Motorcycle General Discussion

[IanHParticipant @ianh]

Thanks for the reply Gary, the design of carbs varies quite considerably I think between models, so I am hoping to turn up specific type 27 info.

The type 27 was a racing carb and had no needle or needle jet, just a throttle slide, so is quite a bit different from the 276.

Thanks again,

Ian

[Peter Jones 20Participant @peterjones20]

Is the type 27 more commonly known as AMAL GP? (my father subscribed to 'red one', 'green on'e and 'blue one' as the major motorcycle magazines were known in 50's and 60's)

There are probably 25 or more years worth of magazines buried in front garden at the house I was born in (maybe some future archeologist will find them if they haven't already rotted away?)

My mother was ferd up with the way they were 'taking over the house' so he 'hid' them from her

I used t have information om the remote needle carb but may have given it to a friend who had one on the BSA he was racing in AHRMA 20 years ago.

If it turns up anywhere I'll see about getting it copied and uploaded

[colin branniganParticipant @colinbrannigan54160]

Try this link Ian it may help

**LINK**

[Peter Jones 20Participant @peterjones20]

Thanks for the link,

I had no idea this stuff was available online

That is something I've only ever seen on a Villiers engine race bike probably 50 years ago? Wasn't 'mine and never got into it.

My father would have known but he's been gone since 2004.

Edited By Peter Jones 20 on 21/01/2021 21:25:34

[garyParticipant @gary44937]

this is an piece from an old motorcycle book explaining how to climb a frightful hill. a little commonsense and observation will enable many a frightful hill to be climbed by an engine in bad health. such abnormal hills generally owe there difficulty to one or two steep short pitches. when the engine begins to labour, jump off and run alongside for a few yards till the engine picks up freely again. keep a keen lookout from the tail of you eye for any by-roads coming down on to the hill at an angle, up which you may proceed to get a fresh start in emergencies. at worst if you have to push, pile all superfluous clothing on carrier before commencing to shove. it aso tells you how to remove the drive belt to aid pushing, obviously no clutch. the good old days?

[Nigel McBurney 1Participant @nigelmcburney1]

The one advantage of the leading link forks was that the suspension units were made by companies like Girling and Armstrong so a small manufacturer could apply the latest technology from these large companies to his bike suspension at reasonable cost .With Greeves the fork damping units were Girling and could be replaced easily and cheaply though they lasted a long time ,and the springing ,Metalastic rubber bushes,needed to be pressed in ,so you just posted off the whole bottom link to Greeves and it came back within a week. Other makers ie Dot ,DMW, Norman,Sun ,Cotton used commercial units ,spring /hydraulic damping which were easily changed when worn out or the spring rates could be changed ieasily ,Girling units also had the three position spring adjuster.

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

" explaining how to climb a frightful hill"

Try that on Post Hill. A mate was going to try that on a Tiger Cub, we'd seen this on a monochrome (Black and white 405 line) tele in the early sixties. Got to the top, by walking, and looked down it, didn't happen.

On the way there though, he stopped to look at a Vinnie Rapide C in immaculate condition for sale. Went out for a test ride with the owner, came back and bought it – – – – £100.

Regards Ian.

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

We used to ride our Trials bikes at Post Hill. Must admit when going up it , near the top you feel like the front end is coming over.

Steve.

[Martyn Edwards 1Participant @martynedwards1]

My pride and joy 1972 Commando 750cc Interstate (Combat Engine) after a winter refurbishment which included a complete rewire, fitting of an Alton Electric Start, fresh paint and brake upgrade.

 

Edited By Martyn Edwards 1 on 02/02/2021 15:18:07

[Tim HammondParticipant @timhammond72264]

On the topic of very steep hills, does anyone remember the cartoonist in "The Motor Cycle", Bill Thacker, I think his name was? Anyway, one of his cartoons, which I still remember after over 50 years with a chuckle, depicts a motorcyclist with his bike parked beside a roadsign saying "Steep Hill, 1 in x", and the man himself on his hands and knees peering over the edge of what appears to be a precipice. A fine cartoonist.

[Phil PParticipant @philp]

I remember many years ago probably in the early 80's at a Post Hill trial, the main section was up the hill and back down through the trees.

I was on my BSA B40 at the time and coming back down through some undergrowth my gear lever caught on something and snicked it into neutral. I never knew that bike could accelerate as fast as that !!

All I remember was seeing the fast flowing beck at the bottom approaching at great speed and wondering how I was going to get out of it………..Then my helmet peak hooked itself over a low hanging branch and yanked me off the back of the bike, which luckily veered off and fell over just before it went into the water.

I thought I had got away with it until I heard the cheer and round of applause from about 20 on-lookers.

Happy days

[Peter Jones 20Participant @peterjones20]

Posted by gary on 02/02/2021 06:34:11:

this is an piece from an old motorcycle book explaining how to climb a frightful hill. a little commonsense and observation will enable many a frightful hill to be climbed by an engine in bad health. such abnormal hills generally owe there difficulty to one or two steep short pitches. when the engine begins to labour, jump off and run alongside for a few yards till the engine picks up freely again. keep a keen lookout from the tail of you eye for any by-roads coming down on to the hill at an angle, up which you may proceed to get a fresh start in emergencies. at worst if you have to push, pile all superfluous clothing on carrier before commencing to shove. it aso tells you how to remove the drive belt to aid pushing, obviously no clutch. the good old days?

