbox. Tallington Bike Night, took further reference pictures for the c15 rebuild
Thursday 24th May 2018
Repaired the broken mains cable on the grinder. Made it much longer for when I am working down the garage on the petrol generator. Then started to use the grinder to unpick the spot welds to enable me to sort the seat pan out for re-use.
Saturday 26th May 2018
Continued to work on the seat pan for the C15, video below. Dad was not impressed with my welding. Have ordered some anti-splatter spray.
Sunday 27th May 2018
Rode to Leeds on the Sprint, long day. Set off early, managed to dodge all but the briefest rain shower. Will need to wash the sprint. Lots of dead bugs.
Monday 28th May 2018
Bank Holiday, rode the T140 to Upwood for their live music event at the Cross Keys. Will need a very good clean very very soon. Rode home and took the briefest of looks at the C15 and the seat pan.
Tuesday 29th May 2018
Not 100% today, did wander down to the garage as the wiring on the C15 needed to be looked at, however I was too tired. Battery box needs sorting and the battery rising. I am hopeful of sorting this coming weekend.
Wednesday 30th May 2018
Met Simon at the Upwood memorial, then rode my Sprint to the wheel builder. Then onto the Triumph meet at Stilton. All in all a lovely evening. Picked up a cheap top box for the Kawasaki - to replace the cheap chineese top box currently fitted. I worry that the lid will pop open again.
Thursday 31st May 2018
Went down to the garage, and spent an hour looking at the wiring. Needs a serious tidy. Hoping to sort this tomorrow. What a Birthday present. Seat Pan arrived, needs a blast and paint.