I think that this is what Proff actually wants
Even has a special rum carrier built into the tank.
Even has a special rum carrier built into the tank.
Need some technical assistance
- Thread starter Packer
- Start date
Fek....! When I said call in Kevan, I didn't realise what you would be on, and more to the point, it may be that you'll be looking for a bed for the night having travelled at least ooooh, 50-ish miles... 
Looks the dogs BTW!
Looks the dogs BTW!
What a day!
Proff told me he would be here at 8.00am so I got out of bed at 7.15am.
Spent many hours in workshop building more worktops to allow more space for working area.
The old git turned up at 11.30am. We spent a few hours stripping down the R60 with me having to constantly wipe up the spent bodily fluids from the old one who was obsessed with this old bike.
He kept telling me how fantastic it was but it all meant nothing to me.
By lunchtime we had a list of bits that were needed so I was sent off to get them all. My good old R1100GS was fired up and I was sent off into the depths of Devon for the following: 1. Distilled water for battery, 2. Battery acid for battery, 3. 20/50w motor oil, not duckhams and not synthetic. 4. A gallon of canus fluid.
I arrived at my local motor factors to be told that battery acid was sold in 25 litre containers. Too much for me on my 1100 so he agreed to sell me a mere one litre at trade prices. Also bought 5 litres of Classic 20W/50.
Another 20 miles to the great James Sherlock to get 1. A gallon of Canbus Fluid and 2. An oil filter for an 1960 R60. Three problems: Firstly , the senile old git had forgotten to phone Sherlocks before I arrived which can lead to a less than pleasant reception. Luckily, I met James mimself who knows what a useless old senile git the old one is and therefore cut me some slack.. Secondly, he told me that they don't do spaes for pre-1969 machines and thirdly, the R60 doesn't even have an oil filter! [And they were fresh out of Canbus fluid].
The road from South Molton to Umberleigh had recently been resurfaced so a good road became a great road.
When I returned, he had removed the old rear rack and fitted his rusty old rack from his R26. Oh dear I then spent ages machining four new bolts to hold the GB plate above the rear mudguard to replace the dreadful self-tapper screws that some dumb arsed Septic had badly fitted in the distant past.
We drained the fuel tank of some awful sludge that had once been petrol many years ago and stripped and cleaned the entire fuel system and pipes.
The elderly one disappeared off home at this point leaving me to clean up the workshop and tidy up the numerous tools that he had left lying all over the place.
We have taken step by step photos of the entire operation but I'll have to upload them tomorrow.
Despite this bike being even older than me, it has been a fun day and we have more of the same tomorrow.
Must beat working for a living
Sid
Proff told me he would be here at 8.00am so I got out of bed at 7.15am.
Spent many hours in workshop building more worktops to allow more space for working area.
The old git turned up at 11.30am. We spent a few hours stripping down the R60 with me having to constantly wipe up the spent bodily fluids from the old one who was obsessed with this old bike.
He kept telling me how fantastic it was but it all meant nothing to me.By lunchtime we had a list of bits that were needed so I was sent off to get them all. My good old R1100GS was fired up and I was sent off into the depths of Devon for the following: 1. Distilled water for battery, 2. Battery acid for battery, 3. 20/50w motor oil, not duckhams and not synthetic. 4. A gallon of canus fluid.
I arrived at my local motor factors to be told that battery acid was sold in 25 litre containers.
Too much for me on my 1100 so he agreed to sell me a mere one litre at trade prices. Also bought 5 litres of Classic 20W/50.Another 20 miles to the great James Sherlock to get 1. A gallon of Canbus Fluid
and 2. An oil filter for an 1960 R60. Three problems: Firstly , the senile old git had forgotten to phone Sherlocks before I arrived which can lead to a less than pleasant reception. Luckily, I met James mimself who knows what a useless old senile git the old one is and therefore cut me some slack.. Secondly, he told me that they don't do spaes for pre-1969 machines and thirdly, the R60 doesn't even have an oil filter! [And they were fresh out of Canbus fluid].The road from South Molton to Umberleigh had recently been resurfaced so a good road became a great road.
When I returned, he had removed the old rear rack and fitted his rusty old rack from his R26. Oh dear
I then spent ages machining four new bolts to hold the GB plate above the rear mudguard to replace the dreadful self-tapper screws that some dumb arsed Septic had badly fitted in the distant past.We drained the fuel tank of some awful sludge that had once been petrol many years ago and stripped and cleaned the entire fuel system and pipes.
