Name That Tune

1920 Airyole

In an unprecedented burst of blogging frenzy, and with an afterthought of `who the fuck reads all this shite anyway', I have finished my 1920 Ariel fork links and decided to check that the fork blades I got from Australia actually look somewhere to close to being the right dimensions.

They needs a couple of spacers but generally look good. They are the right length and everything. Need to get on and make some fork spindles now.

(and for those that care, the stuntplank trolley is a PP Caballero Dragon and Bats)

Hunt for the Missing Compression

Last time I was out on the 1954 Velocette MAC it was pitifully slow, and uphill it really struggled. Being overtaken by Welch on an MZ 150 was the last straw.

A compression test revealed all of 50psi. Valve clearances aren't tight, so apart it came.

Taking this bike to bits is easy. I have stripped it so many times when I was having main bearing problems that I can have it down in no time.

Popped the valves out of the head.

No real signs of damage. Valve guides are good too. Probably need lapping in but thats easy enough.

Need to pop the piston off the conrod and check wear and ring gaps in the barrel

Other than some carbon the piston looks OK. No burning or seize marks. Barrel is unmarked too.

So I reckon a top end tidy up and some new rings and we'll be back in MZ beating business.

Bikes and Cars and Stuff

In amongst the stress of having my job at risk, applying for other jobs in the company, and a really stressful period with the current projects at work I have been out and about. Not too much stunt planking or surfing cos of the weather, but mainly cars and bikes stuff:-

Went to the Bristol Classic Bike Show with Dave and Wayne-ur. Loads of nice bikes to look at, but I see so many British bikes that the ones which caught my eye weren't:-

Suzuki RG250 Gamma and Yam 350LC

And an OSSA MAR

When we dropped Wayne off he showed us his Yam IT250, shortly to be raced, but reluctant to start. But we got it going...

Next was the Off Road Show in Telford with Heath. Again, there were loads of great bikes and I am tempted back to trials on a twinshock, particularly after seeing the Bultaco display:-

Did some work on the VeeDub brakes. Bought a new servo (off a Brazillian Type 2) which apparently needs `four new holes drilling in the mounting bracket'. Yeah - if the bracket is wide enough, which it isn't.

The new servo:-

The metal plate can be used as a template for drilling new mounting holes:-

But as the new holes go over the side of the old mounting plate I made up a plate to mount it:-

Progressing towards finishing now - plate is made and I am waiting for paint to dry (thats what it feels like anyway).

Went back to Shepton Mallett for the VMCC jumble. with Huw and Dave in Huws Mk2 Golf. A real survivor, its got less than 40k on it. Like a little time machine:-

I bought nowt at the jumble, but bought a 1930 Ariel engine when I got back from a mate in Swindon.

Went skating at Prevail Skatehouse in Poole. Cracking skatepark with a nice bowl. The drop in is around the 5ft mark, which is kind of my comfort limit, but its great fun.

Trev riding his 44" Sims Taperkick:-

And last weekend was the Vintage Festival in Swindon, where there were some interesting cars and stuff:-

Happy New Year.

As ever, its taken an age to post again. So, another summary to bring it up to date:-

Went to the bike show at the NEC in November. A pretty good day out all in all. Kevs RGV was nice.

In January we had the usual Ariel Club Crazy Horse Rally in Parkend, Forest of Dean. This isn't an Ariel:-

Think the Velocette needs some looking it. It was seriously down on power going up hills. Even Welch on a 150cc MZ overtook me. Time to whip the head off for a look I think.

Since starting my projects in Pembroke I've taken advantage of the opportunity to do more surfing. Not particularly improved but its fun at least. this is Rest Bay in Porthcawl which is a stop off on the way to Pembrokeshire:-

Also started to use the Doomramp a bit more. Its costing too much to be sat unused:-

Bought a set of new reissue red Kryptonics:-

Had the brakes on the VW apart too - still not right despite fettling and bleeding. The master cylinder seems OK but the servo was shagged. Stiff as hell compared to a new one and full of rust:-

And finally, last weekend, I bought a guitar off Julian Cope. A cherry red 1967 Gibson ES335 12 string. One of my heroes, it was really spooky to meet him in person and buy a guitar which had been used on Wilder, Saint Julian and a number of other albums and tours.

Still buzzin about that one really.

Fork Links

Finally got on with making fork links for my 1920 Ariel.

Early marking out and cutting from 1/4" plate:-

Hacksawing off as much steel as possible after chain drilling:-

Built to Grind:-

Just needing final shaping:-

Ireland Mon Amour

Its been a long time since I did the Irish National rally. 2006 was the last time. A chance conversation in January had me seeking an entry form.

The event has moved since I was last there from Kenmare to Killarney, both in Kerry.

The trip there was eventful mainly because we nearly missed the ferry in Pembroke Dock, the ramp being lifted before we had opened the van doors. Lots of beer in Rosslare then a van trip across to Killarney the next day was fairly uneventful.

On the Monday we took a ride out, with my bike only making it the 200 yards to the petrol station before I had to wield the spanners and Dens timing slipping on the AJS only a mile or so further on.

Bike fixings:-

My Ariel waiting:-

We headed to Kilmacalogue and to Teddy OSullivans pub for refreshment:-

Then headed back via the Healy Pass where the warm up for the freewheeling competition occurred:-

The rally consists of four days of riding with routes of around 140 miles a day over some very rough tracks and mountain roads. Despite the road surfaces being much improved since I was last there, they can still rearrange your spine on a rigid bike.

Some nice machinery was entered:-

Brough Superior (there was five or six on the rally)

A brace of 30s Ariel Red Hunters

Vincent (there was a few of them too)

Dave Millers Trump veteran (stupidly fast bike, and pre WW1)

A brace of Nortons:-

Dennis and his 1913 Rex:-

A 1913 Sun Precision:-

BSA v-twin:-

Dennis had his 1913 Rex at the rally:-

And we visited many a pub during the course of the week:-

The Blue Loo at Glengariffe:-

The Climbers Inn:-

Some random pub in Cahersiveen:-

The weather was sunny all week, which is unusual for Ireland. This is the view from the hotel restaurant:-

So five days of riding bikes, drinking loads of Guinness and eating three solid meals a day - its not an easy rally. But it is excellent fun. Met loads of folks I hadn't seen in ages and made some new friends including Tore from Norway, who is the new freewheeling champion having got past An Sibin and onto the bridge down form the Healy. Amazing. And Izzy, the daughter of German friends doing the rally for the first time aged 16. And very well she did too.

On the way back we stopped in Passage East for a pint and saw this:-

Irish randomness.

Looking forward to the next trip.