That sounds like advice from the 1900's~1920's for normal highwayas it mentions roads coming in at an angle? (rather thasn tracks you would find off road)

[Peter Jones 20Participant @peterjones20]

Posted by Phil P on 02/02/2021 16:29:41:

I remember many years ago probably in the early 80's at a Post Hill trial, the main section was up the hill and back down through the trees.

I was on my BSA B40 at the time and coming back down through some undergrowth my gear lever caught on something and snicked it into neutral. I never knew that bike could accelerate as fast as that !!

All I remember was seeing the fast flowing beck at the bottom approaching at great speed and wondering how I was going to get out of it………..Then my helmet peak hooked itself over a low hanging branch and yanked me off the back of the bike, which luckily veered off and fell over just before it went into the water.

I thought I had got away with it until I heard the cheer and round of applause from about 20 on-lookers.

Happy days

I had a similar experience in the 80's when I was doing Enduro's.

Andre Zembruski and Geraint Jones (World Enduro champion at the time) set up a course somewhere in mid Wales with a 'rather steep' downhill. They put a checkpoint at the top so people would heve to stop and be warned.

I was riding same minute as my buddy Chris. (he won 250 Clubman championship 1980 or 81?) He went first, stopped and looked down then rolled over the edge. I thought 'pussy' and hit it as about 20mph in second gear. He says I passed him about 8ft in the air, upside down. I only remember 'fish tailing a couple of hundred yards bouncing from one sheep track to the next then seeing a cut down tree about 6ft diameter in front of me.

When I woke up, a kid was standing over me , first thing he said was 'why did you crash, we thought you were going to make it' Apparently I did make it almost all the way down but paniced when I saw tree, got sideways and high sided.

Bike was pretty bent up, the chromoly bars had finally bent (been on about 6 bikes previously) front wheel was hitting forks both sides and I was hurting like hell.

Bike started OK so I got instructions how to get back to start. Trying to wheelie over a bank, I found I had a bunch of broken ribs and almost crashed with the pain.

Found out later I caused a major panic, 4 ambulances were out looking for me, course marshals couldn't find me, they thought I was dead in a ditch somewhere but I was already packed up and on my way home (luckily girlfriend at the time was driving, she and a couple of other people loaded biker into van, no way I could do it) It was my worst crash ever but didn't put me off, later I got a 490 Maico (that tried to kill me many times)

[JimmieSParticipant @jimmies]

Interview with Jonathan Rea, six times World Champion, on UTV (Ulster Television) tomorrow, Tuesday (16/02/21) at 22.45.

[JimmieSParticipant @jimmies]

Interview with Jonathan Rea, six times World Champion, on UTV (Ulster Television) tomorrow, Tuesday (16/02/21) at 22.45.

[JimmieSParticipant @jimmies]

Interview with Jonathan Rea, six times World Champion, on UTV (Ulster Television) tomorrow, Tuesday (16/02/21) at 22.45.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I looked out my grandfather's album from HMS Repulse's royal tour for my Dad the other day. In the same suitcase we found some pictures of my dad when he was a trials (and other competitions) rider, these are just quick phone pics my brother took, we will get decent scans done.

Trial riding on board his Greeves – check out that front suspension!

Scrambling – he's the one cutting the corner

ACU 'sweatshirt'!

[DiogenesIIParticipant @diogenesii]

One of those things that come to mind in the wee small hours, having not entered one's head for 30 years….

..In the (late?) sixties there was a chap that campaigned a 500 P/U Triumph drag-bike running as a two-stroke twin.

IIRC correctly, the mixture was supplied (via a plenum?) from a blower directly into what would normally be 'transfers' cut into the sides of the barrel, and both pairs of valves were given over to exhaust duty.

Can anyone remember any further details of the bike or it's creator..?

[Bill PudneyParticipant @billpudney37759]

Neil, I had a road Greeves, with a 250cc single cylinder Villiers motor, and those famous forks!! Superb steering and handling!! My bike would have been about the same as your Dad's, but with lights!!

cheers

Bill

[JAParticipant @ja]

Posted by DiogenesII on 16/07/2021 09:57:05:

IIRC correctly, the mixture was supplied (via a plenum?) from a blower directly into what would normally be 'transfers' cut into the sides of the barrel, and both pairs of valves were given over to exhaust duty.

Can anyone remember any further details of the bike or it's creator..?

Interesting – As a start I would look for the creator in the East Midlands, say Derby.

From your short description the engine could have been inspired by the Rolls-Royce Crecy two stroke sleeve valve engine that first ran in 1941.

JA

Edited By JA on 16/07/2021 10:56:08

[CalumParticipant @calumgalleitch87969]

Post Hill in the late '20s:

[JimmieSParticipant @jimmies]

OIs this a sign of some sort of normality returning? Highlights og this year's Armoy Road Races. Should the link fail it is on BBC.

**LINK**

[MadMikeParticipant @madmike]

Diogenes etc the bike you describe sounds like the one designed and built by a chap called Bob Collet. He lives in Leicestershire and designs and builds his own engines including sleeve valve 2 stroke diesels. He is a very talented engineer and the work is usually carried out in his workshop at the bottom of his garden.

[DiogenesIIParticipant @diogenesii]

JA, and MadMike, thanks both for your responses, I'll see what I can find out – the engine was certainly much simpler than the Crecy – I'll look into Bob Collet, thank you..

[JAParticipant @ja]

I think any IC engine would have been simpler than the Crecy! Possibly the first version of the Napier Nomad was more complex.

Please let us know how you get on with your research.

JA

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