The elderly one disappeared off home at this point leaving me to clean up the workshop and tidy up the numerous tools that he had left lying all over the place.
We have taken step by step photos of the entire operation but I'll have to upload them tomorrow.
Despite this bike being even older than me, it has been a fun day and we have more of the same tomorrow.
Must beat working for a living
Sid
Another 20 miles to the great James Sherlock to get 1. A gallon of Canbus Fluid
The road from South Molton to Umberleigh had recently been resurfaced so a good road became a great road.
When I returned, he had removed the old rear rack and fitted his rusty old rack from his R26. Oh dear
We drained the fuel tank of some awful sludge that had once been petrol many years ago and stripped and cleaned the entire fuel system and pipes.
The elderly one disappeared off home at this point leaving me to clean up the workshop and tidy up the numerous tools that he had left lying all over the place.
We have taken step by step photos of the entire operation but I'll have to upload them tomorrow.
Despite this bike being even older than me, it has been a fun day and we have more of the same tomorrow.
Must beat working for a living
Sid
Oops, seems like I upset the "useful, youthful, mentally alert fellow" by referring to him jokingly as a useless old senile git.
He's not useless, he does now a thing or two about airheads I suppose.
Senile? Not really, but can do a great impression of it.
Old? Its his birthday tomorrow and he'll be 62 so not even up for a bus pass for a few years.
Better get out into workshop now as he's given me a long list of things to do to the R60 before he gets here.
I've already got my buspass
you get them at 60 now, only problem is theres no fecking buses in Devon countryside anymore :
Now get out there and start grafting you useless ex B[w]anker !!
going back to the R60/2
you get them at 60 now, only problem is theres no fecking buses in Devon countryside anymore :
Now get out there and start grafting you useless ex B[w]anker !!
going back to the R60/2
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I think that this is what Proff actually wants
Even has a special rum carrier built into the tank.
My Dream Bike
Everything is just as I'd like
I'n knackered 
Just got home after a day on Whisky Victor.....[R60/2]
Runs as sweet as sweet can be. Rides really well..
Magneto ignition so you have a flat battery, you ain't gonna be left in middle of nowhere like 1200 owners
1 problem..
Only 6 volt lighting etc
All working now, but only after 3 or 4 hours of sorting dynamo out...
Even got a Halogen [6v] headlight bulb
MOT tomorrow, just in time for Packers arrival
Keep watching this space....
No pics tonight 'cos I've left my camera up Sids
Just got home after a day on Whisky Victor.....[R60/2]
Runs as sweet as sweet can be.
Rides really well..Magneto ignition so you have a flat battery, you ain't gonna be left in middle of nowhere like 1200 owners
1 problem..
Only 6 volt lighting etc
All working now, but only after 3 or 4 hours of sorting dynamo out...
Even got a Halogen [6v] headlight bulb
MOT tomorrow, just in time for Packers arrival
Keep watching this space....
No pics tonight 'cos I've left my camera up Sids
Oops, seems like I upset the "useful, youthful, mentally alert fellow" by referring to him jokingly as a useless old senile git.
He's not useless, he does now a thing or two about airheads I suppose.
Senile? Not really, but can do a great impression of it.
Old? Its his birthday tomorrow and he'll be 62 so not even up for a bus pass for a few years.
Better get out into workshop now as he's given me a long list of things to do to the R60 before he gets here.
I thought you were in Cardiff this week.
I've already got my buspass
you get them at 60 now, only problem is theres no fecking buses in Devon countryside anymore :
Not forgetting your Senior Citizen's Railcard!
Happy Birthday Keith!
Well that's Packer off on the next leg of his journey north.
He called in for a pit stop in sunny Somerset having encountered a wee problem with the engine cutting out.
Managed to get it going though and arrived at the house a bit worse for wear having had to bump start it...
When he started it up to leave, second kick and away it went, jeeze how quite! ...
Right turn at the end of the road, he decked something exploring the amount of lean angle available...bloody Holigan...
Safe home Kevan...
He called in for a pit stop in sunny Somerset having encountered a wee problem with the engine cutting out.
Managed to get it going though and arrived at the house a bit worse for wear having had to bump start it...
