Hitchcocks Forum

Unbeliever took Bullet 500 Sportsman out shed today for a good clean & polish as MOT is due next week when noting mileage I was surprised to find I've only done 150 Miles since MOT last year. I've not used it much this year as the weather is always piddling down so its been stuck in the shed. But me old work bullet has done around 5000 miles this year so its more than made up for it. Only bit that's showing signs of rust is the exhaust down pipe chrome is gone on it completely. Is there a paint that would withstand the heat on the downpipe I doubt it. I just wait till it holes then buy a new one.

150 miles is hardly enough to evaporate off the water condensation that will have formed in the engine, I hope you changed the oil and got the engine nice and warm.
I usually clock up in the region of a few thousand miles, similar to you Paul, but more than once I have had a negative mileage at MOT time due to speedo replacement. Those Indian Chronometric clones you get on a well known trading website just don't last longer than 600 miles, often less, and I was in the habit of throwing one on just before the MOT. The ones Mr H sells are much better of course and the one I got from him is still going strong a couple of years after fitting.

Paul, Try Manders Aluminum Paint (As used on Steam & HW Pipework) No Primeing Needed,Stinks For a While then Ok Even on Cylinder Head and Pipeh eader..They are Other Industrial Pipe Paints too which you might Find in smaller tins...Have Fun.

I have a pal who has just used Hammerite matt black barbeque sprsy paint on his Model H Triumph barrel and exhaust down pipe, it is looking good after several hundred miles and those old side valve engines get very hot.
Patrick

Hi thanks I will look that up.