Monday 26 September 2011

Excelsior and its Racing Rivals.

I bought this book because of the mention of Ok Supreme.  Today the book arrived in the mail……and what a great book. Racing photos from the twenties and thirties that I never seen before. The book is printed in only 500 copies. I got mine on E bay.




Sunday 25 September 2011

The right tools and the right transport.

I have promised a friend to come and have a look at a Villiers powered bike that won’t start. Today it was sparkling autumn weather so it was perfect to ride a Sunbeam.


I have had these original Villiers tools since I was sixteen.






And guess what……..My friend was not home. But I had a great ride.



Monday 19 September 2011

Weight watchers

I have never done my own crank balancing; they have been done by a person who knows what he is doing.

But there are first times for everything……

Some time ago a neighbor had a look into the work shop; he had never been there before and where thrilled to see the “old” engines…..

Suddenly he said: “I think I have a tool you can find useful……..”


An old cast iron balancing tool.


I am overhauling a unit Triumph TR6 engine and wanted to check the balance factor of the crank. I did some reading of the subject, and got the weight of the rods, pistons, bolts and nuts. I bought some readymade weights from http://www.greeneysgarage.com/ . Put the crank in the tool……..But it was obviously not made for twin crank shafts……The adjuster wheels stopped the crank from turning…It`s probably better for single cranks…



But help is at hand……I borrowed a balancing jig from http://mechanicforlife.blogspot.com/




And the crank was spinning freely….And guess what, the crank was spot on to my requirements, no drilling was necessary!


Friday 16 September 2011

Autojumble Friday.

I am just back from the Ekeberg auto jumble in Oslo. I had only time for a few hours today…..But if you go tomorrow this is some “wants/want not” you can find….








A bucket filed with Norton “dolls head” gearbox spares…….that`s what I call a well spent evening….

Thursday 15 September 2011

The best motorcyle in the world.

It is the season for jumble sales. Last Sunday I dropped in to a local jumble to have a look. Usually it is mostly kitchenware, furniture and junk. But sometime you can find some interesting old books.
I picked up a book and suddenly a brochure with a familiar logo fell out…….”The best motorcycle in the world”






It is an interview with Edward Turner (translated to Norwegian), speaking about the development and the advantages of the Speed Twin.
But who kept this brochure for sixty years? And did he ever get a Triumph?

Friday 9 September 2011

Will work for food…

Looking gloomy….No money for burgers until the Norton logos are painted. It’s hard to bring up kids…….




Tuesday 6 September 2011

Cursed family.


When I had a look thru the photos from this year’s holiday I saw some suffering faces….



“Yes, this is the only bike I like in this place; can we now get some ice cream?”






“Dad, have you ever heard of Disney land”
In a few years they probably have the muscle force to make me change the holiday plans….

Friday 2 September 2011

Moto Guzzi 500 GTS.

There is something with an unrestored bike you can`t create again. This beautiful 1936 Moto Guzzi 500 GTS are resting at Arvika Fordonsmuseum, Sweden.


 


                     From the era when detailing was important. Even on a humble IOE single.