When he started it up to leave, second kick and away it went, jeeze how quite! ...
Right turn at the end of the road, he decked something exploring the amount of lean angle available...bloody Holigan...
Safe home Kevan...
I know what you mean CC, he does throw the old girl around a bit
It seems to have a habit of going on to one pot after a good stretch..
I still suspect it's the left hand carb float valve sticking closed
A quick tap and everything is hunky dory again for 100 or so miles..
May also need the mag windings checked as they are over 40 years old
Still a cracking bike tho
It seems to have a habit of going on to one pot after a good stretch..
I still suspect it's the left hand carb float valve sticking closed
A quick tap and everything is hunky dory again for 100 or so miles..
May also need the mag windings checked as they are over 40 years old
Still a cracking bike tho
I still suspect it's the left hand carb float valve sticking closed
Agreed, the left fuel filter had hardly any liquid in it but if you pushed the 'tickle' with the engine running, it started to flow again....
Right turn at the end of the road, he decked something exploring the amount of lean angle available...bloody Holigan...
Safe home Kevan...
We followed him for a few miles and by the time he was back here he had grinded away the wally flaps.
He can certainly ride that's for sure. I was an advanced instructor for many years and he is an excellent rider, very smooth with precise road positioning. It would take a brave rider to try to stick with him even on that R60.Hope he returns with it for Gentlemens Weekend.
Now I have the workshop freed up to start working on the RSs.
He's in my Hymer, snoring his head off as I type, bike had to be trailered the last couple of miles to my place.
I've quite a collection of spanners Packer can play with tomorrow.
I've quite a collection of spanners Packer can play with tomorrow.
The journey home with Whisky Victor.
What an unbelievable bunch of people, generousity exemplified. For example on Friday night Keith just wouldn't stop topping up my wine glass. With Sids wine stocks
Special thanks first for collection, work/technical assistance and recovery services (yes repeatedly) goes to the dynamic duo "Team Keith/Sid" (alphabetical order boys, or perhaps it should be Crapaud/Proff). They collected the bike on my behalf and did a great deal of the checking and work needed to recommission a 42 year old bike that hadn't been used for about 6 years. MOT pass first time, not even an advisory. They must understand that the term "brakes" on a machine of this age means, in Proffs words, "gentle retardation devices"
An inept apprentice and out of practice kick starter managed to break a main jet and repeatedly fail to start the bike from hot although subsequently it has been discovered that the magneto coil was kaput so the bike started great from cold but after 20-30 miles as the coil heated up it started to break down and really didn't want to run let alone restart.
Sunday I left Sid's, fairly confident that the bike was fixed, and set off to visit family near Truro. By Launceston it was misfiring badly and died by St Austell. A half hour wait and I got it going again and made the last leg to my stop for the night.
Monday I set off for day one of the journey back to Glasgow with a couple of stops to see customers scheduled. It wasn't to be, the bike quit when I pulled in for fuel just back across the border to Devon. I'd sussed the routine by now, check the carbs, check the plugs (especially as I was running a 125 main jet for the left pot and a hand modified 120 for the right) wait for a while and then bump start it. It had a weedy spark but I thought that may just be what magnetos are like.
Back on the road I got as far as Bridgewater which was a pre-arranged tea stop at Coolcarbons southern residence. Bike died soon after leaving the motorway. See routine above. Got to Mike's place, had tea, talked bikes, saw a picture of the upcoming watercooled 1250GS in a German magazine (new final drive as well) and left for points north. Thanks Mike.
This time I got north of Bristol before the routine again became necessary. Bump starting a 195Kg bike plus panniers (one of which contained an Almax chain and padlock which almost doubles the weight of the bike) was starting to take it's toll.
Back on the road and it was too late to see customers so it was time to head to BillH's. I got as far as M6 junction 14 when the routine was again needed. This was getting to be a drag but Bill had very kindly volunteered recovery services if necessary so, knackered and with fading light and 6 volt electrics in a busy urban environment, I haul him out of his home at 19.30 hrs to drive 20 odd miles to recover bike and rider and take back to his home for food, a bed and workshop facilities for the next morning, i.e. today. A self confessed night owl he was disturbed by an impatient guest at the ungodly hour of about 08:00. Sorry Bill.
