Well, thanks to Andy, I've just pulled my finger out and made a start (well it has been rather wet here in sunny Norfolk - another of our typical summers I guess!), so, with little else to amuse myself I have made a start and the result is published on the Engine Rebuild page. Hopefully, there'll be more to follow tomorrow - unless the sun shines, as the lawn needs cutting, the windows need cleaning, and I need to get my Little Willie out!!!
I recently heard from Andy Hennessy from Youghal in County Cork, Ireland, who said he's finding Little Willie's website most interesting and informative, but when am I going to rebuild that engine?
Well, thanks to Andy, I've just pulled my finger out and made a start (well it has been rather wet here in sunny Norfolk - another of our typical summers I guess!), so, with little else to amuse myself I have made a start and the result is published on the Engine Rebuild page. Hopefully, there'll be more to follow tomorrow - unless the sun shines, as the lawn needs cutting, the windows need cleaning, and I need to get my Little Willie out!!!
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I put the points back in, set the gap, and checked the timing - then came the moment of truth: is Little Willie going to start or not? After switching on the petrol, tickling the carburettor and the closing the air filter, it was time to kick and see! But two kicks was all it took, then the D7 burst into life amidst a cloud of smoke! I ran the engine for about 10 minutes and the bike didn't miss a beat. Unfortunately, today has been wet again so I couldn't take a Little Willie four road test. Maybe tomorrow. . . fingers crossed!
I spent a part of today rebuilding Little Willie's sparking system: first checking the oil seal behind the flywheel (removed, of course!), then replaced the stator plate, reconnected the wiring, inserted the points cam... then it poured with rain. And bad light stopped play. This is summer after all! Just need to replace points, set gap and checking timing, then give it a kick. But, why do today what you can put off till tomorrow. Or did I get the quotation wrong? I hope the sun shines on the righteous tomorrow.
Well, here's the stator plate almost ready to go back in! The new bush has been fitted, but as it was a bit too easy to drift in I put a smear of Araldite in the housing. I don't think that bush will ever fall out again, do you? The ignition coil - seen here in blue - came from Suffolk County Classic Motorcycles, 11 Hawks Mill Street, Needham Market, Ipswich, IP6 8AA. (sorry, I don't have their online details) The HT lead came from www.wemoto.com - fantastic service!, but there again the online service was absolutely great from the other suppliers as well. I can certainly recommend them all. ... when I removed the stator plate and took off the armature containing the lighting/ignition coils, the statpr plate phosphor-bronze bush fell out it was so worn! Something else to obtain! And also I've tried locally to obtain a length of ht cable, but no luck so I'll need to source that online, I guess.... From this picture you can see how worn the bush was, as it had been revolving in its mounting. I now have a replacement, bought online, from http://www.nsamotorcycles.co.uk/ After changing float chamber needles, swapping carburettors, then changing them back again, finally, it seemed, I'd got Little Willie running well again. Erring on the side of caution, I left the Bantam standing at a fast tickover for a good fifteen minutes. Then I rode her up and down the road, giving her a fistfull of throttle. Then it happened yet again... the engine just faltered and died, and wouldn't start for the next ten minutes. Carburation? Unlikely. Electrics when hot, possible. Self-generating coil (as old as the bike!), more than likely... so I've bought a new one. Just need a foot or two of copper-core ht lead to prove (or misprove!) the point. Keep your fingers crossed for me, won't you? Oh, I must add, I checked the points/condenser with the engine running (when it was running, of course!) and there was no sign of arcing across the points. I've also fitted a new plug as well... What else haven't I thought of? Any suggestions, anyone?
I overhauled the carburettor, cleaned the points, changed the plug, and Little Willie started first kick and ran like a good'un! This evening, we decided to go for a ride together - just around the 'block' (fortunately!). Little Willie went off like a Grand National winner and hossed along with me hanging on for dear life.
But, at the first fence, Little Willie coughed, bucked, and... just died on me.... and refused to go any further. So... dare I admit it? I hang my head in shame for those naughty words I used as I 'walked' the little Bantam back home again. Something said 'fuel starvation', so I disconnected the pipe and turned on the fuel tap. Plenty of fuel there! And, of course, it all became clear when I tried to blow air into the float chamber. I couldn't! The float needle had stuck, and there was hardly any fuel left in the float chamber. Must get a replacement float needle ordered online at Hitchcocks. Perhaps it's the heat (been very hot these past two days) or something going about, but Little Willie just doesn't seem herself! She seems to start OK, first or second kick, then runs quite nicely, but after ten minutes or so when the engine gets hot she starts to misfire. After a run, when I returned home and parked Little Willie outside my house, she seemed to be missing every other 'beat'. And when I tried to rev up, the bike just wouldn't have it and misfired even more.
I put it down to carburation, so whipped out the Amal (yes, that's back in again) and repl;aced it with the Mikuni. Result? Just the same. still misfiring badly. So, I thought again, and put it down to ignition! Disconnecting the plug lead and removing the plug, I connected a new plug, laid it against the head, kicked the bike over, and checked for a spark. Great, I thought, a blimmin' big, juicy spark! But I thought, to be on the safe side, I'd check the points, and change the condenser. By now, of course, the engine was cold. So, when I kicked her over again she ran like clockwork (well, a bit noisy like Big Ben!). Today I went for a short ride and the same thing happened again. When I got back home, Little Willie just died altogther. Each time I kicked her over a puff of smoke came out of the silencer, but no pop-pop, pop. What is wrong? Or is the silencer getting blocked, I wonder. I bought a new one from C & D Autos a few years back, but, looking at it, the baffles do not seem to come out. Caustic soda might do the trick, though. Any ideas, fellow Bantamites? |
Boy AlbieI've been the proud owner of a 1965 BSA Bantam D7 since 1991, affectionately known as Little Willie (Wilhelmina) and love to take her out for a ride so that others can see her. Archives
May 2016
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