Classic Triumph Bonneville

[Mr. Dazzle]

Did you complete the overtake?

Yes.

it was a Honda Jazz

[Count Steer]

Did you complete the overtake?

Yes.

it was a Honda Jazz

You need to start painting your victories on the tank.

[slowsider]

Did you complete the overtake?

Yes.

it was a Honda Jazz

Did the bike retain all components?

[Mr. Dazzle]

Did you complete the overtake?

Yes.

it was a Honda Jazz

Did the bike retain all components?

I've stopped even asking that. All I worry about now is whether the part which fell off is important.

I bought some B9ES plugs on Amazon last night. I was tempted to get some B10ES too, but they didn't seem to have any.

Last time I bought main jets I bought two sizes, I can't remember what's in there now. Stock is 220 I believe, I think it's got 250s in there at the moment and I have an unopened set of 240s still in the garage. Or maybe I've got 260s waiting in the garage, I can't remember. Either way, I probably need to get some 260s if/when the plug doesn't fix my problems and I might as well get some 270s as well. They're a couple of quid each and it's £5.95 postage.

Other option is to just take the main jets out entirely and see if I still get the sound! It'll run like crap and 8 stroke at high throttle settings, but if it still makes the arcing sound it's probably not because the fuelling is lean.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Received a fitted my new 9 grade plugs today. The 8s I took out had OKish looking electrodes, classic biscuit brown, but the white insulator part was pink. Really really obvious next to brand new plug. So I think they're too hot, whether that's because they're the wrong grade or the fueling is wrong is still TBD.

I greased the rear suspension today, been meaning to do it for ages but had bigger fish to fry. This is the only job I've ever done which requires a good old fashioned grease gun. Dunno when it was last done, probably about 2003, but I kept pumping until the exit stopped spewing out black gunk and started flowing clean grease.

I also spoke to soon about nothing major going wrong. Turns out one of the two centre stand bolts had escaped. I hadn't noticed cause I put it on the sidestand in the garage. When I went to lift it onto the centrestand today, unaware it was only half on, I bent it instead. FFS. I'm down to one stand now, I reckon I'll start parking near walls just incase that one escapes too.

[JackyJoll]

Turns out one of the two centre stand bolts had escaped. I hadn't noticed cause I put it on the sidestand in the garage. When I went to lift it onto the centrestand today, unaware it was only half on, I bent it instead. FFS. I'm down to one stand now, I reckon I'll start parking near walls just incase that one escapes too.

I expect you will eventually start doing preventative maintenance.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Gotta be honest, I don't consider checking the stands are still bolted on to be preventative maintenance

[ogri]

Sure i read somewhere that modern ngk plugs are not very good for older bikes as they are made different to allow for the technology on modern bikes?

[Mr. Dazzle]

Sure i read somewhere that modern ngk plugs are not very good for older bikes as they are made different to allow for the technology on modern bikes?

Potentially true...dunno what I can do about it though really, other than seek out "classic" plugs, if such a thing even exists. If I eventually land on a plug after trial and error it should be OK right?

Maybe you're thinking of more modern resistor plugs, normally they have an R in the number. Somewhat moot though cause I've fitted 5 kOhm resistor caps! Modern bikes need resistor plugs so the electrical noise from the ignition doesn't interfere with the ECU, but there's no real harm in fitting modern plugs to "analogue" engines.

It does have older style copper core HT leads though, whereas modern vehciles sometimes have the silicone/carbon ones. Or more often than not these days no HT leads at all.

[Mr. Dazzle]

So further investigation reveals the stand os supposed to be attached with bolts, anti vibe washers and lock nuts. I took just the one bolt out...the rest had clearly escaped at various times.

Seems a bit weird to me that the moving part of the stand is threaded.

It seems I really do need to check every single bolt is done up every time I use it

[JackyJoll]

Sure i read somewhere that modern ngk plugs are not very good for older bikes as they are made different to allow for the technology on modern bikes?

They’re fine in my 1955 bike.

[JackyJoll]

Sure i read somewhere that modern ngk plugs are not very good for older bikes as they are made different to allow for the technology on modern bikes?

Potentially true...dunno what I can do about it though really, other than seek out "classic" plugs, if such a thing even exists. If I eventually land on a plug after trial and error it should be OK right?

Maybe you're thinking of more modern resistor plugs, normally they have an R in the number. Somewhat moot though cause I've fitted 5 kOhm resistor caps! Modern bikes need resistor plugs so the electrical noise from the ignition doesn't interfere with the ECU, but there's no real harm in fitting modern plugs to "analogue" engines.

It does have older style copper core HT leads though, whereas modern vehciles sometimes have the silicone/carbon ones. Or more often than not these days no HT leads at all.

If you go much over 10 kOhm total, you may lose sparks (or maybe not).

If you have Boyer ignition, the HT circuit includes all the resistors in the plugs and plug caps in series.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Got resistor caps, non resistor plugs.

[JackyJoll]

Gotta be honest, I don't consider checking the stands are still bolted on to be preventative maintenance

Ok, to look at it another way, the bike in your hands appears to have been thrown together and neglected. You have little reason to have confidence in any of the assembly.

[JackyJoll]

Got resistor caps, non resistor plugs.

I think I’ve got non-resistor plugs and one resistor cap.

[Rockburner]

I reckon I'll start parking near walls just incase that one escapes too.

I rode the Mirth like that for months, it's fine.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Gotta be honest, I don't consider checking the stands are still bolted on to be preventative maintenance

Ok, to look at it another way, the bike in your hands appears to have been thrown together and neglected. You have little reason to have confidence in any of the assembly.

I imagine my problem is that I've fixed stuff!

Most of the bolts probably weren't undone for 20 years. I've just undone nearly all of them. 20 years of corrosion seems to be a great threadlock which I now no longer have.

[JackyJoll]

There’s a lot of Loctite on my bike.

[mangocrazy]

I realise this is a viewpoint from someone who has no skin in the game and is sniping from an armchair... But...

With a bike of this vintage doing bits of enforced maintenance as stuff drops/vibrates off is no subsitute for stripping the whole thing down and fixing (and anticipating, more importantly) all the myriad issues that old vehicles are heir to. Trust me - as the owner of a 1980 Lancia Beta Spider this is something I am having to come to terms with.

At least with a bike it's way less complicated, has far fewer parts to deal with and bodywork is far less of an issue.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I'm doing both, that's the problem! I've got a list of jobs to do as long as your arm, I'm still not past the basic "is the engine about to melt?" stage...and I kinda need to ride it to find that out, thats half the problem.

Some of the stuff which had fallen off (clutch lever springs to mind) is stuff I've already preemptively changed anyway.