We stripped the carbs and although there was some grot in them it couldn't account for the precision breakdowns. We gave the tank several petrol rinses and got a mass of debris out of it. A phone call describing the breakdown symptoms to John at BEMW yielded the instant reply that the coil is faulty. Bill immediately volunteers to trailer the bike 30 or so miles to Derby and puts a stack of tools in the van so that we can fit the parts on site. John at BEMW supplies from stock (for an ancient bike) magneto coil, condensor, contact breaker, 2 x carburetter overhaul sets, 2 x 125 main jets, 1 x 120 main jet (to return to Keith) and apologises for not having the correct gaiters for the front forks, but he'll have them in 2 days or so He also invites me to fix the bike in his workshop and supplies angled screwdrivers and other tools that we hadn't brought from Bill's place to make life easier. His colleague Den then volunteers to help reset the tickover as with the new coil fitted it's far too fast. A vote of thanks to these two gentlemen as well. Ready to roll by around 15:30 and first stop is Sainsbury's for fuel for bike and rider. Reay for off at 15:50.
Unbelievably, as if he hasn't done enough already, Bill says he'll escort me most of the way to the M6 to make sure the bike is good and hot and running without problems. Despite ragging up to an indicated 90 and repeated maximum acceleration for overtakes all is rosy and Whisky Victor is a happy bike, yeeeehaaaa!
After thanking Bill and loosing the fight to at the very least least pay him for his fuel I head north again settling to a cruising speed of an indicated 70mph which is enough to overtake all the trucks en route. By Kendal services I'm freezing so take a break to phone people, drink hot tea and layer up. Back on the long road north without re-ruelling I get into Scotland and run onto reserve about 4 miles south of Abington. This bike tells you it needs more fuel in a very civilised way, it just starts to gently loose power in contrast to some other old bikes I've ridden that go from full power to no power in 1 nano-second.
Into Abington services and it's more tea, soup and phone calls. I then re-fuel. 262 miles recorded from Derby Sainsbury's (Google maps says it's 247 so the odometer is 6% optimistic, not bad) and try as I may I can't get more than 20.5 litres into the tank. 54.9 mpg. That's better than my 1150 and includes the performance testing between Derby and Stoke
Then onward the last 40 odd miles to home. Not one misfire, no trace of hesitation just a steady run up the road accompanied by a sound track that reminds me of the noise film makers use for Lancaster bombers. Happy happy happy! A simple bike which seems to have been made by engineers before the accountants took charge. A cracker.
I was amazed to find that the 6 volt, 35 watt halogen dip beam is actually quite reasonable.
Once again major thanks to everyone that helped, I needed it all. Well maybe not so much wine on the Friday night.
What an unbelievable bunch of people, generousity exemplified. For example on Friday night Keith just wouldn't stop topping up my wine glass. With Sids wine stocks
Special thanks first for collection, work/technical assistance and recovery services (yes repeatedly) goes to the dynamic duo "Team Keith/Sid" (alphabetical order boys, or perhaps it should be Crapaud/Proff). They collected the bike on my behalf and did a great deal of the checking and work needed to recommission a 42 year old bike that hadn't been used for about 6 years. MOT pass first time, not even an advisory. They must understand that the term "brakes" on a machine of this age means, in Proffs words, "gentle retardation devices"
An inept apprentice and out of practice kick starter managed to break a main jet and repeatedly fail to start the bike from hot although subsequently it has been discovered that the magneto coil was kaput so the bike started great from cold but after 20-30 miles as the coil heated up it started to break down and really didn't want to run let alone restart.
Sunday I left Sid's, fairly confident that the bike was fixed, and set off to visit family near Truro. By Launceston it was misfiring badly and died by St Austell. A half hour wait and I got it going again and made the last leg to my stop for the night.
Monday I set off for day one of the journey back to Glasgow with a couple of stops to see customers scheduled. It wasn't to be, the bike quit when I pulled in for fuel just back across the border to Devon. I'd sussed the routine by now, check the carbs, check the plugs (especially as I was running a 125 main jet for the left pot and a hand modified 120 for the right) wait for a while and then bump start it. It had a weedy spark but I thought that may just be what magnetos are like.
Back on the road I got as far as Bridgewater which was a pre-arranged tea stop at Coolcarbons southern residence. Bike died soon after leaving the motorway. See routine above. Got to Mike's place, had tea, talked bikes, saw a picture of the upcoming watercooled 1250GS in a German magazine (new final drive as well) and left for points north. Thanks Mike.
