Easter in the Country

[Alan Cun]

Hello All, Seeing that the forum is a bit quiet at the moment I thought I would post a few things about a recent rally I attended.

A Sat and Sun Easter Rally was organised by a local motor cycle club at Childers not far from my home.

With a minimum of preparation the E 29 was separated from the cobwebs and the tyres fuel and oil checked and after about a k to see it still started I loaded it on the trailer behind the old Coaster (sleeping arrangement) and arrived for lots of talking and a quick afternoon short ride through the canfields.

Now on the Sun with a timed run ahead and trying to read the instructions taped to the tank. I am not a fan of navigation sheets I just like the marshalls on the corner showing the way. Anyway a corner came up a bit too quick and a safe luckily excursion into the grass. And then too make matters worse the rear plug lead fell off. At this stage I knew I would have to stop the motor on a hill so I could do a clutch start. I had realised during the weekend my weak kicking knee was creating the motor on fixed timing to bite back at me. Now I havent touched the points in over 20 years and the tappets are sounding a little rattly. This could also explain a little bit of advance in timing.

At this stage I was getting a little behind so decided to give the old girl it's head and for all the years I have ridden it I was impressed with the get up and go of the old 600 cc side valve with I reckon over 60 mph on some of the straights.

I mentioned before I have slightly modifed the motor. I used 70mm Kawa pistons (giving I think around 620cc) with oversize pins fitting bare in the small end with no small end bush. One eighth spacers were required under the barrels to stop the pistons hitting the heads. The flywheel was a rusty one that was lightened by removing over an inch from the diameter. I have continued to run the bike on Castrol R  oil for over 20 years and I find that  every where the oil leaks out a sticky stain is evident even on the footboards. Now on arriving home I went to the cupboard and found a toilet cleaning product called BAM and gave it a try. Ripper worked a treat.

Must get out to the shed in the next few days to drain the fuel before it goes stale.
regards Alan

[Ian]

Alan, any photos ? Sounds like a great run. We have a time trial run coming up down here next month as well.

We did a similar thing with my OC - used Japanese pistons with a bore of about 70mm  - I think making it a 630 ! I am sure the extra 30cc makes a difference.

[Alan Cun]

No Ian, I was slack when it came to photos. The only other Doug was an EW that was originally my mate Des first restoration. Des purchased the bike when another friend of mine lost interest after a break in to his house caused the thiefs to steal his restored wheels. Des purchased the bike and found more wheels and after a few years and graduating to an E29 he earnt from restoring for me, the EW was side lined. Des then sold back to the original owner but minus a few pieces he kept for his B 29 project. So the EW arrived at the rally in it's spleandour and other than a slight nip up made the distance.

There were a few bikes of interest a beautifully restored Model P Trump was on its first outing. The outing was however for most classes up to about 30 years old and a lot of Japanese bikes in the line up. My good mate Barry (bear 640) arrived with a BSA having left the B 29 at home still requiring a little sorting after a crankcase replacement. The Bsa refused to go and Barry was awarded the hard luck trophy. And yes I mixed up some 2 struck fuel with the intention of taking the Vespa but on filling it up with fuel and fitting  a 6 volt lantern battery it turned into a non event when the fuel tap leaked and it appeared to be flooding so with me knees on the concrete and head peering in the little door at the front it didn't take too long to decide to drain the fuel and reverse it back in the shed. Maybe another time.

Next rally time I will use the camera?  and I wasn't joking about the cobwebs but I won't post a photo of them.   regards Alan

[bear640]

Yes Allan, my beesa ran well on friday & saturday but wouldn't play ball on sunday.
After all that pushing with huffing & puffing,, checking & draining the carbie,, checking points,, a ride home in the back of my ute must have dryed some moisture in the magnito.

 It went 2nd kick when I go home. The joys of old bike riding.........