Forum

[nigelphoto]

Jeff, you're probably right but the Thought Police on all these websites are a) American b) 16 years old c) don't realise there are any places left on planet Earth which aren't under US jurisdiction (except for Ramadi but they haven't finished bombing there yet) so they don't give a fig about English law and abide only by their own rules. As my dear old Mum used to say 'The Americans are over paid, over sexed and over here' . . .

[papasmurf]

Not a torque wrench in sight is why they leaked oil.

[Scalyback]

Not at all papasmurf,



In the forties and fifties, also the sixties to a lesser extent, many of the roads were still shale or cart tracks, especially out in the country. The motor vehicles were encouraged to leak oil so that it could mat the surface and also help reduce dust.



Now most of the roads are metalled, there is no longer a requirement for this, and so they tend to keep the oil inside.



Confusing-us say, "A locksmith in Bow tends to deal in Bow-locks."

[PeteF]

Anyone else notice he chucked the head on with no pushrods in place?

[Rattlebattle]

Why wouldn't he? Triumphs have detachable rocker boxes and external pushrod tubes, both the sources of countless leaks. No need to fit the pushrods before the head. I'm sure he knew what he was doing....
No need for a torque wrench either if all you do all day is fit and tighten the same nuts and bolts. No doubt you've all read of how Nortons suffered when they relocated, leaving the old, skilled workers behind but took the old machinery. Problem was the new workers didn't know about the lump of wood that was needed to ensure that the machinery ran true.
I would say that British bikes were made better in the 50s than they were in the 60s and certainly in the 70s.

[papasmurf]

The old machinery was why the British motorcycle industry died.

[nigelphoto]

papasmurf - 'The Strange Death of the British Motorcycle Industry by Steve Koerner'. It wasn't all down to the old machinery but as much to social factors such as the switch from motorcycles to small, affordable cars compounded by the complete lack of vision and foresight - and perhaps even wilful vandalism - of the decision makers. Edward Turner dismissed the Japanese product as inferior and irrelevant, Lionel Jofey single handedly finished off BSA with the Ariel 3 and E&HP Smith never had any intention of continuing the tedious business of making motorcycles at Redditch but were only interested in acquiring the land to make money from selling it to the new Development Corporation. The sad thing is that this is endemic in British management culture and its still going on today - viz Caparo just a few months ago.

[PeteF]

Ah, watched it again and you are correct. I thought he'd put the rockerboxes on in the same shot but there was a break.I'm sure knew what he as doing, I was just interested to know if these shots where "real" or posed for the camera.

[ChrisD]

Scaleyback. Very interesting film, one I'd seen before but found new interest. Especially at ~16mins 15secs where the guy is fitting the tyre. The narrator is exactly right in commenting on the "blood, sweat and tears" of tyre fitting. But what makes it so easy is the temporary 'lock' he fits to the wheel to stop one of the fitted sections from slipping out - that way he only has to concentrate on one part of the tyre. Has anyone seen one of those "locks" and does anyone know if they are available somewhere or even what they are called?
Cheers, ChrisD

[Scalyback]

Chris D, I have no idea what it is called, but that looks so very handy. small enough to keep on the bike in case of puncture.



Anyone know if these are still available?