This time I got north of Bristol before the routine again became necessary. Bump starting a 195Kg bike plus panniers (one of which contained an Almax chain and padlock which almost doubles the weight of the bike) was starting to take it's toll.
Back on the road and it was too late to see customers so it was time to head to BillH's. I got as far as M6 junction 14 when the routine was again needed. This was getting to be a drag but Bill had very kindly volunteered recovery services if necessary so, knackered and with fading light and 6 volt electrics in a busy urban environment, I haul him out of his home at 19.30 hrs to drive 20 odd miles to recover bike and rider and take back to his home for food, a bed and workshop facilities for the next morning, i.e. today. A self confessed night owl he was disturbed by an impatient guest at the ungodly hour of about 08:00. Sorry Bill.
We stripped the carbs and although there was some grot in them it couldn't account for the precision breakdowns. We gave the tank several petrol rinses and got a mass of debris out of it. A phone call describing the breakdown symptoms to John at BEMW yielded the instant reply that the coil is faulty. Bill immediately volunteers to trailer the bike 30 or so miles to Derby and puts a stack of tools in the van so that we can fit the parts on site. John at BEMW supplies from stock (for an ancient bike) magneto coil, condensor, contact breaker, 2 x carburetter overhaul sets, 2 x 125 main jets, 1 x 120 main jet (to return to Keith) and apologises for not having the correct gaiters for the front forks, but he'll have them in 2 days or so
He also invites me to fix the bike in his workshop and supplies angled screwdrivers and other tools that we hadn't brought from Bill's place to make life easier. His colleague Den then volunteers to help reset the tickover as with the new coil fitted it's far too fast. A vote of thanks to these two gentlemen as well. Ready to roll by around 15:30 and first stop is Sainsbury's for fuel for bike and rider. Reay for off at 15:50.Unbelievably, as if he hasn't done enough already, Bill says he'll escort me most of the way to the M6 to make sure the bike is good and hot and running without problems. Despite ragging up to an indicated 90 and repeated maximum acceleration for overtakes all is rosy and Whisky Victor is a happy bike, yeeeehaaaa!
After thanking Bill and loosing the fight to at the very least least pay him for his fuel I head north again settling to a cruising speed of an indicated 70mph which is enough to overtake all the trucks en route. By Kendal services I'm freezing so take a break to phone people, drink hot tea and layer up. Back on the long road north without re-ruelling I get into Scotland and run onto reserve about 4 miles south of Abington. This bike tells you it needs more fuel in a very civilised way, it just starts to gently loose power in contrast to some other old bikes I've ridden that go from full power to no power in 1 nano-second.
Into Abington services and it's more tea, soup and phone calls. I then re-fuel. 262 miles recorded from Derby Sainsbury's (Google maps says it's 247 so the odometer is 6% optimistic, not bad) and try as I may I can't get more than 20.5 litres into the tank. 54.9 mpg. That's better than my 1150
and includes the performance testing between Derby and StokeThen onward the last 40 odd miles to home. Not one misfire, no trace of hesitation just a steady run up the road accompanied by a sound track that reminds me of the noise film makers use for Lancaster bombers. Happy happy happy! A simple bike which seems to have been made by engineers before the accountants took charge. A cracker.
I was amazed to find that the 6 volt, 35 watt halogen dip beam is actually quite reasonable.
Once again major thanks to everyone that helped, I needed it all. Well maybe not so much wine on the Friday night.
Great to read that the problem is now sorted, and you got home unscathed...sounds like you can remove that piece of red tape too.... 
Great to read that the problem is now sorted, and you got home unscathed...sounds like you can remove that piece of red tape too....
Not yet Mike. I got home stoppedd, turned off the engine and just sat with a big silly grin on my face. As I stood up to dismount I noticed a bit of red tape and remembered to switch of the fuel
Lovely story.........................well done to everyone who made it all possible, true Gents of the finest brotherhood
A crackin' tale - just like in the 'old days'
Glad you got home safely, Kevan, and well done to all those who assisted
.
Its good to hear that the spirit is still out there.
Bob.
Glad you got home safely, Kevan, and well done to all those who assisted
.Its good to hear that the spirit is still out there.
Bob.
Good to meet you Packer, welcome to the world of airheads and what a cracking looking bike.
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